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General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz's island hopping tactic helped defeat Japan in WWII. Key battles like Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa culminated in the use of atomic bombs leading to Japan's surrender on V-J Day.
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Strategy devised by General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz Objective: Attack strategic Islands – build airstrips, cut enemy supplies.By-pass strong Japanese positions- get to Japan. Island Hopping
Back to the Philippines Battle of Leyte Gulf: disaster for Japan; largest air & naval battle • New tactic – KAMIKAZE • Allows US to re-conquer the Philippines January – August 1945 • Americans fight the Japanese for the island of Luzon; Manila is re-captured in March- 100,000 Filipino civilians killed. • US: 10,000 killed; 36,000 wounded - Japan: 230,000 killed wounded or MIA
Iwo Jima Feb 1945 - Battle of Iwo Jima • Small volcanic island adjacent to Japan • Critical as base - planes can reach Japan • Met w/FIERCE resistance – tunnels/caves • 6,000 marines die; of 20,700 Japanese, approx 1,000 taken prisoner • Mount Suribachi
Okinawa – April 1945 • Last island to be seized • Ferocious fighting – heavy casualties on both sides • B June 1945: • 7,600 Americans • 110,000 Japanese • Invasion of Japan?
The Manhattan Project (1942-45) • J. Robert Oppenheimer: research director of project • July 16, 1945- A-bomb tested in New Mexico desert – Los Alamos – Trinity Test • July 26, 1945- Potsdam Declaration: warning sent to Japan
Hiroshima and Nagasaki • Pres. Truman: orders military to drop 2 atomic bombs on Japan Hiroshima • August 6, 1945- 9:15am Paul Tibbits & Enola Gay drop bomb on Hiroshima, major military center – • 4.5 ton bomb: 75,000 dead- 70,000 injured • Soviet Union declares war on Japan- occupy northern Korea.
September 2, 1945: Japan officially surrenders. World War II ends. US begins occupation of Japan. V-J Day