WWII – Pacific Theatre Lecture II - COURSE

Course and Outcome WWII Pacific Japan attacked Philippines, Malaya, Dutch East Indies & other Pacific islands. Defeated US and Filipino forces 1942, Japan ControlledS.E. Asia Named Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.

US Strategy Vs Japanese Strategy USA Island hopping – capture certain key islands until Japan’s came within Bomber range Bypass those with no strategic value to save lives and isolate Japanese defenders left with no one to fight against and cut off from supplies Island hopping campaign was led by General Douglas MacArthur(Army) and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz(Navy)

JAPAN expansion into Asia’s mainland and securing of resources they lacked, Japan was forced to get oil from Southeast Asia(Embargo) deal a huge blow to the US first: Pearl Harbor hoped the US would take a long time to rebuild and would try to bargain for peace Japanes plan on destroying US Air Craft Carriers They would occupy Islands around the Pacific to protect Japan Japan would regress to a stiff defensive strategy for the next three years

Discuss What are the key differences in the US and Japanese War strategy?

Taking of the Philippines Just hours after the attack at Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces attacked the Philippines and other Pacific Islands. Over the next week, the Japanese bombed the Philippines and gained air superiority. In Dec 22, Japanese landed ground forces. By March General Mac Arthur fled the Philippines

Bataan Death March. After the April 9, 1942, U.S. surrender of the Bataan Peninsula about 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan made a 65-mile march to prison camps. from 5,000 to 18,000 Filipino deaths and 500 to 650 American deaths during the march. Thousands more died in the POW Camp O’Donnell

Discuss Why do you think the Japanese treated the POW’s with such cruelty?

Doolittle’s Air Raids James Doolittle led raid was on Tokyo April 18, 1942. 3 of the 8 airmen captured were executed. The damage to the intended military targets was modest but it boosted morale for Americans. The Japanese planned the early destruction of America's aircraft carriers, Battle of Midway

Allies Advance in Pacific In Pacific, Battle of the Coral Sea, May, 1942 stopped Japanese advance and saved Australia from invasion. Battle of Midway, U.S. planes destroyed four Japanese aircraft carriers (US broke Japanese secret military code.) U.S. naval supremacy.

First fighting on Japanese Soil 1945 Iwo Jima Uninhabited Island. Make a perfect airstrip for constant bombing of Japan US losses 6,821 JAPAN losses estimated at over 18,000 Japanese forces built miles of tunnels safe from bombardment Refusals to surrender made this battle extremely bloody and difficult

Okinawa Over 2 ½ month battle on a civilian populated Island US goal was to use as base for Air operations for possible attack on Japan 12,500 Us Troops killed Japan lost over 100,000 Many civilians jumped off cliffs or committed suicide in fear of US troops https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXvtDi9a1Oc

Discuss Why was Okinawa seen as a preview for an invasion of Japan.

Japanese Internment Camps Japanese Americans faced even more serious discrimination. On West Coast, 110,000 Japanese-Americans (most of whom were U.S. citizens) were removed to internment camps for “security reasons.” Most lost all possessions They allowed Japanese American men to enter US Army and fight in Europe.

White Board List one reason Japanese Americans were targeted more so than German Americans

Total War Against the Japanese Warfare that includes any and all civilian-associated resources and infrastructure as legitimate military targets, mobilizes all of the resources of society to fight the war, Allies bombed civilian factory and cities in Germany and Japan Tokyo Fire bombing 1942: 75k-200k fatalities

Japanese War Time Mentality The Japanese fought for their Emperor “Hirohito” who was godlike Hedeki Tojo: Was the military leader making most of the decisions. Military Had the Bushido code Soldiers could not surrender Towards the end of the war Kamikaze suicide pilots were used. Kamikaze: Divine wind Mobilization of entire nations made a land assault difficult. Japanse propoganda portrayed US troops as monsters Civilians were pushed to fight to the end US feared heavy losses in street fighting.

Who is being portrayed here? What is the key message?

Manhattan Project US created the Atomic bomb “Manhattan Project” Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico Robert Oppenheimer lead man.

A BOMBS Hiroshima Aug 6 1945- Air Plane “Enola Gay” drop A-bomb“Little Boy” on Hiroshima killing 70,000 people Nagasaki Aug 9 1945- Air plane “Bockscar” drop “Fat Man” city- Nagasaki Killing 40,000 people many more died later of wounds and/or radiation poisoning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF4LQaWJRDg

Discuss Was the US justified in its attack with A bombs?

(VJ- Day!) After the Devastations of the 2 Bombs Emperor Hirohito forced his military generals to surrender unconditionally on August 14, 1945 (VJ- Day!)

After the War Allied forces occupied Japan 1945-1952 Emperor is allowed to keep his title but with no Political power General Douglas A. MacArthur, enacted widespread military, political, economic, and social reforms. Tokyo Trials :Trial for Japanese War Criminals Charges were brought by various nations affected by the Japanese. China had the highest with resulting in 504 convictions and 149 executions.