The Pacific Theatre: Japanese Expansion 1937-1942 -Derek Smith- MBSS

World War Two Slideshows Danzig to Moscow (Europe 1939-1941) Japanese Expansion (Pacific 1937-1942) Stalingrad to Berlin (Europe 1942-1945) Midway to the Missouri (Pacific 1942-1945) The Holocaust (1933-1945) Derek Smith MBSS

Slideshow Outline Background: Japan in Asia Background: Japan & America Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor: Significance Wake Island US & Canadian Internment Singapore (Malaya) Taking The Dutch East Indies The Philippines The Bataan Death March The Doolittle Raids The Battle of The Coral Sea Japanese Offensive Derek Smith MBSS

Background: Japan in Asia (review) Japan occupied Korea in 1905 (annexed in 1910) This began a period of imperialist expansion, (increased nationalism and growing militarism). Japan staged The 1931 Mukden Incident as a pretext for invading Manchuria. Japan established the state of Manchukuo with a puppet ruler, the last Emperor of China, Henry PuYi. The next six years were dominated by minor military clashes, often named “incidents”. The final one came with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. This incident was a minor military conflict near an important bridge north of Beijing on July 7, 1937. The Japanese used it as a pretext to invade China. Derek Smith MBSS

Background: Japan & America (review) As Japanese aggression in China became alarming to the US, they lodged formal complaints. America, bound by neutrality, was not able to become involved. The US began to put economic pressure on Japan. Exports of scrap metal were stopped. Exports of oil were restricted and eventually cut. Japanese accounts and property in the US were seized These sanctions were a significant annoyance to the Japanese. The Japanese military needed a secure source of oil and resources, and control of the seas to get it. Derek Smith MBSS

Pearl Harbour A surprise attack on the US on Dec. 7, 1941 (Dec 8 on the Japanese side of the International Date Line) It was launched from six Japanese carriers, and consisted of two waves, totalling 353 planes. Derek Smith MBSS

Pearl Harbour: Significance The US lost: Sunk or damaged: 8 battleships, 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers 188 aircraft 2,402 killed, 1,282 wounded Japan lost only 29 planes, 5 mini-subs, 65 men killed or wounded. The US declared war on Japan, ending US neutrality & isolation The US aircraft carriers were at sea, and were untouched Derek Smith MBSS

Wake Island The Battle of Wake Island started on Dec 8th, with Japanese bombing. The Japanese attempted a landing on Dec 11th, but were turned away. 2 Japanese destroyers were sunk- their first surface ship losses. It was also Japan’s first defeat. The commander was mistakenly quoted as bravely requesting, “Send us more Japs” The Japanese finally took the island on December 23, 1941, and held it until Sept. 4, 1945. Derek Smith MBSS

US & Canadian Internment Anti-Japanese sentiment grew in America and Canada Feb 19, 1942, FDR signed an Executive Order, allowing for the establishment of exclusion zones, and the internment of over 120,000 people of Japanese origin. Feb 24, 1942, PM King passed an Order in Council, allowing the internment of more than 20,000 Japanese living within 100 miles of the coast. Derek Smith MBSS

Singapore (Malaya) The Japanese invaded Malaya through Thailand, and in the south bombed Singapore on Dec 8, 1941. Dec. 10, off the coast of Malaya, two British destroyers were sunk by Japanese aircraft; HMS Prince of Wales & HMS Repulse, demonstrating the dominance of air cover over naval power. The attack ended Feb. 15, 1942. ~130,000 British, Dutch, Indian and Australian troops were taken prisoner. Derek Smith MBSS

Taking the Dutch East Indies The Japanese were moving quickly, taking bases in Sumatra, Borneo, and Celebes. On Feb 19, 1942, the same Japanese fleet that bombed Pearl Harbour, bombed Darwin, Australia. Feb. 27, the first major sea battle, The Battle of Java Sea, was a decisive win for Japan. The Allied forces on Java surrendered on March 12, 1942. Derek Smith MBSS

The Philippines The Japanese began their assault on the Philippines on Dec 8, 1941 The Philippines was an American Commonwealth at the time, so their defence was coordinated by the US Dec 12- about 3,000 Japanese troops had landed in the north. Dec 22- 43,000 additional Japanese forces landed. Derek Smith MBSS

The Philippines The US & Filipino forces retreated to the Bataan Peninsula As the situation deteriorated, FDR ordered Gen. Douglas MacArthur, (Supreme Allied Commander South West Pacific), to retreat to Australia (not the troops). This is when he delivered his famous speech, “I will return.” Bataan was lost on April 10, 1942. Remaining defence forces surrendered on May 8, 1942 More than 80,000 soldiers were ordered to surrender. Derek Smith MBSS

The Bataan Death March April ‘42 The Japanese forced the POW’s (between 70-80 thousand) to march 97kms over 6 days in early April, 1942. POW’s were randomly beaten or executed . Those falling or asking for water were often executed. Soldiers sometimes stuck bayonets out of trucks & cut POW’s, others would drive over fallen POW’s. Death rate est. at 25-30% Derek Smith MBSS

The Doolittle Raids April 18, 1942 America needed to strike back at Japan for Pearl Harbor, if only for morale. A daring and creative raid was planned by Lt. Col. James Doolittle. 16 B-25 bombers took off from a carrier (not normal!), bombed Japan, and crash landed in China. It had limited impact on Japan, but was a boost to American morale. Derek Smith MBSS

The Battle of The Coral Sea May 4-8, 1942 This was the first battle in which 2 carrier groups fought each other, but no ships saw or fired on those of the other. the Battle of the Coral Sea was a loss for the Americans, in terms of equipment. But it was a win in terms of stopping Japanese expansion to the south toward Australia. Derek Smith MBSS

Japanese Offensive By the end of May 1942, Japan had achieved virtually all of her initial objectives in seizing the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and the Dutch East Indies.  Derek Smith MBSS