Japan’s Pacific Campaign Chapter 16 Section 2

Similar to Hitler, Japanese military leaders hoped in increase the Japanese empire. The expansion started with the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and six years later moved into China. However, China’s resistance drained Japan economically and so, to replenish resources, Japan turned its sights towards the rich European colonies of southeast Asia.

The U.S. Responds In October 1940, the U.S. had cracked one of the codes that the Japanese used in sending secret messages and so, the Japanese plans for expansion into Southeast Asia were no surprise. In October 1940, the U.S. had cracked one of the codes that the Japanese used in sending secret messages and so, the Japanese plans for expansion into Southeast Asia were no surprise. However, if the Japanese conquered European colonies there then the U.S. controlled Philippine Islands and Guam could be threatened. However, if the Japanese conquered European colonies there then the U.S. controlled Philippine Islands and Guam could be threatened. So, the U.S. sent troops to aid the Chinese resistance. So, the U.S. sent troops to aid the Chinese resistance. When the Japanese overran the French Indochina: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos in July 1941, Roosevelt cut off oil shipments to Japan. When the Japanese overran the French Indochina: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos in July 1941, Roosevelt cut off oil shipments to Japan.

Why do the Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor? Japan suffered from oil shortages but they continued their conquests. They wanted to catch the European colonial powers and the U.S. by surprise. They planned attacks on British and Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia and American outposts in the Pacific at the same time. Japan’s greatest naval strategists also called for an attack on the U.S. fleet in Hawaii. He said: It was “a dagger pointed at (Japan’s) throat” and must be destroyed.

Day of Infamy When: Morning of December 7, 1941 Where: Pearl Harbor (in Hawaii) What was known: a message was decoded that an attack would occur, however, when and where was not deciphered Damages : (in 2 hours) 19 ships had been sunk or damaged (including 8 battleships), 2,300 Americans were killed, over 1,100 wounded Roosevelt’s response: He declared that December 7, 1941, was “a date which will live in infamy.” Congress quickly accepted his request for a declaration of war on Japan and its allies.

About the same time as Pearl Harbor… The Japanese *launched bombing raids on the British colony of Hong Kong and American-controlled Guam and Wake Island *Landed an invasion force in Thailand

Japanese Victories Guam and Wake Island Guam and Wake Island Then, they attacked the Philippine Islands marching into the capital, Manila. American and Filipino forces took defensive positions on the Bataan peninsula but fell in April. Then, they attacked the Philippine Islands marching into the capital, Manila. American and Filipino forces took defensive positions on the Bataan peninsula but fell in April. British controlled areas also attacked and seized: Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Dutch East Indies (today, Indochina) which included the islands of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and Celebes. They also seized Burma. British controlled areas also attacked and seized: Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Dutch East Indies (today, Indochina) which included the islands of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and Celebes. They also seized Burma.

How did the Japanese Treat Prisoners of War? To the Japanese, surrender was considered dishonorable and so prisoners of war were treated with much cruelty. For example, on the Bataan Death March, the Japanese forced prisoners to march more than 50 miles up the peninsula. Your textbook cites one prisoners reports of cruelties he endured: “I was forced to watch as they buried six of my Scouts alive. They made the men dig their own graves, and then had them kneel down in a pit. The guards hit them over the head with shovels to stun them and then piled the earth on top.” Out of 70,000 prisoners who began the death march, only 54,000 survived.

The Allies Strike Back April 1942, 16 B-25 bombers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle bombed Tokyo and several other Japanese cities. The bombs, not doing much damage, did show that Japan was vulnerable to attack and it raised American morale and shook the confidence of Japan.

The Battle of the Coral Sea The Allies versus Japan New naval warfare used The opposing ships did not fire a single shot, rather, they sent airplanes taking off from huge aircraft carriers to attack ships. The Allies suffered more losses in ships and troops than did the Japanese. However, the Allies did stop Japan from a southward advance.

The Battle of Midway Japan targeted Midway island, about 1,500 miles from Hawaii and the location of a key American airfield. Thanks to Allied code breakers, Admiral Chester Nimitz, commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific fleet knew the Japanese were headed to Midway. Admiral Yamamoto himself was commander of the Japanese fleet.

On June 4, Nimitz allowed the Japanese to begin their assault on Midway. As the first Japanese planes got into the air, American planes attacked the Japanese fleet. Many Japanese planes were still on the decks of the aircraft carriers. This strategy worked as American pilots destroyed 332 Japanese planes, all four air craft carriers, and one support ship. By June 7,1942, Yamamoto had ordered a retreat and the battle was over. The Battle of Midway turned the tide of war in the Pacific.

An Allied Offensive With morale high, the Allies take the offensive. General Douglas MacArthur, the commander of the Allied land forces in the Pacific, developed a plan of “ island-hopping.” He wanted to island-hop past Japanese strongholds and seize the islands that were not so well defended but were closer to Japan. (note: the Japanese had occupied hundreds of islands across the ocean and so storming each island would be costly).

Island-Hopping The first target was the island of the Guadacanal in the Soloman Islands where the Japanese were building a huge air base. The first target was the island of the Guadacanal in the Soloman Islands where the Japanese were building a huge air base. On August 7, 1942, several thousand U.S. marines, with Australian support, landed on the Guadacanal and the neighboring island of Tulagi. On August 7, 1942, several thousand U.S. marines, with Australian support, landed on the Guadacanal and the neighboring island of Tulagi. February 1943, after 6 months of fighting on land and at sea, the Battle of Guadalcanal finally ended. After losing more than 24,000 of a force of 36,000 the Japanese abandoned what they called the “Island of Death.” February 1943, after 6 months of fighting on land and at sea, the Battle of Guadalcanal finally ended. After losing more than 24,000 of a force of 36,000 the Japanese abandoned what they called the “Island of Death.”

What is going on in Europe during these Pacific Battles? The Nazi’s moved ahead with Hitler’s design of a new order in Europe. This design included plans for dealing with those that were considered unfit for the Third Reich.