Conclusions

The cost of retaking Manila had not been light. XIV Corps lost over 1,000 men killed and 5,500 wounded in the metropolitan area from 3 February through 3 March. The breakdown among major units is shown in Table 5.

TABLE 5 
CASUALTIES IN BATTLE FOR MANILA
Unit Killed Wounded Total Casualties
37th Infantry Division 300 2,700 3,000
1st Cavalry Division 250 1,250 1,500
11th Airborne Division 210 865 1,075
XIV Corps troops 250 750 1,000
     Total 1,010 5,565 6,575
Source: Based upon a study of relevant corps, divisional, and regimental sources, all of which, as usual, provide contradictory and irreconcilable information.

The Japanese lost some 16,000 men killed in and around Manila. Of this total the Manila Naval Defense Force lost at least 12,500 men, the remainder of Admiral Iwabuchi's 17,000-man garrison having escaped across the Marikina River. The other 3,500 men killed were members of various Shimbu Group units overrun on the periphery of the metropolitan area or chopped down during the abortive counterattack effort.27 Japanese equipment captured in the Manila area, either intact or damaged, is shown in Table 6.

TABLE 6 
JAPANESE EQUIPMENT CAPTURED IN MANILA AREA
Caliber and Type

Number
7.7-mm., 7.92-mm., and 13-mm. machine guns, various mounts

a600
20-mm. dismounted aircraft machine cannon and antiaircraft weapons

990
25-mm. machine cannon, various mounts

110
37-mm. guns, various mounts

15
40-mm. antiaircraft guns, various mounts

15
   
47-mm. antitank weapons

5
75-mm. field artillery and antiaircraft guns

10
76-mm. (3-inch) naval guns

15
100-mm. and 105-mm. guns and howitzers

10
120-mm. dual-purpose naval guns

60
127-mm. (5-inch) guns

5
150-mm. (6-inch) weapons

5
150-mm. mortars

5
200-mm. rocket launchers

5
a Minimum estimate. 

Source: XIV Corps Arty Rpt Luzon, p. 10; 37th Div Arty Rpt Luzon, app. 4, Japanese Arty in Sector of 37th Div During Advance to and Capture of Manila; XIV Corps, Japanese Defense of Cities, p. 11; 11th A/B Div Rpt Luzon, p. 29; 1st Cav Div G-2 Summary Luzon, p. 40. The calibers listed for some of the artillery pieces are open to question--for example, the 6-inch vs. 150-mm.

The cost of the battle for Manila cannot be measured in military terms alone. The city was a shambles after the battle was over--much of it destroyed, damaged beyond repair, or reparable only at great expense in time and money. The public transportation system no longer existed; the water supply and sewage systems needed extensive repairs; the electric power facilities did not function; most of the streets needed repaving; 39 of 100 or more large and small bridges had been destroyed, including the 6 over the Pasig River.

The University of the Philippines and the Philippine General Hospital were largely irreparable. Lower class residential districts north of the Pasig and upper class apartments south of the river had been destroyed; the Philippine Commonwealth's government's center had been wiped out; the 400-year-old landmark of Intramuros had been nearly razed; severe damage had been inflicted on the economically important installations in the North and South Port Areas; the industrialized Paco and Pandacan Districts had been badly battered. Many buildings still standing would ultimately have to be torn down as unsafe for occupancy. Millions upon millions of dollars' worth of damage had been done and, as a final shocking note of tragedy, an estimated 100,000 Filipino civilians had lost their lives during the battle.

In brief, Manila's economic, political, and social life would have to start over almost from scratch. For a city left in Manila's condition there could be no return to normalcy--instead, a new normalcy would ultimately develop. The Battle of Manila was indeed over, but its effects would long be felt.