War in the Pacific

1. War in the Pacific Turning the Tide

2. Japan’s Strategy • Create a defense perimeter of fortified islands far enough away to prevent the U.S. from bombing • At that point, the Japanese could negotiate a peace that would leave Japan in control of resources in China and SE Asia

4. Brutality of the POW’s • Shortly after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan was able to control the Phillipines, Hong Kong, Wake Island • By Dec. Japanese land at Phillipines; MacArthur orders forces to withdraw to Bataan Peninsula • In Apr. 1942, 80,000 Phillipine/American soldiers endure the 90 mile trek from Bataan to POW camp; Camp O’Donnell • Many suffered inhumane treatment (beaten, starved, bayoneted), but most died from dysentary, malnutrition, and lack of medical care. (25,000 die)

5. Bataan Peninsula

6. Fighting Back (Doolittle’s Raid) • Needing a morale boost for the Americans, FDR orders a bombing raid on Tokyo in Apr. 1942 • Bombing did little damage, but the Japanese psyche had been shaken (8 primary targets hit including a steel mill and several power plants; all repaired)

7. Coral Sea (May 1942) • Japan’s objective: Cut supply lines between Hawaii and Australia • U.S. intercepted Japanese radio traffic (“Magic”)Battle fought entirely by aircraft. (Ships never saw each other) • No victory for either side, but Japan abandoned plan to cut supply lines • Turned attention to Central Pacific and American naval bases at Midway

8. Midway (June 1942) Expansion of Japanese Aggression Ends • Most significant battle in the Pacific (U.S. uses “Magic” to intercept communication) • Zero fighters take down 36 of 42 U.S. planes • U.S. allows Japan to strike first; then attacks when Japan re-arms • U.S. destroy 4 Japanese carriers to our 1. • Japan shifts to defending what they already controlled

9. Battle of Guadalcanal(Aug. 1942) • First in U.S. effort to recapture Pacific Islands (strategy of “island-hopping”) • Strategically located NE of Australia • Marines in defensive position against the sea • Fighting took place in the jungle under terrible conditions • Emperor of Japan orders withdraw in Dec. (Japan loses 23,000 men of 36,000) • Goal: Australia safe; Routes protected

10. Final Campaigns (Iwo Jima) • From Feb 19 to Mar 11, 1945 the Marines captured Iwo Jima • 1st landing on Japanese islands; Would provide a place for American bombers to land • Japanese fight from caves, tunnels, and underground network • Battle lasted a month: 5,900 Americans lost; 19,000 Japanese lost

11. Battle of Iwo Jima

12. Battle for Okinawa (Apr. 1945) • Okinawa was within 350 miles of Japan (a stepping stone) • Largest American force of the war (550,000) w/ 1300 ships • Japanese knew they could not win; goal was to create war of attrition • Bloodiest battle of the war (12,000 Americans killed; 100,000 Japanese) • Okinawa showed how costly an invasion of the Japanese home islands would be • Battle leads to discussion on use of the atomic bomb

13. Plan to Invade Japan • US planned to invade Japan with eleven Army and Marine divisions (650,000 troops) • Casualty estimates for the operation were as high as 1,400,000 • Truman decided to use the atomic bomb to avoid such losses