Battle of Manila ( Filipino : '' Labanan sa Maynila '' ) ( ) was a major battle of the Philippine campaign of 1944-45 , during the Second World War . It was fought by American forces from both the U.S. mainland and the Philippines against Japanese troops in Manila , the capital city of the Philippines . The month-long battle , which resulted in the death of over 100,000 civilians and the complete devastation of the city , was the scene of the worst urban fighting in the Pacific theater . Japanese forces committed mass murder against Filipino civilians during the battle . Along with massive loss of life , the battle also destroyed architectural and cultural heritage dating back to the city 's foundation . The battle ended the almost three years of Japanese military occupation in the Philippines ( 1942 – 1945 ) . The city 's capture was marked as General Douglas MacArthur 's key to victory in the campaign of reconquest . It is the last of the many battles fought within Manila 's history
mass murder
Manila massacre
Battle of Manila (1945)