The Pacific TheaterThe Pacific Theaterof World War IIof World War II

July 7July 7thth, 1937-August 14, 1937-August 14thth, , 19451945

Japan

USA

Canada

Australia

China

SE Asia

The Pacific The Pacific OceanOcean

Prelude to WarPrelude to War

Japan seeks to establish “The Japan seeks to establish “The Greater East Asia Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity SphereCo-Prosperity Sphere””– ““a block of Asian nations led by the Japanese and free of a block of Asian nations led by the Japanese and free of

Western powersWestern powers””– Invasions of Manchuria and Korea followInvasions of Manchuria and Korea follow

Three political forces in Japan:Three political forces in Japan:– Emperor HirohitoEmperor Hirohito– Civilian GovernmentCivilian Government– Military branchesMilitary branches

The army informs the civilian govThe army informs the civilian gov’’t of the Manchuria t of the Manchuria campaign two months after it begins.campaign two months after it begins.

The Pacific WarThe Pacific War Dates: July 7, 1937 - August 14, 1945Dates: July 7, 1937 - August 14, 1945 Began with the Second Sino-Japanese war, Began with the Second Sino-Japanese war,

between China and Japanbetween China and Japan Concluded with Japan’s surrender to the Concluded with Japan’s surrender to the

Allied powersAllied powers

PrewarPrewar

19321932

19371937

AB

C

D

“ABCD Encirclement”

19401940

19411941

Dec 8/7 1941

Attack on Pearl HarbourAttack on Pearl HarbourDec 7, 1941. “A day that will live in infamy”

Pearl HarborPearl Harbor

Fleet Admiral YamamotoFleet Admiral Yamamoto

Fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

“The US fleet is a dagger pointed at our throat and must be destroyed.”

“I can run wild for six months, after that, I have no expectation of success.”

- Yamamoto, during discussions on the planned Pearl Harbor Attack

Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” FighterNakajima B5N torpedo bomber

Aichi D3A dive bomber

Japanese AircraftJapanese Aircraft

The AttackThe Attack

The AttackThe Attack

AftermathAftermath

"Being saturated and satiated with emotion and sensation, I went to bed and slept the sleep of the saved and thankful.”

- Winston Churchill

19411941

19421942

The Battle Of MidwayThe Battle Of MidwayJune 4-7 1942

6 months after Pearl Harbor

Yamamoto seeks to capture Midway island and thus confront and destroy the US Navy’s carrier forces.

Midway Order of BattleMidway Order of Battle

US forces:

3 carriers

~50 support ships

233 carrier aircraft

127 land-based aircraft

Japanese forces:

4 carriers

7 battleships

~150 support ships

248 carrier aircraft

16 floatplanes

Plan of AttackPlan of Attack

The Battle of MidwayThe Battle of Midway The first major carrier vs. carrier The first major carrier vs. carrier

engagementengagement Decided by cryptanalysis, tactics, Decided by cryptanalysis, tactics,

radar, pilot skill, weather, and luck.radar, pilot skill, weather, and luck.

The Battle of MidwayThe Battle of Midway Scouts from the US fleet find the Japanese Scouts from the US fleet find the Japanese

Fleet firstFleet first A delayed scout means the Japanese fleet A delayed scout means the Japanese fleet

receives a warning of US carriers only receives a warning of US carriers only minutes before the first US planes attackminutes before the first US planes attack

After losing many planes in ineffective After losing many planes in ineffective strikes, US dive bombers manage to set strikes, US dive bombers manage to set three Japanese carriers on fire.three Japanese carriers on fire.

A Japanese counterstrike does heavy A Japanese counterstrike does heavy damage to one US carrierdamage to one US carrier

Japanese battleships never see combatJapanese battleships never see combat

Bellringer- Day 2Bellringer- Day 2

What day did the attack on Pearl What day did the attack on Pearl Harbor occur? Harbor occur? A. January 4, 1956 B. December 7, 1941A. January 4, 1956 B. December 7, 1941

What president went to Congress and What president went to Congress and asked for the declaration of war on asked for the declaration of war on Japan?Japan?

What were the countries that cut Japan What were the countries that cut Japan off from their resources with the off from their resources with the ABCD ABCD encirclement? encirclement?

The Battle of MidwayThe Battle of Midway

US forces:

3 carriers, 1 lost

~50 support ships, 1 destroyer lost

360 aircraft, 98 lost

307 dead

Japanese forces:

4 carriers, 4 lost

7 battleships, 0 lost

~150 support ships, 1 cruiser lost

264 aircraft, 228 lost

3058 dead

1943-1943-19441944

Strategic BombingStrategic Bombing

B-29 Superfortress bombers

Video- Battle of GuadalcanalVideo- Battle of GuadalcanalAugust 7, 1942 US Marines August 7, 1942 US Marines

Land on GuadalcanalLand on Guadalcanal The Pacific-HBOThe Pacific-HBO The landing (6:35)The landing (6:35) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m

71CY-ztCDA Shootout on Guadalcanal (10:01)Shootout on Guadalcanal (10:01)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9GSgzQ9eCsv=_9GSgzQ9eCs

Island-Hopping WarfareIsland-Hopping Warfare

American and Australian troops land in Borneo

Island-Hopping WarfareIsland-Hopping WarfareAmerican Troops assaulting Iwo Jima

Video- Iwo JimaVideo- Iwo JimaFebruary-March 1945February-March 1945

History Channel Shootout- Iwo Jima History Channel Shootout- Iwo Jima (9:59)(9:59)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYxlRc1PiM0

1944-1944-19451945

The Final YearThe Final Year The US retakes the Philippines in a long and costly The US retakes the Philippines in a long and costly

campaign.campaign. Borneo, Iwo Jima and the Okinawa fall, with heavy Borneo, Iwo Jima and the Okinawa fall, with heavy

losses on both sides.losses on both sides. The military leadership of Japan refuses to give up, The military leadership of Japan refuses to give up,

in spite of the loss of the bulk of their forces.in spite of the loss of the bulk of their forces. An edict is issued, ordering civilians on the main An edict is issued, ordering civilians on the main

Japanese islands to construct bamboo spears and Japanese islands to construct bamboo spears and meet the invaders on the beaches.meet the invaders on the beaches.

US Bombers produce a firestorm in Tokyo, killing US Bombers produce a firestorm in Tokyo, killing 100,000 people in two days.100,000 people in two days.

The US, Britain and China issue the Potsdam The US, Britain and China issue the Potsdam Declaration, demanding Japan’s surrender.Declaration, demanding Japan’s surrender.

Nuclear StrikesNuclear Strikes

Aug 6, 1945. Uranium bomb “Little Boy” dropped on Hiroshima, killing 140,000

Aug 9, 1945. Plutonium bomb “Fat Man” dropped on Nagasaki, killing 74,000

Japan SurrendersJapan Surrenders

Representatives of Japan’s Foreign Ministry, Army and Navy appear to sign the surrender aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay

The CostThe Cost

2,000,000 Japanese Soldiers dead2,000,000 Japanese Soldiers dead 300,000 Allied Soldiers dead300,000 Allied Soldiers dead 600,000 - 1,000,000 Japanese civilians dead600,000 - 1,000,000 Japanese civilians dead 11,000 American civilians dead11,000 American civilians dead 60,000 Korean civilians dead60,000 Korean civilians dead Mass devastation of Japanese infrastructureMass devastation of Japanese infrastructure Indigenous people of north and western Pacific Indigenous people of north and western Pacific

islands devastated by disease, cultural islands devastated by disease, cultural contamination, collateral damage, and atrocities.contamination, collateral damage, and atrocities.

The list continues…The list continues…