THE PACIFIC THEATEROF WAR

(1941-1943)Section 9

Terms to Know

Campaign: a military operation (such as an invasion) with a specific objective

Turning point: a point in a war or campaign where one side experiences a reversal of fortune

Theater of War: the certain area of the world where a battle or event is occurring Pacific European African

Rainbow Five War Plan

Followed Pearl Harbor Generals decide on a “Germany First”

strategy Philippine Islands are to be defended with

existing forces supported by the latest American bombers

The Philippines are not to be reinforced American/Philippine forces are to withdraw

to the Bataan Peninsula to now allow the use of Manila Harbor by the Japanese

Commanders

Douglas Macarthur

Jonathon Wainwright

Macarthur’s Misjudgments

He believes he can hold the Philippines because: He thinks reinforcements are coming from the

US Has under his command the latest bomber

technology, with more on the way Has plenty of supplies throughout the islands

Japanese Ojectives

To prevent the use of the Philippines as an advance base of operations by American forces,

To acquire staging areas and supply bases to enhance operations against the Netherlands East Indies

To secure the lines of communication between occupied areas in the south and the Japanese Home Islands

Battle of Bataan

Fought between January and April, 1942 Japanese invade under the command of

Masaharu Homma Intense fighting that led to 30,000

American casualties and 19,000 Japanese Result: Japanese victory President Roosevelt orders Macarthur to

evacuate to Australia Macarthur’s famous quote

Battle of Corregidor

With Macarthur gone, Wainwright assumed command and was left with nearly 90,000 men

Was running out of supplies After two days of fighting, Wainwright did

not want to see all of his men killed, so he surrenders his combined forces

What War Can Do

Sometimes, war can bring out the best in people, whether it be through bravery or performing courageous deeds, but it also brings out the absolute worst as well

Some of the worst atrocities happened in the Pacific

Japanese viewed Americans as “devils” and “demons” while the Americans viewed the Japanese as “animals” and “subhuman”

How can you understand and sympathize with someone when you don’t view them as human?

Bataan Death March

Those captured were made to march 65 miles from Bataan to a prison camp, named Camp O'Donnell

The Japanese did not have decent enough motor transport to move them, so they had to walk

Prisoners were brutally treated, being beaten, clubbed, and murdered. Those who fell from exhaustion were bayoneted where they lay

Continued…

"They were beaten, and they were starved as they marched. Those who fell were bayoneted. Some of those who fell were beheaded by Japanese officers who were practicing with their samurai swords from horseback. The Japanese culture at that time reflected the view that any warrior who surrendered had no honor; thus was not to be treated like a human being. Thus they were not committing crimes against human beings. The Japanese soldiers at that time felt they were dealing with sub humans and animals.“

15,000 Philippine soldiers and 600 Americans died during the march

Wainwright would later be denied the Medal of Honor by Macarthur

BATTLE OF MIDWAYTurning the Tide of the Pacific

Japanese Government Strategy

Wants to set up a self-sufficient group of countries that will isolate itself from the rest of the world

Called the “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”

Defensive perimeter (naval blockade) of the Pacific and Island of Japan needed for success

Battle of Midway

Americans in desperate need of a victory over the decisive Imperial Navy of Japan

Chester Nimitz vs. Isoroku Yamamoto June 4-7, 1942

US Forces: 3 carriers, 180 planes Japan Forces: 4 carriers, 272 planes

First battle fought between ships AND planes acting in unison

American Objective

Seize Midway Island and cut a hole in the Japanese defensive perimeter

Provoke a decisive battle with the US Pacific fleet winning over the “unbeatable” Japanese

First use of American codebreakers intercepting messages to find where the Japanese were going to attack US then launches surprise attack of their own

American Victory

The Americans defeat the Japanese at Midway, however, they did make one mistake in not pursuing the tired Japanese navy as they retreated

Strategic losses for Japan: Loses its superiority in naval airpower Fails to plug the new hole in their perimeter Hole allows for US to take control of the Pacific

Theater

Strategic error still coming back to bite the Japanese: NOT DESTROYING AMERICAN FORCES AT PEARL HARBOR!

Guadalcanal (Aug. 1942- Feb. 1943)

US forces now have the momentum Japanese look to take the Island and destroy US

forces around Guadalcanal Main objective: capture American airfield

Japanese tactics: mass groups of skilled, dedicated, and fanatical troops and send them in wave after wave against Americans

US forces newly armed with M-1 rifle as well as better material strength

Result: 36,000 Japanese dead to only 7,000 Americans

TRIVIA QUESTIONWas there ever a WWII battle ever

fought on American soil?

(Do not count Pearl Harbor; it was an attack/event, NOT a battle)

Battle of Attu

End result of the Japanese invasion of Alaska and Aleutian Islands campaign

2,900 Japanese against 15,000 American/Canadian forces

Fought for nearly two weeks in May 1943 in bitter, arctic-like conditions

Results

Japanese knew they had no chance of winning, so they launched a suicide charge, known as a “Banzai Charge”, in which they would run towards the American lines and engage in brutal hand-to-hand combat They felt this was more honorable than

surrendering Japanese Result: 2,850 dead, 50 captured Americans lost 550 and suffered 1,100

wounded

Course Outline

Next week: Holocaust lesson/after-school movie

May 23: El Alamein, D-Day, Operation Market Garden, Strategy to Defeat Japan

May 30: The Collapse of the Axis Powers, Atomic Bombings, Deaths of Hitler, Mussolini, Tojo

June 6: (Last day for 8th graders) A look at the post-war world, Berlin Wall, 1950’s communist threat in America “RED SCARE” PARTY! BRING FOOD!

June 13: (Our last class) WWII trivia