---
title: Masaharu Homma
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/masaharu-homma/
description: 2 verified quotes from Masaharu Homma, Lieutenant General; Commander of the 14th Army (Philippines), with sources.
section: FRAME
---

![Illustration: a Second World War naval-intelligence collage of a Pacific theatre map, aerial reconnaissance photographs and radar plots.](https://propagandaarchive.org/static/generated/detail/hero-wwii-pacific.jpg)

[Quotes](https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/) · Japan

# Masaharu Homma

![Masaharu Homma on 1 June 1943](https://propagandaarchive.org/regimes/images/showa-japan/masaharu-homma.jpg)

[Photo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Honma_Masaharu.jpg): Philippine Dispatch Army Press Department (比島派遣軍報道部), Public domain (PD-Japan-oldphoto)

Lieutenant General; Commander of the 14th Army (Philippines) · Japan

On the regime page: [Empire of Japan, 1937 to 1945](https://propagandaarchive.org/regimes/showa-japan/#masaharu-homma)

2 quotes, oldest first. [Filter with other speakers](https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/#speaker=masaharu-homma).

1. > “(2) The purpose of the Japanese expedition is nothing but emancipating you from the oppressive domination of the U. S. A., letting you to establish "the Philippines for the Filipinos" as a member of the Co-Prosperity Sphere in the Greater East Asia and making you enjoy your own prosperity and culture.” — January 3, 1942 · Statement · Manila Verified (secondary source) — Paragraph 2 of the proclamation placing Japanese-occupied districts of the Philippines under military administration, issued the day after the Japanese entered Manila. — Proclamation of the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Japanese Forces in the Philippines, 'Military Administration Over Occupied Districts', Manila, 3 January 1942, Official Gazette (Manila, Bureau of Printing), vol. 1, 1942, p. 8, as transcribed on Wikisource [Source](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Proclamation_of_Military_Administration_in_the_Philippines_(1942))
2. **Content note:** Threatens death under martial law. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “(5) The Army recognizes the freedom of your religion and residence and has a regard for your usual customs, so far as the Military Administration permits. Accordingly, all the people in the Commonwealth are requested to comprehend the real intentions of the Army and never be deceived by propagandas of the U. S. A. and Great Britain, and you should never disturb public peace in any way, warning yourselves against rushness and refraining from spreading fabulous, wild rumors. Their actions shall be regarded as hostile operations and offenders shall be severely punished, the gravest among them shall be put to death, according to martial law.” — January 3, 1942 · Statement · Manila Verified (secondary source) — Paragraph 5 of the same proclamation, on religion, customs, propaganda and rumours. — Proclamation of the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Japanese Forces in the Philippines, 'Military Administration Over Occupied Districts', Manila, 3 January 1942, Official Gazette (Manila, Bureau of Printing), vol. 1, 1942, p. 8, as transcribed on Wikisource [Source](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Proclamation_of_Military_Administration_in_the_Philippines_(1942))

## Often attributed, not verified

These words circulate under Masaharu Homma’s name but could not be traced to a source. They are listed so readers can check them, not as Masaharu Homma’s words.

- > “I am being executed for the Bataan incident. What I want to know is: who was responsible [...]” — Unverifiable Usually said to come from: Homma, last remarks before his execution by firing squad, Los Banos, 3 April 1946 — Quoted in popular histories (for example Max Hastings, Nemesis, 2007, with the text running on past what the index snippet showed), but a first-hand record of the remark and its full wording (witness, interpreter or press report) was not located. Not published.