Alaska and World War II
Aleutian Islands
• American internment of Unangan people
• 1942; 900 Unangan people are relocated to Southeast Alaska for 3 years.
• Link & Reference– http://www.nps.gov/aleu/historyculture/unangan-internment.htm
Japanese Offensive
• Dutch Harbor bombed June 3-4, 1942• Invasion of Attu & Kiska on June 6-7, 1942.• Captured by Japan:
– Naval weather crew on Kiska– Entire village on Attu
• Possible diversion from Midway Island campaign
• Shattered Sword; Jonathan Parshall & Anthony Tully argue it was not merely a diversion
Attu
• Japanese cut off from their naval forces• May 11, 1943 (nearly a year after Japanese
invastion) American recapture begins• Uncontested landings; use of difficult
terrain• Banzai charge on Massacre Bay• Dead
– 549 Americans– 2,351 Japanese– Only 28 Japanese captured
Kiska
• Nearly 35,000 U.S. troops marshalled to invade. (compared to 12,500 of Attu)
• Dense fog allows Japanese escape
Photos• http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcoll/findaids/docs/photos
graphics/AleutianIslandsinWWIIPHColl604.xml
Alaska-Canada (Alcan) Highway
• Built from 1942-1943• Connected Alaska with the “lower 48.”• Construction:
– Army troops– African American troops– “permafrost” & “muskeg”– Muncho Lake– Completed ‘43; opened to public in ‘48
Anchorage Area
• Elmendorf Air Force Base– June 8, 1940
• Fort Richardson– 1940 @ Elmendorf– 1947 relocated 5 miles away