The Pacific War: Treatment of PoWs between Japan and the Allied forces

In the Second World War, the Japanese captured approximately 3 million prisoners of war. The sufferings of these people were horrific, with an extremely high death rate. This essay will compare and contrast the treatment of Prisoners of War between Japan and the Allied forces during the Pacific War. Prisoners of the Japanese, including Australians were treated much worse than those of the Allies because provisions in Japanese camps were low and Red Cross packages were denied, and the rate of death was extremely high due to the harsh treatment and conditions of the prisoners in the camps. Investigation of provisions provided by the prison camps, statistics on the number of prisoners in each country and the general treatment of prisoners of war is included.

The Third Geneva Convention is part of an international treaty which defines the humanitarian protections for prisoners of war. It clearly states “an impartial humanitarian body, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, may offer its services to the Parties to the conflict.” (Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War) During the Second World War, the nations of Western Europe allowed the Red Cross carried out its work of supporting those who had been taken prisoner. A typical parcel would contain food items such as powdered milk, dried nut bars and tins of food. The contents of each parcel varied, but prisoners could swap what they didn’t like with their fellow prisoners. Other provisions in camps were minimal but acceptable; mainly bread, water and vegetables. In Britain, German prisoners of war were allocated the same food ration as British servicemen and given access to medical care. However With minor and inevitable exceptions on the lower levels, the United States and Great Britain generally honoured the Geneva Convention throughout the conflict.

The same was not as true with those unlucky enough to be sent to a Japanese prison camp. 22,000 Australians were

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