The Pacific War Dates: July 7, August 14, 1945 Began with the Second Sino-Japanese war, between China and Japan Concluded with Japan’s surrender to the Allied powers

Prelude to War Japan seeks to establish “The Greater East Asia Co- Prosperity Sphere” –“a bloc of Asian nations led by the Japanese and free of Western powers” –Invasions of Manchuria and Korea follow Three political forces in Japan: –Emperor Hirohito –Civilian Government –Military branches The army informs the civilian gov’t of the Manchuria campaign two months after it begins.

1932

1937 A B C D “ABCD Encirclement”

1940

1941 Dec 8/7 1941

Fleet Admiral Yamamoto Fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto “The US fleet is a dagger pointed at our throat and must be destroyed.” “I can run wild for six months,after that, I have no expectation of success.” - Yamamoto, during discussions on the planned Pearl Harbour Attack

Attack on Pearl Harbour Dec 7, “A day that will live in infamy”

Aftermath "Being saturated and satiated with emotion and sensation, I went to bed and slept the sleep of the saved and thankful.” - Winston Churchill

1941

1942

Bataan Death March (April 1942) –12,000 Americans walked 60 miles to a POW camp –No food or water –5,000 died

Battle of Coral Sea First naval battle carried out entirely by aircraft. The enemy ships never even came into contact with each other May 7, 1942 Strategic Allied victory—halted the Japanese advance on Australia

The Battle Of Midway June months after Pearl Harbour Yamamoto seeks to capture Midway atoll and thus confront and destroy the US Navy’s carrier forces.

Midway Order of Battle US forces: 3 carriers ~50 support ships 233 carrier aircraft 127 land-based aircraft Japanese forces: 4 carriers 7 battleships ~150 support ships 248 carrier aircraft 16 floatplanes

The Battle of Midway The first major carrier vs. carrier engagement Decided by cryptanalysis, tactics, radar, pilot skill, weather, and luck.

The Battle of Midway Scouts from the US fleet find the Japanese Fleet first A delayed scout means the Japanese fleet receives a warning of US carriers only minutes before the first US planes attack After losing many planes in ineffective strikes, US dive bombers manage to set three Japanese carriers on fire. A Japanese counterstrike does heavy damage to one US carrier Japanese battleships never see combat

The Battle of Midway US forces: 3 carriers, 1 lost ~50 support ships, 1 destroyer lost 360 aircraft, 98 lost 307 dead Japanese forces: 4 carriers, 4 lost 7 battleships, 0 lost ~150 support ships, 1 cruiser lost 264 aircraft, 228 lost 3058 dead

Strategic Bombing B-29 Superfortress bombers

Island-Hopping Warfare American and Australian troops land in Borneo

Guadalcanal—8/42-2/43 Who: US vs. Japan Where: Island near Australia— one of Solomon Islands What: One of the most vicious campaigns –Japanese put up a fierce resistance –US has superior air and naval power Results: –First time US land troops defeat Japanese –Americans are able to secure the island

The Final Year The US retakes the Philippines in a long and costly campaign. Borneo, Iwo Jima and the Okinawa fall, with heavy losses on both sides. The military leadership of Japan refuses to give up, in spite of the loss of the bulk of their forces. An edict is issued, ordering civilians on the main Japanese islands to construct bamboo spears and meet the invaders on the beaches. US Bombers produce a firestorm in Tokyo, killing 100,000 people in two days. The US, Britain and China issue the Potsdam Declaration, demanding Japan’s surrender.

Iwo Jima February-March 1945 Island off the coast of Japan—Japanese soil –Longest sustained aerial offensive of the war –More marines sent than in any other battle –100,000 men fighting on an island the 1/3 the size of Manhattan –Japanese fought from below ground—Allies rarely saw a soldier –The battle was won inch-by-inch

Iwo Jima Results: US win –Provides a link in the chain of bomber bases –By the war’s end, 2,400 B-29 bombers and 27,000 crewmen made emergency landings. –“4 marines raising US flag”

Okinawa Casualties –US—12,500 killed; 36,000 wounded –Japan—93,000 troops killed; 94,000 civilians killed (many killed themselves) Kamikazes—suicide pilots –Crashed planes loaded with explosives –Sank 30 US vessels

Nuclear Strikes Aug 6, Uranium bomb “Little Boy” dropped on Hiroshima, killing 140,000 Aug 9, Plutonium bomb “Fat Man” dropped on Nagasaki, killing 74,000

Japan Surrenders Representatives of Japan’s Foreign Ministry, Army and Navy appear to sign the surrender aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay