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The End of the War in the Pacific

The End of the War in the Pacific. Turning Point in the Pacific: Battle of Midway, June 1942. The true turning point of World War II was the Battle of Midway It was fought near the Central Pacific island of Midway, is considered the decisive battle of the war in the Pacific.

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The End of the War in the Pacific

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  1. The End of the War in the Pacific

  2. Turning Point in the Pacific: Battle of Midway, June 1942 • The true turning point of World War II was the Battle of Midway • It was fought near the Central Pacific island of Midway, is considered the decisive battle of the war in the Pacific. • Before this battle the Japanese were on the offensive, capturing territory throughout Asia and the Pacific. • By their attack, the Japanese had planned to capture Midway to use as an advance base, as well as to entrap and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet. • Because of communication intelligence successes, the U.S. Pacific Fleet surprised the Japanese forces, sinking the four Japanese carriers, that had attacked Pearl Harbor only six months before, while only losing of one carrier. • When the Japanese Naval fleet was crushed, it allowed the US to win the war in the Pacific and it allowed the US to invade France and Italy. • After Midway, the Americans and their Allies took the offensive in the Pacific. • After this battle the Japanese were always on the defensive.

  3. Victory in the Pacific • By 1945, the Japanese fleet was almost destroyed – but the Japanese kept fighting and refused to surrender. • Japanese pilots flew suicide missions called “kamikaze” attacks, where they deliberately crashed their planes into targets. • Invasion was not an option – it would result in the loss of many (at least 500,000) lives. • The war may have been over in Europe, but it was not yet over in the Pacific

  4. War in the Pacific • Now that Germany had unconditionally surrendered (VE Day), the Allies could now put all effort to fighting Japan in the Pacific • Memories of Pearl Harbour still resonated with Americans who wanted revenge • After Pearl Harbour, both USA and Canada interned Japanese- Americans and Japanese Canadians

  5. With the war over in Europe, the Allies could focus completely on Japan. • From March to August 1945, American planes firebombed 58 Japanese cities, including the capital, Tokyo. • In Tokyo alone, about 84000 civilians were killed, but the Japanese would not give up.

  6. The Decision to Drop the Bomb • Following FDR’s death (April 12, 1945), Harry Truman becomes President of the United States, vowing to “shorten the war” • While the war was happening, Canada, the US, and Britain were working on a new weapon: The Atomic Bomb. This project was named “the Manhattan Project”. • On July 16, 1945, a prototype of the bomb was tested successfully in New Mexico. • Truman decided to use the Atom bomb on Japan because he believed that it was the only way to get the Japanese to surrender and save American lives • Truman warned the Japanese to surrender or be destroyed; the Japanese ignored his warning. • The Enola Gay

  7. Fat Man and Little Boy • On August 6th, 1945 a lone B-29 Superfortress called the Enola Gay by its crew took off and headed for Hiroshima • At 8:15am, the atomic bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima • Within seconds two thirds of the city was flattened and approx. 70000 were dead, killed instantly. • The US issued an ultimatum, and Japan refused to reply; • On August 11, a bomb called “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki at 11:02 am, killing another 70000. • At noon, August 15th, 1945 – Emperor Hirohito spoke directly to his people to tell them Japan had surrendered • Japan agreed to unconditional surrender on Aug. 15, 1945 – VJ Day. • By 1950, an estimated 400000 people had died from the effects of the bombs.

  8. Why Hiroshima and Nagasaki? • They were considered military targets; • They had been untouched by the firebombing, and were large enough that the bombing would have impact and it was unlikely that the bombers would be able to miss their targets. • military and industrial significance and concentrated population (maximize the damage)

  9. Was the United States Justified in Dropping the Atomic Bomb? • Truman decided to use the bomb on Japan--- why? • What do you think? Justified or Unjustified?

  10. Pros and Cons to Dropping the Bomb YES- JUSTIFIED • Strategic and conventional bombing part of WWII • Japan refused to unconditionally surrender to Allies • The alternative to using the atomic bomb (bombardments / blockade) would have had devastating effects on the Japanese population and would have prolonged the war and their suffering (starvation). • They had spent a lot of time and money on the bomb and needed to test it; • It would result in fewer American lives lost NO- UNJUSTIFIED • Unethical and immoral- new weapon with harsh effects (radiation poisoning). William D. Leahy, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff stated: “My own feeling is that in being the first to use it, we had adopted an ethical standard common to barbarians of the Dark Ages. I was not taught to make war in that fashion, and wars cannot be won by destroying women and children.” • High civilian death toll (150 000) • By 1945, Japan was crippled as a result of the Allied blockade and bombings and neared collapse = surrender was imminent • Americans wanted to show USSR they had atomic bombs = ushered in the Cold War • There was no real way of knowing what the effects would be; • The firebombing had already killed so many Japanese civilians it was not necessary.

  11. The left photograph shows the stone steps of the main entrance of Sumitomo Bank which is only 250 meters from the hypocenter. It is believed that a person sat down on the steps facing the direction of the hypocenter, possibly waiting for the bank to open. By a flash of the heat rays with temperatures well over a 1,000 degrees or possibly 2,000 degrees centigrade, that person was incinerated on the stone steps

  12. Effects • The bombs killed as many as 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 80,000 in Nagasaki by the end of 1945,with roughly half of those deaths occurring on the days of the bombings. • Amongst these, 15–20% died from injuries or the combined effects of flash burns, trauma, and radiation burns, compounded by illness, malnutrition and radiation sickness • Since then, more have died from leukemia or cancer attributed to exposure to radiation released by the bombs.In both cities, most of the dead were civilians. Hiroshima documentary

  13. Assignment • Complete the Map activity on the Defeat of Imperial Japan on pages 121-122 of your workbook; • Read pages 132-133 of your workbook, and complete the Assignment Part 1 ONLY. Use the information on page 134 to help you create your graphic organizer.

  14. In Summary: Why Did the Allies Win World War II? • Complete material superiority – weapons etc. • More soldiers • Better Strategy • Technology • Morale • Material and financial Wealth

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