On Tuesday we set off with our expert guide, Genevieve Cabrera, to learn more about ancient island history as well as the impact of WW II on the island. We started off at the Kalabera cave where for millennia the “pre-contact” islanders made numerous cave paintings and left the skulls of their ancestors. The rest of the major bones were put to practical use like spears and tools.
From there we went to Suicide Cliff and Bonsai Cliff. Both saw thousands of Japanese war refugees throw themselves to their deaths on the rocks and sea below rather than surrender to the evil Americans who would surely torture them and subject them to an even more agonising end.
The invasion of Saipan by American forces began on June 15, 1944 and was over by July 9. There were 24,000 Japanese military casualties, and 5,000 civilian -many of these by suicide. The Americans suffered as well with nearly 3,500 dead and over 10,000 wounded.
The indigenous population was greatly affected as well, with much of the island flattened and deforested by relentless bombing and flamethrowers. This was one of the first times that the Americans had to deal with war refugees and its fair to say that they were not well prepared for it on Saipan.
There are reminders all over the island of this devastating conflict with destroyed tanks, guns, planes, etc, everywhere. There are uncovered armament bunkers and ammunition depots almost left as they were over 70 years ago. There are also numerous wrecks in the sea with the tops of tanks peeking out of the sea.
Finally we are told that there are still parts of the island that are still too dangerous to enter with unexploded ordinance and wrecks of warplanes.
