Pacific Theatre and the Atomic Bomb WWII- Part 4 Pacific Theatre and the Atomic Bomb

Start of Pacific Theatre Japan had taken control of much of East Asia Philippines attacked 10 hours after Pearl Harbor, invaded few days later Japanese captured 76,000 Filipinos and Americans as POWs (prisoners of war)

In the Philippines after Japan captured them Bataan Death March In the Philippines after Japan captured them Japan forced POWs to march 60 miles to train, then 8 more miles after the train ride to POW camp Denied water and rest; were beaten and tortured Died of diseases, some were executed Trip took 6-12 days, 10,000 died on march, 15,000 more died in the camp Later declared a war crime

“To amuse themselves, the Japanese guards would push prisoners over cliffs.  Their screams ended only when they hit jagged rocks below. The Filipinos fared even worse. Young girls were pulled out of ranks and raped repeatedly. Anyone who resisted was shot.  Frightened mothers would rub human dung on their daughters' faces to make them unattractive to the guards. ” “Japanese soldiers used prisoners for bayonet practice, plunging their weapons repeatedly into their screaming victims. ” “Thirsty, dehydrated men drank from bacteria filled pools, polluted streams and muddy rice paddies. They held their noses to seal off the sickening odor but they drank all they could.”

Major Battles Battle of Philippines – led to Bataan Death March Douglas McArthur - General of Philippines – vowed to return after the Japanese took it over Battle of Midway – turning point of war in Pacific; June 4, 1942 Destroyed 4 Japanese ships and 250 aircrafts; eliminated risk of Japanese attack on US Philippines Campaign – McArthur returned in 1944 to retake island; controlled by June 1945

What was the importance of the Battle of Midway?

Chester Nimitz- commander-in-chief in Pacific Ocean Areas Strategies Island hopping- US strategy of attacking/taking over specific islands in order to set up an attack of Japan mainland. Chester Nimitz- commander-in-chief in Pacific Ocean Areas Coordinated offensive that lead to Japanese surrender Signed peace treaty at end of war

What strategy led the United States to victory against Japan?

Japanese Strategies Kamikazes- suicide planes- loaded planes with bombs and crashed them into enemy ships Banzai- soldiers try to kill as many enemy as possible before they are killed

Battle of Iwo Jima Battle of Okinawa Major Battles Began Feb 1945; between marines and Japanese on small island 25,000 casualties; US won Photo of troops raising flag Battle of Okinawa Last large battle of WWII Captured island after 3 months of fights Set scale for invasion of Japanese main islands

Iwo Jima

Okinawa

Convinced Roosevelt to develop atomic weapons before the Germans The Manhattan Project Albert Einstein – German-born, Jewish, fled Germany after Hitler came to power Convinced Roosevelt to develop atomic weapons before the Germans Manhattan Project –U.S. program to develop an atomic weapon Headed by J. Robert Oppenheimer; presided over the successful atomic weapon test at Alamogordo, NM

FDR dies, Harry Truman becomes President

THE END Used atomic weapons on Japan to end the war as quickly as possible First bomb dropped on Hiroshima on Aug 6, 1945 Code name for bomb: Little Boy Second dropped on Nagasaki on Aug 9, 1945 Surrendered 6 days later Official surrender happened on Sept 2, 1945 V-J Day (Victory over Japan)

Anti- using atomic bomb Controversy The decision to use one of the most controversial decisions in history Pro- using atomic bomb Anti- using atomic bomb Invasion of the Japanese islands would cost hundreds of thousands of American lives Using the bomb would end the war more quickly and save lives in the long run Attacking a civilian population Effects of radiation Would set precedent (example) that it’s OK to use atomic weapons on people

Truman discussed other possibilities at the time: Controversy Truman discussed other possibilities at the time: A naval blockade of Japan to starve Japan into submission A demonstration of the atomic weapon on a deserted Pacific island, to serve as a warning Accepting something less than unconditional surrender (Japanese leaders refused to consider the repudiation of the Emperor’s divine status)

Some said we did it to prevent USSR involvement in the Pacific War Controversy Some said we did it to prevent USSR involvement in the Pacific War Soviets declared war on Japan just days before surrender By ending the war with the atomic bombs, the Soviets were left out of reconstruction of Japan Japan would be saved from communism

Why did President Truman decided to use atomic weapons?

BIG IDEA How is WWII a major turning point in U.S. history?