1. United States in WWII
Pacific

2. On December 7, 1941, Led by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Japanese fighter pilots attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Hawaii is a “dagger point at [Japan’s] throat” and must be destroyed – Yamamoto 2

3. The United States suffered terrible losses.
Damage at Pearl Harbor
The United States suffered terrible losses. 3

4. “a date which will live in infamy”
December 11, 1941
Japan’s allies, Germany and Italy, declared war on the United States.
After the attack, the United States declared war on Japan.
“a date which will live in infamy” 4

5. In the early years of the war, the outlook for the Allies was grim.
Japan’s Advantages
Dominance of the Pacific
Technologically advanced weapons
Highly motivated and well-trained military 5

6. Japanese armies quickly took Guam, Wake Island, and Hong Kong.
Then they moved into the Philippines, forcing American General Douglas MacArthur to retreat to a defensive position at Bataan.
The troops were surrounded, trapped.
After a terrible siege, thousands died when they were forced to walk to prison camps during the Bataan Death March – April 9, 1942. 6

7. Japanese Aggression, December 1941–June 19427

8. Colonel James Doolittle’s surprise raid on Tokyo in April 18, 1942
With hopes for a quick victory fading, Americans finally got some good news.
Colonel James Doolittle’s surprise raid on Tokyo in April 18, 1942
First time in history, the fighting was done by carrier based aircraft.
Successes demonstrated a long fight lay ahead, but the darkest days of 1942 seemed to be over.
The American victory in May 1942 at the Battle of Coral Sea 8

9. While battles raged in Europe, the Allies continued to fight Japanese advances in the Pacific.
At the Battle of Midway (June 3-6, 1942), Allied aircraft carriers and fighter planes led by Admiral Chester A. Nimitz were victorious in fierce fighting. 9

10. Japan’s momentum was finally halted.
The Battle of Midway proved to be a major turning point of the war in the Pacific.
Japan’s momentum was finally halted.
General MacArthur developed a plan to take the offensive: island-hopping.
1st Endeavor: Guadalcanal in August 7, 1942 – February 1943.
Now the Allies began advancing—toward Japan. 10

11. Battles during the island-hopping campaign were fierce, with high casualties on both sides—10:1 ratio.
Kamikazes, “divine wind”, crashed into American ships. Japanese troops fought to the death—sank 30+ ships.
Despite difficulties the Allies defended New Guinea and retook the Aleutian, Gilbert, Marshall, and Mariana Islands.
New technology aided the takeover: Antiaircraft proximity fuses. 11

12. World War II in the Pacific, 1942−194512

13. Destroyed 1,042 ships; 50% of Japan’s merchant fleet.
The Allies quickly pushed for Japanese defeat with intense submarine warfare & firebombing raids.
Submarines
Destroyed 1,042 ships; 50% of Japan’s merchant fleet.
B-29 Raids Bombs on Tokyo on March 9-10, destroyed 250,000+ buildings, killed 83,000, and gutted ¼ of the city.
People in train station photo pg. 783
Milkman photo pg. 783 13

14. At the Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 23-26, 1944) Japan made one last attempt to destroy the Allies.
Despite intense Kamikaze attacks, Japan was defeated, losing sixty battleships. Now the U.S. commanded the Pacific with 4,000+ vessels. 14

15. As promised, MacArthur returned to the Philippines landing on the island of Luzon on January 1945.
Manila fell by March 1945, but the Japanese did not fully surrender until July. 15

16. Winning the island took 24 days and cost 4,000 American lives.
The next capture was a tiny island south of Japan. The Battle of Iwo Jima took place from Feb. to March 1945.
Americans needed this island (with two airfields) to land damaged B-29 bombers from Japan.
Winning the island took 24 days and cost 4,000 American lives.
In victory, American soldiers raised an American flag atop Mount Suribachi
Although it was the 2nd flag raised, this photo taken by war correspondent Joe Rosenthal became one of the most famous pictures of WWII. 16

17. The next island, Okinawa, was key for American operations into Japan
The next island, Okinawa, was key for American operations into Japan. From April to June 1945 the Japanese fought back.
Kamikaze attacks devastated Navy ships and the Japanese fought intensely from fortified caves. Despite that, Americans won control of the island. 17

18. World War II in the Pacific, 1942−194518

19. In response, FDR had authorized scientists to develop an atomic bomb.
Early in the war Albert Einstein, a pacifist, wrote a letter of warning to FDR about German technological research.
In response, FDR had authorized scientists to develop an atomic bomb.
The top secret program led by J. Robert Oppeneimber was code-named the Manhattan Project.
The bomb was successfully tested in New Mexico in July 1945— Trinity Test
Now it was up to Truman to decide if and when to use it. 19

20. At the Potsdam Conference from July 16-August 7, 1945 the Big Three met once more.
Truman revealed that the U.S. had developed a better bomb to Stalin.
Disagreement over boundaries of occupation zones in Germany.
U.K. & U.S. left distressed over the Soviet gains in eastern Europe and reparations.
Decided to hold war crimes trials.
One result of the conference was a July 26th ultimatum to Japan stating that it must immediately agree to unconditionally surrender or face “prompt and utter destruction”.
Tank photo pg. 780
Woman crying photo p g. 781
The U.S. proceeded to dump one million leaflets on Japanese cities warning them of danger and calling for surrender 20

21. Despite the ultimatum, intense bombing campaigns, and warnings the Japanese refused to surrender.
Problem #1: An invasion of Japan could cost up to 1,000,000 American lives.
Problem #2: Soviets promised entrance into the war in August 1945—Truman could not allow this. 21

22. On August 6, 1945, U.S. pilots dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
Two days later, Stalin entered the war.
On August 9th the U.S. dropped a second bomb on Nagasaki.
On August 10, Tokyo sued for peace with one condition: Hirohito remain on throne. 22

23. The most costly war in history was finally over.
Accepting these terms, the Allies celebrated V-J Day on August 14, 1945, marking victory in Japan.
The most costly war in history was finally over.
The Japanese officially surrendered on September 2, 1945 aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Harbor.
General MacArthur accepted the surrender by the PM and military.
“…that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge…a world founded on faith and understanding” - MacArthur 23