World War II in the Pacific

Japanese Empire Expands In 1931 Japan conquered Manchuria in China In 1931 Japan conquered Manchuria in China Under General Hideki Tojo Japan continued its policy of expansion Under General Hideki Tojo Japan continued its policy of expansion Japanese troops spread throughout East Asia and the Pacific Japanese troops spread throughout East Asia and the Pacific Hong Kong, Singapore, Burma Hong Kong, Singapore, Burma They then took control of the oil-rich Dutch East Indies (now called Indonesia). They then took control of the oil-rich Dutch East Indies (now called Indonesia).

Japan Keeps Pressure on U.S. Japan was taking advantage of the U.S. decision to concentrate more of its attention to the war in Europe rather than in the Pacific Japan was taking advantage of the U.S. decision to concentrate more of its attention to the war in Europe rather than in the Pacific Expecting a counterattack they moved quickly to capture US territories in the Pacific including the Philippines, and several islands. Expecting a counterattack they moved quickly to capture US territories in the Pacific including the Philippines, and several islands.

Japan Conquers the Philippines Under General Douglas MacArthur (Commander of Army in Pacific), U.S. and Filipino forces made their stand against the Japanese invasion in the Philippines Under General Douglas MacArthur (Commander of Army in Pacific), U.S. and Filipino forces made their stand against the Japanese invasion in the Philippines When the capital, Manila, fell quickly to the Japanese When the capital, Manila, fell quickly to the Japanese MacArthur's troops retreated across Manila Bay to the Bataan Peninsula MacArthur's troops retreated across Manila Bay to the Bataan Peninsula In March 1942, President Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to go to Australia In March 1942, President Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to go to Australia "I shall return," the general vowed before making his escape. "I shall return," the general vowed before making his escape.

Bataan Death March Weak and hungry, U.S. and Filipino units remaining on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines they surrendered soon afterward Weak and hungry, U.S. and Filipino units remaining on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines they surrendered soon afterward The Japanese then marched more than 70,000 Americans and Filipinos— many of whom were sick and wounded—to prison camps The Japanese then marched more than 70,000 Americans and Filipinos— many of whom were sick and wounded—to prison camps The Japanese treated the prisoners harshly during their 65-mile forced march up the peninsula The Japanese treated the prisoners harshly during their 65-mile forced march up the peninsula No one knows just how many deaths took place on the Bataan Death March No one knows just how many deaths took place on the Bataan Death March However, historians estimate that between 400 and 1,000 Americans and possibly as many as 10,000 Filipinos died However, historians estimate that between 400 and 1,000 Americans and possibly as many as 10,000 Filipinos died

Tide Turns in the Pacific In early 1942 the Japanese seemed unstoppable In early 1942 the Japanese seemed unstoppable During 1942, however, Allied forces began to turn the tide of the war against Japan During 1942, however, Allied forces began to turn the tide of the war against Japan Lt. Colonel Jimmy Doolittle led a daring one-way attack on Tokyo and other cities on April 18, 1942 in Japan with medium B-25 bomber airplanes Lt. Colonel Jimmy Doolittle led a daring one-way attack on Tokyo and other cities on April 18, 1942 in Japan with medium B-25 bomber airplanesApril April Admiral Chester Nimitz, commander of U.S. Navy in the Pacific, had an important, top secret advantage against the Japanese Admiral Chester Nimitz, commander of U.S. Navy in the Pacific, had an important, top secret advantage against the Japanese Navy experts had cracked the Japanese naval code and could therefore read secret Japanese messages Navy experts had cracked the Japanese naval code and could therefore read secret Japanese messages As a result, Nimitz knew that the Japanese planned to capture Port Moresby, New Guinea. As a result, Nimitz knew that the Japanese planned to capture Port Moresby, New Guinea.

Battle of Coral Sea In early May 1942, he sent an Allied fleet to attack the Japanese invasion force In early May 1942, he sent an Allied fleet to attack the Japanese invasion force The fleet met the Japanese northeast of Australia in the Battle of the Coral Sea The fleet met the Japanese northeast of Australia in the Battle of the Coral Sea U.S. planes sank one Japanese carrier and damaged another U.S. planes sank one Japanese carrier and damaged another The U.S. Navy suffered losses as well The U.S. Navy suffered losses as well Despite their losses, the Allies had turned back the Japanese advance for the first time. Despite their losses, the Allies had turned back the Japanese advance for the first time.

Battle of Midway Japanese forces hoped to seize the Midway Islands, located northwest of Hawaii Japanese forces hoped to seize the Midway Islands, located northwest of Hawaii The Battle of Midway, which took place between June , was a battle of carrier-based airplanes on the sea The Battle of Midway, which took place between June , was a battle of carrier-based airplanes on the sea Japanese and U.S. warplanes fought in the air, trying to sink each other's aircraft carriers Japanese and U.S. warplanes fought in the air, trying to sink each other's aircraft carriers When the battle was over, the U.S. Navy had crippled the Japanese navy by sinking four of its carriers When the battle was over, the U.S. Navy had crippled the Japanese navy by sinking four of its carriers While losing only one of its own While losing only one of its own

U.S. Goes on the Offensive The U.S. Navy had finally stopped the advance of Japanese forces in the Pacific The U.S. Navy had finally stopped the advance of Japanese forces in the Pacific The Allies turned their efforts toward Guadalcanal, one of the Solomon Islands in the southwest Pacific The Allies turned their efforts toward Guadalcanal, one of the Solomon Islands in the southwest Pacific Japanese troops were building an airstrip there Japanese troops were building an airstrip there From Guadalcanal, Japanese forces could threaten the important sea link between Australia and U.S. From Guadalcanal, Japanese forces could threaten the important sea link between Australia and U.S. The fight for Guadalcanal took place on land, at sea, and in the air For months neither side could gain a clear advantage For months neither side could gain a clear advantage Finally, the Allies won control of the island in early Finally, the Allies won control of the island in early 1943.

Island-Hopping After Guadalcanal, Allied commanders began to develop plans to attack Japan itself After Guadalcanal, Allied commanders began to develop plans to attack Japan itself The Allies planned to conquer one Pacific island after another, landing only on the most important islands The Allies planned to conquer one Pacific island after another, landing only on the most important islands Gradually, they would move closer to Japan while isolating Japanese troops on bypassed islands Gradually, they would move closer to Japan while isolating Japanese troops on bypassed islands This strategy, called Island Hopping, would help the Allies gain new bases This strategy, called Island Hopping, would help the Allies gain new bases Island-Hopping = strategy of conquering only certain Pacific islands that were important to the Allied advance to get close enough to attack mainland Japan Island-Hopping = strategy of conquering only certain Pacific islands that were important to the Allied advance to get close enough to attack mainland Japan

MacArthur Leads Move to Japan From the bases gained through island hopping the Allies could bomb and later invade Japan From the bases gained through island hopping the Allies could bomb and later invade Japan Forces under General MacArthur battled the Japanese on New Guinea in November 1943 Forces under General MacArthur battled the Japanese on New Guinea in November 1943 From these bases, U.S. planes began bombing the main islands of Japan From these bases, U.S. planes began bombing the main islands of Japan U.S. submarines were attacking Japanese cargo ships, cutting off the flow of raw materials to Japan. U.S. submarines were attacking Japanese cargo ships, cutting off the flow of raw materials to Japan.

MacArthur Returns to Philippines General MacArthur now planned to take back the Philippines General MacArthur now planned to take back the Philippines The Japanese navy gathered to block the Allied invasion force in October 1944 The Japanese navy gathered to block the Allied invasion force in October 1944 The two sides met in the Battle of Leyte Gulf—the largest naval battle in history The two sides met in the Battle of Leyte Gulf—the largest naval battle in history Both sides took heavy losses from airplane raids and artillery fire. Both sides took heavy losses from airplane raids and artillery fire. In the end, however, the Allies won, greatly reducing the strength of the Japanese fleet. In the end, however, the Allies won, greatly reducing the strength of the Japanese fleet. MacArthur had kept his promise to return to the Philippines MacArthur had kept his promise to return to the Philippines

Iwo Jima By spring 1945 the war against Japan had entered its final phase By spring 1945 the war against Japan had entered its final phase U.S. bombers hit targets in Japan during massive nighttime raids U.S. bombers hit targets in Japan during massive nighttime raids 1. A raid on Tokyo in March 1945 destroyed about one fourth of the Japanese capital The Allies also bombed other major Japanese cities into ruins and killed tens of thousands of Japanese The Allies also bombed other major Japanese cities into ruins and killed tens of thousands of Japanese Despite great destruction and loss of life, Japan still refused to surrender Despite great destruction and loss of life, Japan still refused to surrender As Allied forces got closer to Japan, they faced some of the fiercest fighting of World War II As Allied forces got closer to Japan, they faced some of the fiercest fighting of World War II For example, several thousand Americans and most of the 22,000 Japanese defenders died in the February 1945 battle for the island of Iwo Jima For example, several thousand Americans and most of the 22,000 Japanese defenders died in the February 1945 battle for the island of Iwo Jima

Okinawa Falls: U.S. within striking distance of Japan In the battle for Okinawa, (April-June 1945) the Japanese air force used a deadly tactic involving crashing piloted planes into Allied ships In the battle for Okinawa, (April-June 1945) the Japanese air force used a deadly tactic involving crashing piloted planes into Allied ships Many of these kamikaze planes found their targets off the island of Okinawa Many of these kamikaze planes found their targets off the island of Okinawa They caused heavy damage to Allied ships and killed nearly 5,000 Allied sailors They caused heavy damage to Allied ships and killed nearly 5,000 Allied sailors Despite the kamikaze attacks, the Allies stuck to their goal—the complete defeat of Japan Despite the kamikaze attacks, the Allies stuck to their goal—the complete defeat of Japan The losses during nearly three months of fighting on Okinawa were staggering The losses during nearly three months of fighting on Okinawa were staggering More than 110,000 Japanese troops—almost the entire force on Okinawa—died More than 110,000 Japanese troops—almost the entire force on Okinawa—died The Allies suffered some 12,000 dead and about 37,000 wounded The Allies suffered some 12,000 dead and about 37,000 wounded With the fall of Okinawa, Allied leaders looked to attack Japan itself for final victory With the fall of Okinawa, Allied leaders looked to attack Japan itself for final victory