1. Pacific Theater

2. The Early Campaign Strategy called Island Hopping American forces “hopped” from island to island under Japanese control.

4. Island Hopping Only stopped at the strategic ones (but left nothing important behind them) Policy created by Admiral Chester Nimitz

5. Progress 1943 – Took the Gilbert Islands 1944 – Took the Mariana Islands Guam and Saipan (airstrips able to hit Japan with bombers)

7. Philippines Philippines had been under American control since the Spanish American War General MacArthur was forced to leave after defeat by the Japanese He set up HQ in Australia but vowed to return.

9. Philippines Thousands of American soldiers were left behind. Many taken as POW’s 12,000 Americans 65,000 Filipinos

10. Bataan Death March Japanese marched the POW’s for 65 miles 7,000 Americans died on the way 10,000 Filipinos died on the way

11. American Victories in the Pacific Midway (island in the Pacific) The Japanese fleet was met and heavily damaged. Revenge for Pearl Harbor Turning point in the Pacific

12. Retaking the Philippines October 1944, back to the Philippines Battle of Leyte Gulf. Largest naval engagement in history Japanese fleet destroyed (very few ships left)

13. Desperation Japanese resorted to Kamikaze attacks Meant Divine Wind: Planes flew into ships to do maximum damage. Boats and in some cases swimmers too.

14. Communist Allies in the Pacific In mainland Asia Communists were allies Mao Zedong in China (not yet in power of the country) Ho Chi Minh in French Indochina (Vietnam)

15. New President FDR died in April 1945. Vice President Truman takes over. Had to be brought up to speed on policies.

16. The Atom Bomb The uranium atom was split in 1938. This yielded great energy applicable to military design Scientists fled Germany during Hitler’s reign Albert Einstein was one and urged the U.S. to build a bomb

17. The Manhattan Project American Atom Bomb project called the Manhattan Project Successfully tested a bomb in July 1945.

18. Decision to use the Bomb Estimated ¼ million men would die if the U.S. invaded mainland Japan. Considered inviting Japanese leaders view a test Only had two more bombs left

19. First Atomic Bomb August 6, 1945: Hiroshima Bomb dropped by the B-29 Enola Gay 100,000 people died instantly Japanese did not surrender

20. Second Atomic Bomb August 9, 1945: Nagasaki 35,000 people died instantly

21. The end of the war Emperor announced the war was over. Sep 2, 1945 the peace was signed. General MacArthur oversaw the proceedings.

22. Aftermath of the War The horrors of the holocaust became apparent War crimes trials were held at Nuremberg for German war criminals 24 high ranking Germans were on trial 12 Were sentenced to death. Other trials convicted 500,000 Germans of crimes.

23. Aftermath of the War Tokyo court Japanese Premier Hideki Tojo sentenced to hang Six generals and hundreds of others also hanged. July 1945 saw the creation of the United Nations Supposed to take over where the League of Nations failed.