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World War II War in the Pacific

World War II War in the Pacific. Growing Tensions with Japan. 1937 Japan invades China 1940 Japan begins expanding throughout the Pacific Needed war materials such as oil and rubber Tripartite Pact – signed by Japan forming the Axis alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan

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World War II War in the Pacific

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  1. World War IIWar in the Pacific

  2. Growing Tensions with Japan • 1937 Japan invades China • 1940 Japan begins expanding throughout the Pacific • Needed war materials such as oil and rubber • Tripartite Pact – signed by Japan forming the Axis alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan • Japan signs nonaggression pact with Russia.

  3. American Response to Japanese Expansion • U.S. cuts off trade with Japan • Grants loans to China • Refuses to export arms to Japan • Froze all Japanese assets in the U.S. • Stop exporting oil to Japan (80% of Japanese oil came from the U.S.) • U.S. refused to lift embargoes until Japan withdrew from China

  4. Attack on Pearl Harbor • Japan viewed the U.S. as the only serious threat to expansion in the Pacific. • American intelligence knew Japan planned on attacking the U.S. somewhere in the Pacific • December 6, 1941 Japan breaks off all relations with U.S. • December 7, 1941 Japan launches a surprise attack on the U.S. naval fleet at Pearl Harbor Hawaii.

  5. Pearl Harbor con’t • 19 American ships sunk (8 battleships) • 2400 Americans killed, 1200 wounded • most casualties aboard the U.S.S. Arizona • Japanese goal: • Cripple the Allied presence in the Pacific long enough to take control of the region • Force the U.S. into a defensive posture • “I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve” Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto • U.S. aircraft carriers were not in port, very important for U.S.

  6. Response to Pearl Harbor • Listen to FDR ask congress for a declaration of war. • December 8, 1941 U.S. declares war on Japan • December 11, 1941 Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S. • Changes American stance from isolationism to all-out involvement in the war. FDR signs a declaration of war with Japan

  7. Doolittle Raid • Organized in response to Pearl Harbor • Daring attack planned to strike Tokyo on April 16, 1942 • Led by James Doolittle • Launched 16 B-25 bombers off the deck of U.S. aircraft carrier, very difficult task • Attacks were a success, lifted the spirits of Americans Top: B-25 launches off the deck of an aircraft carrier. Left: James Doolittle

  8. War in the Pacific • Japan moved quickly to occupy Allied territory in the Pacific • Guam, Wake Island, Gilbert Islands • Hong Kong and Singapore • The Dutch East Indies (oil) • Burma • Philippines • Attacked immediately after Pearl Harbor • Douglas MacArthur, commander of American forces in the Philippines, retreats to Bataan Peninsula • MacArthur flees under orders • Remainder of forces captured. • “Bataan Death March”

  9. The Battle of the Coral Sea • June 1942 • U.S. stops Japanese advances in the Pacific, prevented a potential invasion of Australia by the Japanese • Conducted entirely by air operations launched from aircraft carriers on both sides.

  10. The Battle of Midway • Chester Nimitz – commander of American naval forces in the Pacific. • June 1942, major victory for the U.S. in the pacific • U.S. intercepted Japanese secret plans to invade Hawaii • Decision is made to intercept the Japanese fleet • All 4 Japanese aircraft carriers were sunk during the battle, U.S. looses 1. • Turning point in the war in the Pacific • Japanese do not win another major battle in Pacific

  11. American Offensive in the Pacific Begins • Guadalcanal– August 7, 1942, the first American offensive action in the Pacific. It took nearly six months to capture the Island. • Island Hoping Campaign – Begun in November 1943, Nimitiz moved westward across the Pacific island by island taking territory held by the Japanese

  12. American Offensive Continues • Battle of Letye Gulf – October 1944, it was the largest naval battle in history. • Took place near the Philippines • Kamaikazes used by the Japanese • Remainder of the Japanese fleet destroyed • February 19, 1945 invasion of Iwo Jima • Island 750 miles from Tokyo • Strategic location to launch bombing raids against Tokyo • 20,000 well entrenched Japanese soldiers held the island, only 200 survive • 6 weeks of fighting, 7000 Americans killed

  13. American Offensive Continues • Okinawa – island located 350 miles from Tokyo. invaded by U.S. forces in April 1945. Extraordinarily fierce fighting takes place. • Japanese surrender Okinawa in June 1945 • 50,000 U.S. casualties (7,600 killed) • 110,000 Japanese killed • U.S. realizes the Economical and Life costs that an invasion of Tokyo would bring

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