Crocodiles. During the Battle of Ramree Island in World War II, an army of 1000 Japanese soldiers were wiped out by saltwater crocodiles. In weak physical condition, many of the Japanese soldiers were injured and died in the swamp. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.Thanks: Bernard Dupont After all, these were soldiers who had offered upstubborn resistance to the British Fourteenth Army under the leadership of Lieutenant General William Slim. Join us onFacebook,Twitter(#AnimalWeek), andTumblrfor even more animal action and to share your own tales of fascinating fauna. Typical male specimens reach 17 feet long and 1,000 pounds and the largest can reach 23 feet and 2,200 pounds. [7], The assault troops were slightly delayed when a motor launch and a landing craft struck mines but landed unopposed on the beaches west of Kyaukpyu at 9:42 a.m., securing the beachhead by the afternoon. CrocBITE, Worldwide Crocodilian Attack Database: Sideleau, B., and Britton A.R.C. Circa 1945 was the year when the Imperial Japan invasion of Asia was nearing its ends. Perhaps the biggest question that the crocodile story doesnt sufficiently answer concerns the staggering death toll: How did only 20 Japanese soldiers survive? The Japanese soldiers were no match for these crocodiles. Conservation & Society. If the British 14th Army succeeded in taking the island, it could build an airbase there and use it as a launch point for bombing missions over Burma and Malaysia. Saltwater crocodiles are the largest reptiles in the world. Right beside the carcass of the Giant Crocodile, there were 2 skills books, a green treasure box and 200 Survivor Coins. Its been dubbed one of the worst crocodile attacks in the Guinness Book of World Records. In September 2005, Russell Harris, a 37-year-old British engineer, was killed by a large saltwater crocodile while snorkeling off Picnic Beach in Australia. 900 soldiers entered the swamp only 20 emerged. The story of the Ramree massacre was reported in a number of papers, but the tale is still largely apocryphal. [19] In 2016, historian Sam Willis reported having found documentation indicating that the Japanese soldiers mostly drowned and/or were shot, and that crocodiles scavenged on their corpses afterwards. This was particularly so in the mangrove swamps where such reptiles thrive, like on Ramree Island. Read another story from us: The Soldier Who Went On A Suicide Mission Against The Japanese & Won. This battle raged on for six weeks as the British forces sought to acquire an airbase to launch more coordinated attacks against the Japanese on the mainland.. The rancid smell of blood automatically attracts the attention of this herd of reptiles. Inspired by actual events during World War 2. Users Online Now: 2,152 : Visitors Today: 415,658: Pageviews Today: 948,169: While crocodiles are prolific killers, historians have long doubted that more than 800 Japanese soldiers were killed at Ramree Island in such a short period of time, and those doubts have only been affirmed by evidence uncovered in recent years that indicates that the true story was buried amid a flurry of sensational reporting. [3] Crocodilians will defend not only themselves, but also their nest and young from anything they perceive as a threat. Only 20 of the Japanese fighters were able to escape unharmed. Crocodiles In One Night Slaughtered Over 900 Japanese Soldiers | by L. Small | THE CURIOSITY | Medium Write Sign up Sign In 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. Unfortunately, these reptiles are some of the most territorial species on earth and arent afraid to show aggression toward people, especially biting. Crocodiles are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will eat anything they can get their mouths on, making the Japanese soldiers the perfect prey. Many of the areas in which humans and large crocodiles come into contact are remote, impoverished, or in areas of political unrest. How 1000 Japanese Soldiers Where EATEN by Crocodiles.. - YouTube How 1000 Japanese Soldiers Where EATEN by Crocodiles.. @Joe_Juice Subscribe 6 Dislike 0 Share Dont mess with. The crocodiles would silently stalk their prey before attacking with lightning speed; humans are no match for the saltwater crocodile when considering their power, size, and weight. Ultimately, he stated, "[t]he only crocodile-related deaths occurred when 10 to 15 soldiers were killed trying to ford Min Chaung, a tidal creek", and he therefore concluded that although the deaths of nearly 1000 Japanese soldiers during the Battle of Ramree Island are "well documented and undisputed", there is "little need to invoke crocodile predation. [8] It took until 16 April for the airfield to be used for transport sorties, Akyab having come into use on 1 April. In 2016, he decided to tackle the mystery of the Crocodile Massacre at Ramree Island after learning that the Guinness Book of World Records had relied on Wrights book for source material. This story has gained increasing credence in recent years. Salt-water crocodiles, some of them well over 20 ft (6.1 m) long frequented these waters. The battle is known for claims that hundreds of Japanese soldiers were killed by crocodiles in the mangrove swamps of Ramree. Unfortunately, the battle was at a standstill until the . The ecosystem of a mangrove swamp, with an exiguous mammal life, simply would not have permitted the existence of so many saurians before the coming of the Japanese (animals are not exempt from the laws of overpopulation and starvation). Reconnaissance carried out on 14 January 1945, found that Japanese forces were placing artillery in caves overlooking the landing beaches on Ramree and the Royal Navy assigned the battleship HMSQueen Elizabeth, the escort carrier HMSAmeer, light cruiser HMSPhoebe, the destroyers Rapid, Napier, Norman and Pathfinder, with the sloops Flamingo and HMISKistna. The Burma campaign still lacks the coverage and interest afforded to events in the European theatre during the Second World War. British veterans of the battle report hearing the piercing and never ending screams of the hundreds of Japanese soldiers in the night as the crocodiles attacked mercilessly. 2023 Coffee or Die Magazine. The survivors are reported to have told horrific tales of dozens of crocodiles attacking the soldiers en masse, and appearing out of seemingly nowhere to drag off some poor soul. One special ops vet felt a sense of connection with fallen comrades while skydiving over the Egyptian pyramids. On the 19th of the month, the Japanese unit attempted to make its way through 10 miles of swamp to link up with a larger unit. What animal has the strongest armor? They decided to flee. The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of wounded men crushed in the jaws of huge reptiles, and the blurred worrying sound of spinning crocodiles made a cacophony of hell that has rarely been duplicated on earth. As you can imagine, what followed was one of the most gruesome and brutal crocodile attacks in history. If 'thousands of crocodiles' were involved in the massacre, as in the urban (jungle) myth, how had these ravening monsters survived before and how were they to survive later? [21], Platt's findings are paralleled by sections of Wright's 1968 book, The Frogmen of Burma, which chronicled his experiences commanding the Sea Reconnaissance Unit (S.R.U.) Japanese resistance on the island ended on 17 February and the Allied blockade was maintained until 22 February, sinking many of the rescue craft and inflicting many casualties on the Japanese troops hiding in the mangrove swamps; about 500 troops managed to get away. Of about 1,000 Japanese soldiers, it's estimated that only 20 survived. As the boat moved away from the shore and headed out to sea the intense heat and humidity of mid-summer began to fade as we sailed into an ocean climate. Can an Old Coin Solve the Mystery of a Lost Roman Emperor? Some of them being so badly injured and mauled that they were later recaptured by the British forces. Soon after entering the slimy mudhole, Japanese soldiers began to succumb to diseases, dehydration, and starvation. Royal Flying Doctor Service/Reuters. An army of 1000 Japanese soldiers was decimated by saltwater crocodiles during the Battle of Ramree Island of World War II. Who Were the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece? Saltwater crocodiles made a meal of the Japanese soldiers after they were bombed and strafed by the RAAF. Sideleau, B. [21] He established that Bruce S. Wright had not been present on Ramree Island at the time of the battle, and noted that although the other chapters in Wright's book were told in the first person, the account of the battle was in the third person; possibly, Platt speculated, Wright was repeating stories he had been told by friends. The battle of Ramree isnt well known, but it should be considered one of the creepiest and most bizarre episodes of World War II. Tehran remains unusually mum while Neon Defender warships ply Persian Gulf. Sideleau, B. The passage in Wrights book outlining the supposed crocodile massacre states as follows: That night was the most horrible that any member of the M. L. [motor launch] crews ever experienced. With the ebb of the tide, the crocodiles moved in on the dead, wounded, and uninjured men who had become mired in the mud, The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of the wounded men crushed in the jaws of huge reptiles, and the blurred worrying sound of spinning crocodiles made a cacophony of hell that has rarely been duplicated on Earth. This very situation happened to Japanese troops occupying Ramree Island in the Bay of Bengal during World War II in early 1945. An army of 1000 Japanese soldiers was decimated by saltwater crocodiles during the Battle of Ramree Island of World War II. These crocs are the largest reptiles in the world and are capable of bringing down water buffalo. 1.7K views, 54 likes, 0 loves, 2 comments, 9 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Coffee or Die Magazine: Did crocodiles really eat hundreds of Japanese soldiers in World War II? British troops sit near a temple on Ramree Island. Mosquitoes, spiders, poisonous snakes, and scorpions hid in the thick forest and picked off some troops one by one. They used to call the crocodiles the allies. MELBOURNE, Aug 7 (Reuters) - An Australian Army soldier suffered serious head and chest injuries after being mauled by a crocodile that attacked him late on Friday, Australia media reported, with . Imagine youre part of a military force outflanked by the enemy on a tropical island. The Scientist Bringing Fresh Fish Back to Philadelphia's Underserved Neighborhoods, A Cottontail Quandary: Chicago's Rabbit Problem, Margarine Once Contained a Whole Lot More Whale, The Beautiful Complexity of Naming Every Living Thing, The New Zealand Birdwatchers Who Fly to North Korea in the Spring, The Love Story Behind L.A.'s Bunny Museum, The Flesh-Eating Beetles of Chicago's Field Museum, A Colossal Squid Is Hiding in New Zealand, An Emotional Visit to Vermont's Dog Chapel, Watch the Cutest Little Hummingbird on Its 3,000-Mile Migration. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. And in an incident not unlike the infamous U.S.S Indianapolis shark attack that befell American troops later that year, many of these troops didnt survive. Resistance at the chaung from the troops of the II Battalion, 121st Regiment increased and on 31 January, the 71st Brigade was ordered to move inland, north-east towards Sane, then head south towards Ramree town. After weeks of bitter fighting, the Allies managed to drive the last surviving Japanese soldiers into mangrove swamps surrounding the island swamps populated by thousands of saltwater crocodiles. While crocodiles are prolific killers, historians have long doubted that more than 800 Japanese soldiers were killed at Ramree Island in such a short period of time, and those doubts have only been affirmed by evidence uncovered in recent years that indicates that the true story was buried amid a flurry of sensational reporting. "[15] In his memoir, An Odyssey in War and Peace, Lieutenant-General Jack Jacob (Indian Army) recounted his experiences during the battle, Over a 1,000 soldiers of the Japanese garrison retreated into the crocodile-infested mangrove swamps. Dont mess with mother nature. 997. Some say that British troops could hear the cries of the dying men for miles. At the time, British forces needed an airbase in the area of Ramree Island in order to launch more attacks against the Japanese. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. However, thousands of enemy troops held the island, causing an exhausting battle that went on for six weeks. Many of the remainder may have been eaten by the crocodiles, although since this incident took place during an active military conflict, it is impossible to know how many deaths can be directly attributed to the crocodiles instead of combat-related causes.[20]. In addition, the references made to crocodiles are minimal compared to the passages detailing the dangers of malaria. They are also notorious for attacking humans who stray into their habitats. pp. This type of crocodile can grow as much as 20 feet in length and can weigh about 22,000 pounds. They decided to take their chances in the swamp rather than surrender. Finally, the British soldiers realized the Japaneses situation and urged them to surrender to avoid further bloodshed. Osama, a saltwater crocodile named after the terrorist Usama Bin Laden, reportedly killed and ate 80 people in Uganda over a period of 14 years beginning in 1991. Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter 34(2): 21-22. They shot a 3 m crocodile and found what they believe is human remains in its stomach. All of the above crocodile attacks could have been avoided. "One arrow alone can be easily broken but many arrows are indestructible" ~Genghis Khan~, Stephen Gum Mark, Chinese American and 1914 San Rafael High School Graduate with Gift of Oratory, Sir Francis Drake Boulevard: Road of Many Names, THE BRITISH MONARCHY: A Case against Charles III, is a Case for Charles The Great and the Realm, READ/DOWNLOAD$] KAMPFRAUM ARNHEIM: A Photo Study of the German Soldier Fighting In and Around, Playing telephone with Edmund Burke and JFK. British combat unit had trapped about 1,000 Japanese soldiers on Ramree Island near Burma. They faced an enemy as old as the dinosaurs and just as fierce.Help support my channel - see below for details:https://www.paypal.me/markfeltonproductionhttps://www.patreon.com/markfeltonproductionsDisclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. 13. Some editions of the Guinness Book of World Records have attributed the highest number of fatalities in an animal attack to the battle; zoologists and modern military historians have dismissed these claims. This post will reveal the historical account of the Ramree Island Massacre. [marine launch] crews ever experienced. Recent reports of fatal attacks on humans by crocodiles in Mexico. I've recently learned about the Battle of Ramree Island and the "death march" through the mangroves that resulted in the battle earning the moniker of "worst crocodile disaster in the world." And helped launch a corporation now worth more than $40 billion. The island is 70 miles south of Akyab and is known as Sittwe. Men of the Wiltshire Regiment from the 26th Indian Infantry Division prepare a meal beside a temple on Ramree Island. A thousand Japanese soldiers were purportedly killed by saltwater crocodiles in the Ramree mangroves. The Japanese didnt realize that these mangrove swamps were a death trap in disguise, but they wouldnt figure that out until later. The soldiers were viciously and mercilessly attacked by the crocodiles. Gas prices have fallen since mid-June. Thats when things went from bad to worse and the Ramree Island massacre began. However, we must ask the question: did this event really occur? [20], In 2000, herpetologist Steven G. Platt visited Ramree Island, where he interviewed residents who had been alive during the war and who had been forced into slave labor by the Japanese; they "unanimously discounted any suggestion that large numbers of Japanese fell prey to crocodiles." "[21], Additionally, Platt published a historiographical analysis of the allegations of the crocodile attack. Arent afraid to show aggression toward people, especially biting worse and Ramree! Spiders, poisonous snakes, and scorpions hid in the mangrove swamps where such reptiles thrive, like Ramree! Crocodilians will defend not only themselves, but the tale is still largely.... Themselves, but they wouldnt figure that out until later people, especially.. Their chances in the World they shot a 3 m crocodile and found what believe. Theatre during the Battle of Ramree Island in the World and are capable bringing... Which humans and large crocodiles come into contact are remote, impoverished, or in areas of political.. 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