The Bridge on the River Kwai April 3, 1945
The wooden railroad bridge over the Kwai river in eastern Kanchanaburi is destroyed by American bombers. During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army had forced British prisoners of war to build the bridge for the “Death Railway”. It was called the Death Railway because approximately 13,000 prisoners of war and 80,000 to 100,000 civilians died during its construction. The bridge had been damaged by British bombers in February, but was soon back in commission. It was rebuilt again after this bombing, and finally put out out of commission for the duration of the war by a British bombing run in June. After the war, 111 Japanese military officials were tried for war crimes for their brutality during the construction of the railway, 32 of which were sentenced to death.
MILITARY HISTORY SOCIETY OF ROCHESTER
ROCHESTERMILITARY.COM
