War in the Pacific

War in the PacificTurning the Tide

Japans StrategyCreate 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

Brutality of the POWsShortly after Japans attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan was able to control the Phillipines, Hong Kong, Wake IslandBy Dec. Japanese land at Phillipines; MacArthur orders forces to withdraw to Bataan PeninsulaIn Apr. 1942, 80,000 Phillipine/American soldiers endure the 90 mile trek from Bataan to POW camp; Camp ODonnell

Many suffered inhumane treatment (beaten, starved, bayoneted), but most died from dysentary, malnutrition, and lack of medical care. (25,000 die)

Bataan Peninsula

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

Coral Sea (May 1942)Japans objective: Cut supply lines between Hawaii and AustraliaU.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 linesTurned attention to Central Pacific and American naval bases at MidwayMidway (June 1942)Expansion of Japanese Aggression EndsMost significant battle in the Pacific (U.S. uses Magic to intercept communication)Zero fighters take down 36 of 42 U.S. planesU.S. allows Japan to strike first; then attacks when Japan re-armsU.S. destroy 4 Japanese carriers to our 1. Japan shifts to defending what they already controlledBattle of Guadalcanal(Aug. 1942)First in U.S. effort to recapture Pacific Islands (strategy of island-hopping)Strategically located NE of AustraliaMarines in defensive position against the seaFighting 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 protectedFinal Campaigns (Iwo Jima)From Feb 19 to Mar 11, 1945 the Marines captured Iwo Jima1st landing on Japanese islands; Would provide a place for American bombers to landJapanese fight from caves, tunnels, and underground networkBattle lasted a month: 5,900 Americans lost; 19,000 Japanese lostBattle of Iwo Jima

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 shipsJapanese knew they could not win; goal was to create war of attritionBloodiest battle of the war (12,000 Americans killed; 100,000 Japanese)Okinawa showed how costly an invasion of the Japanese home islands would beBattle leads to discussion on use of the atomic bombPlan to Invade JapanUS planned to invade Japan with eleven Army and Marine divisions (650,000 troops)Casualty estimates for the operation were as high as 1,400,000Truman decided to use the atomic bomb to avoid such losses