The Pacific Theater, 1939-1945

The Rising SunReasons For Japanese Aggression

Pearl HarborThe Island Hopping Campaign

The Rising Sun• By turn of 20th century

Russia and Japan were competing for influence in China which leads to war

• Japanese defeat Russian navy during Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 easily

• Japan is now a world power in Pacific and like the west seek to have a sphere of influence in the Pacific

The Rising Sun• Japan had developed a

pattern of attacking China for indiscretions in 1931 and 1936

• Emperor Hirohito and a military dominated cabinet sought to expand their country’s empire

• To counter Russia, Japan enters into the Tripartite Pact with Italy and Germany in 1940

Reasons for Japanese Aggression

• They believe that they are destined to dominate other nations considered corrupt

• Japan desired more natural resources for it businesses and growing population

• Wanted to be commanding presence in the Pacific as opposed to the United States, China or Russia

Reasons for Japanese Aggression

• President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sensing that Japan has expansionist policies places an embargo on strategic items needed by the Japanese for their military in 1940

• 1941 Japan occupies Indochina, this cause FDR to freeze Japan’s assets in the U.S. and stops the selling of oil to Japan

• Japan is convinced that war is necessary between the two countries

Day of Infamy: Pearl Harbor• Admiral Isoroku

Yamamoto planned attack at Pearl Harbor

• Purpose of attack was to neutralize U.S. navy fleet in Pacific (aircraft carriers primary targets)

• Japanese sent 6 carriers, 450 planes and various ships and submarines

Day of Infamy: Pearl Harbor• December 7, 1941, 94

naval ships are at Pearl Harbor but the carriers are on duties elsewhere

• A Japanese sub is attacked by U.S. forces and mobile radar had picked up a large group of planes approaching the base

• The first strike destroys aircraft and airfields to eliminate air defenses

Day of Infamy: Pearl Harbor• The second strike concentrated on

the naval ships through high level bombing

• The final strike consisted of low level dive bombing

• In two hours 2,400 are killed, 18 warships were sunk or seriously damaged and 188 planes destroyed

• Oil reserves and naval facilities were not attacked because Japanese feared an attack themselves

Day of Infamy: Pearl Harbor

Day of Infamy: Pearl Harbor• The Fall of the Philippine

Islands lead to the surrender of American and Filipino forces to the Japanese

• 11,000 men will die from war atrocities by the Japanese in the infamous “Bataan Death March” in 1942

• After taking the Philippines the Japanese eyed Australia and New Guinea

The Battle Of The Coral Sea• May7-8, 1942, Battle of Coral Sea

showed that planes would be a dominate force in naval battles

• USS Lexington’s planes will sink a Japanese carrier and shoot down 21 planes

• The next day the Lexington will be sunk and mislead the Japanese into thinking that they have crippled the US fleet

• It is a Japanese victory but Australia is saved because the Japanese now seek to destroy the US fleet

Battle Of Midway, June 4-7, 1942

• Yamamoto desired the Midway Islands as a launching pad to attack Hawaii

• The Japanese will send 4 carriers with support ships to Midway unaware that the US still has carriers in region

• The US will decipher Japanese transmissions and be prepared for the assault

Battle Of Midway, June 4-7, 1942

Battle Of Midway, June 4-7, 1942

Battle Of Midway, June 4-7, 1942

• Midway is a decisive American victory

• Japanese losses will be• 4 carriers sunk• 1 cruiser sunk• 2,500 experienced seaman KIA• 322 planes shot down

• The US lost the carrier Yorktown and 147 planes

• Japan will no longer be able to threaten the US fleet effectively

Island Hopping Campaign