Pacific Warfare Strategies: Bataan Death March & Allied Victory

1. QOD 12/15 • What type of military strategy was used by the United States to defeat the Japanese in the war in the Pacific. Explain.

2. Bataan Death March • In December, 1941, Japanese forces also attacked the island of the Philippines (controlled by U.S.) • American forces in the Philippines attempted to hold Japanese forces back • 80,000 American and Filipino troops led by General MacArthur were forced to retreat to the Bataan Peninsula

5. Bataan Death March • In Bataan, American forces suffered huge losses due to combat, malaria, and a Japanese blockade of the island • Due to severe losses, FDR ordered General MacArthur to leave the Philippines • “I shall return”

6. Bataan Death March • After MacArthur’s departure, American forces surrendered to the Japanese in April, 1942 • The Japanese captured 70,000 troops, and forced them to walk 60 miles to San Fernando, where they were sent to prison camps • 14,000 prisoners died on the march

9. Activity • With a partner, read the interview from a survivor of the Bataan Death March • After you have read the interview, EACH PERSON is to complete a journal entry assuming the role of a survivor of the Death March • The journal entry should be one paragraph in length and describe the hardships faced by the survivor

10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cfk1ISOEM4

11. QOD 12/16 • How did many Americans feel after the attack at Pearl Harbor in December, 1941?

13. Doolittle Raid • On April 18, 1942, Lt. General James Doolittle & his men launched an attack on the Japanese capital of Tokyo, and other key Japanese cities • This was the first attack on the Japanese mainland during WWII

14. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRNMbOqYOuM • 2:22

15. QOD 12/17 • What region in the Pacific was vital for US victory against Japan? (Hint: What was our home base?)

16. Battle of Coral Sea • May, 1942 • American forces stopped the Japanese in their drive toward Australia • Fighting mostly done by airplanes due to low visibility • Americans force Japanese to retreat • 1st time since Pearl Harbor Japanese had been stopped

18. Battle of Midway • June, 1942 • Japan’s next move was to attack the strategic island of Midway (located in Central Pacific; 1,000 miles north of Hawaii) • Americans broke Japanese codes & knew of this planned attack • Americans moved swiftly to defend the island

19. Battle of Midway • Japanese were caught off guard & suffered huge devastation • Turning point of war in the Pacific because it allowed U.S. to implement our “island hopping” strategy to gain back land & move closer to main island Japan

21. Allied Offensive • From 1942-1944, Americans captured: • Guadalcanal • Tarawa • Marshall Islands • Marianas Islands • Philippines

22. Battle of Iwo Jima • Feb., 1945 • After MacArthur recaptured the Philippines, his forces headed towards Iwo Jima • Iwo Jima was a strategic island to capture due to its natural defenses (Americans wanted to build a naval base on this island to launch an attack on main island Japan)

26. Battle of Iwo Jima • However, the island was heavily defended with Japanese forces entrenched in tunnels and caves • Americans suffered great losses on this island, but were able to defeat the Japanese

28. Battle of Okinawa • April, 1945 • After Iwo Jima, American forces were getting closer to the Mainland of Japan with the invasion of Okinawa • During the battle, the Japanese unleashed kamikaze attacks and bushido mentality with ritual suicides over the shame of surrender

29. Battle of Okinawa • By June, American forces has secured Okinawa (& the Philippines), & were able to launch its attack on mainland Japan