The Pacific Theater of World War II July 7 th, 1937-August 14 th, 1945

Japan USA Canada Australia China SE Asia The Pacific Ocean

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

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

Prewar

1932

1937 A B C D “ABCD Encirclement”

1940

1941 Dec 8/7 1941

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

Pearl Harbor

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 Harbor Attack

Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” Fighter Nakajima B5N torpedo bomber Aichi D3A dive bomber Japanese Aircraft

The Attack

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

The Battle Of Midway June months after Pearl Harbor Yamamoto seeks to capture Midway island 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

Plan of Attack

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

The Battle of Midway Scouts from the US fleet find the Japanese Fleet first 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 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. 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 A Japanese counterstrike does heavy damage to one US carrier Japanese battleships never see combat Japanese battleships never see combat

Bellringer- Day 2 What day did the attack on Pearl Harbor occur? What day did the attack on Pearl Harbor occur? A. January 4, 1956 B. December 7, 1941 What president went to Congress and asked for the declaration of war on Japan? What president went to Congress and asked for the declaration of war on Japan? What were the countries that cut Japan off from their resources with the ABCD encirclement? What were the countries that cut Japan off from their resources with the ABCD encirclement?

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

Video- Battle of Guadalcanal August 7, 1942 US Marines Land on Guadalcanal The Pacific-HBO The Pacific-HBO The landing (6:35) The landing (6:35) Y-ztCDA Y-ztCDA Y-ztCDA Y-ztCDA Shootout on Guadalcanal (10:01) Shootout on Guadalcanal (10:01) zQ9eCs

Island-Hopping Warfare American and Australian troops land in Borneo

Island-Hopping Warfare American Troops assaulting Iwo Jima

Video- Iwo Jima February-March 1945 History Channel Shootout- Iwo Jima (9:59) History Channel Shootout- Iwo Jima (9:59) 1PiM0 1PiM0 1PiM0 1PiM0

The Final Year The US retakes the Philippines in a long and costly campaign. The US retakes the Philippines in a long and costly campaign. Borneo, Iwo Jima and the Okinawa fall, with heavy losses on both sides. 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. 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. 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. 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. The US, Britain and China issue the Potsdam Declaration, demanding Japan’s surrender.

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

The Cost 2,000,000 Japanese Soldiers dead 2,000,000 Japanese Soldiers dead 300,000 Allied Soldiers dead 300,000 Allied Soldiers dead 600, ,000,000 Japanese civilians dead 600, ,000,000 Japanese civilians dead 11,000 American civilians dead 11,000 American civilians dead 60,000 Korean civilians dead 60,000 Korean civilians dead Mass devastation of Japanese infrastructure Mass devastation of Japanese infrastructure Indigenous people of north and western Pacific islands devastated by disease, cultural contamination, collateral damage, and atrocities. Indigenous people of north and western Pacific islands devastated by disease, cultural contamination, collateral damage, and atrocities. The list continues… The list continues…