The War in the Pacific

The Defeat of Japan18.4

Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?

Historical: Opening of Japan to trade in 1853 Period of Westernization

Current: Oil Embargo Freezing of Japanese assets in U.S.

First Action: Bombing of Pearl

Harbor on 12/7/41 Part of a coordinated

attack on U.S. possessions in the Pacific

Heavy damage to the Pacific naval fleet

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The Philippines - 1942

Japan captured 76,000 Filipinos and Americans POWs

60 mile march w/o food or water in tropical heat

Brutal treatment At least 10,000 died Violated the GENEVA

CONVENTIONS

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BATAAN DEATH MARCH

The War at Sea . . .

First years of the war were primarily naval New fighting techniques:

1. Aircraft carriers2. Opponents not within visual distance3. Long range bombing from sea based craft

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BATTLE of CORAL SEA - 1942

1st naval air battle 50% equipment losses on both sides Technically a DRAW Blocked the invasion of Australia

BATTLE of MIDWAY - 1942

JP commits most of navy to this battle US attack while JP is refueling 4 JP carriers destroyed TURNING POINT in the PACIFIC JP now on the Defensive US on the Offensive

BATTLE of GUADALCANAL - 1942

1ST US Offensive Capture the island where

Japan building an airfield Huge land battle in the

jungle Guerrilla style by the

Japanese snipers Hint of the difficulties to

come with defeating the Japanese

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ISLANDHOPPING – 1943(Leapfrogging)

Military strategy of selectively attacking specific enemy-led islands and bypassing others

Too many islands to take back Look for strategic importance GOAL: Get into land-based bomber range of

Japan for carpet bombing Continues into 1944

Retaking the Philippines . . .

General Douglas MacArthur . . .

“I shall return. . .” Persuaded FDR to

retake them “. . . I have returned.”

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BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF - 1944

Greatest naval battle in World History

280 warships in 3 day battle

First use of JP Kamikaze pilots

JP navy destroyed Land control took another

year as JP soldiers resisted

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Importance of the Philippines

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BATTLE of IWO JIMA - 1945 Island hopping. . . Bloody battle to

secure small island Vastly outnumbered

the JP fought to the last man (216 POWs)

25,000 US casualties

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BATTLE of OKINAWA - 1945 Equally bloody 2000 kamikazes Banzai charges

Last obstacle to a land invasion of Japan

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INVADING JAPAN . . .

US ponders the cost of a land invasion Major decision in terms of troops and

money WHAT TO DO?

FDR had died in April 1945 Iwo Jima and Okinawa in June 1945Decision lies with Harry Truman