WWII was being fought against racist Nazism

Treatment of minorities in US - far from equal

Feb. 1942 – Roosevelt ordered imprisonment of West Coast Japanese-Americans

110,000 relocated to interior

Military segregated based on race◦ 442nd Regiment – Japanese-American- most decorated

◦ Tuskegee Airmen- all-black –victorious – Germany

◦ Navajo Code talkers – used Navajo as code for sending American messages - Pacific

NavajoCode-talkers

Japanese Internment - War Department –1943

George Takei

1. In what direction was the allied campaign against Japan generally moving?

2. What type of landform was most typically involved in these battles?

3. Based on the years of battles, what do you think the ultimate goal was?

4. What is unique about the final two events of the Allied Campaign against Japan?

Japan invaded (Dec. 8, 1941) and occupied the Philippines (American possession) by 8 May 1942

This brought Japan’s Empire to its largest extent

Doolittle’s Raid – April 1942 – American Lt. Col. James Doolittle led bombing of Tokyo ◦ Represented a morale boost to Americans

Battle of Coral Sea - May 1942 – US & Australians stopped Japanese from getting to Australia

Battle of Midway – June 1942 – Allies stopped Japanese at strategic island northwest of Hawaii◦ 4 Japanese Aircraft carriers, 250 planes destroyed

◦ Turning-Point – “Island-Hopping” strategy soon began

US-led allies began “island-hopping” strategy after Midway – goal was to eventually take Japan

Guadalcanal – Aug. 1942-Feb. 1943 – Allies defeated Japanese on land – strategic victory

Battle of Leyte Gulf- October 1944 – Japan’s navy destroyed near Philippines, despite Kamikazes

US forces under Gen. Douglas MacArthur returned to Philippines same month◦ Allies edged toward Japan

Iwo Jima - Feb.-March 1945 – 6000 Americans died taking the island; only 200 of 20,000 Japanese survived

Okinawa – April-June 1945 – 7600 Americans & 110,000 Japanese killed – showed Japanese fanaticism

Flag Raising – Iwo Jima

kamikazes

Atomic Bomb

Summer 1945 – War over in Europe

Japanese developed reputation – willing to fight to the death rather than surrender

Manhattan Project –J. Robert Oppenheimer, Albert Einstein; developed first nuclear weapon

26 July 1945, President Harry S Truman offered to let Japan surrender or “face total destruction”

Japan said “no”

6 August – Hiroshima

9 August – Nagasaki

Hiroshima Nagasaki

10 August 1945 – Japan showed intent to surrender

14 August 1945 – Japan accepted Allies’ terms, surrendered – “V-J Day” – Victory over Japan Day

2 September 1945 – surrender finalized