1. Part 3: The End Approaches
The War in the Pacific
Part 3: The End Approaches

2. Battle of Leyte Gulf October 23 – 26, 1944
What happened: Japanese use Kamikaze attacks in an organized way for the first time
Americans and Australians retake the Philippines and deal a death-blow to the Japanese navy
MacArthur: “People of the Philippines, I have returned!”
Leader: Douglas MacArthur

3. Leyte Gulf
Naval and air battles fought in and around the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar & Luzon
Involved a land invasion of Leyte with a combined force of Americans and Australians
First of a series of invasions/bombings that would ultimately cut Japan off from the last of their oil reserves, and permanently cripple their manufacturing ability (Singapore, Formosa (Taiwan) and Ryuku Islands)

5. Leyte Gulf
Japanese air force and navy were very depleted prior to battle thanks to Dolittle’s Raid, the Battle of Midway, and reduced ability to repair ships and planes or produce new ones. Also, it would be difficult for Japan to launch any new ships and planes before bombing raids destroyed them (all facilities in Japan, and all oil reserves stored on Pacific/Southeast Asian islands)
Both sides suffered losses, but the U.S. and Australian force was far superior to begin with: 5 times as many ships, planes, and carriers, and three times as many troops
Fleet Chief Soemu Toyoda was taken prisoner, and was asked during his interrogation why they had risked such a loss in the face of such a superior force. He replied:
“Had we lost in the Philippines operations, the shipping lane to the south would be completely cut off so that the fleet, if it should come back to Japanese waters, could not obtain its fuel supply. If it should remain in southern waters, it could not receive supplies of ammunition and arms. There would be no sense in saving the fleet at the expense of the loss of the Philippines.”
After Leyte Gulf, the Japanese was forced to rely on land defensives and what remained of their air power to continue fighting
The U.S. now began to focus on land offensives as close to mainland Japan as possible, with absolutely horrifying troop and civilian casualties…

6. Feb - March 1945, Iwo Jima (Sulfur Island)
Leader: Douglas MacArthur
What happened:
In an incredibly bloody battle the Allies take the island from Japan
Fought primarily from a network of caves, dugouts, tunnels and underground installations
6000 Marines die
20,000 Japanese die
The U.S. now had a base to launch heavy bombers that could reach Japan itself

7. March 9 – 10, 1945 Operation Meetinghouse: The Firebombing of Tokyo
The worst of many raids on major Japanese cities featuring heavy military and industrial infrastructure, beginning in the fall of 1945, and lasting until the Japanese surrender
U.S. dropped 1,665 pounds of bombs
Killed at least 100,000 people, making it the most deadly bombing raid in all of World War II
Emperor Hirohito begins to become more vocal in the push for the peace process

8. April - June 1945 Okinawa What happened: Leader: Douglas MacArthur
The Allies take the island from Japan, despite 1900 kamikaze attacks (3,800 entire war)
Sea and air battle with massive land offensive over heavily forested island terrain, use of caves and dugouts as well
12,000 Americans and 110,000 Japanese die, plus 40,000 – 150,000 civilians (uncertainty surrounding just how many troops were actual soldiers and which were civilian Okinawan volunteers or those pressed into service by the Japanese military)
Widespread suicides by Japanese troops and civilians due to propaganda that Americans would take no prisoners, but instead torture and kill POWs
General Ushijima, and Chief of Staff, General Cho chose suicide over surrender, ending the battle
Interesting fact: Two Okinawans did not surrender to U.S. forces until 1951!
A chilling preview of what the battle to take Japan itself might be like….
Leader: Douglas MacArthur

9. U.S. Military Projections for an Invasion of Japan
250,000 – 1.5 million American casualties and up to 10 million Japanese casualties (troop and civilian)
Planned to use at least 10 nuclear bombs to beat a path to Tokyo
Subduing the rural population by land offensive was projected to be an absolute bloodbath

10. July 1945, Alamogordo, New Mexico
Manhattan Project Leader: J. Robert Oppenheimer
What happened:
First Atomic bomb was tested successfully completing the Manhattan Project
The Allies release the Potsdam Declaration in which Japan is warned to surrender or face “prompt and utter destruction”. Refuses.
“The final decision of where and when to use the atomic bomb was up to me. Let there be no mistake about it. I regarded the bomb as a military weapon and never had any doubt that it should be used.” – Harry Truman
“The final decision of where and when to use the atomic bomb was up to me. Let there be no mistake about it. I regarded the bomb as a military weapon and never had any doubt that it should be used.” – Harry Truman

11. Potsdam Declaration: Terms of Surrender Presented to the Japanese by the Allies
The elimination of those who have deceived and misled the people of Japan into embarking on world conquest
The occupation of Japanese territory to be designated by the Allies
The limitation of Japanese sovereignty to the Home Islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shokoku, and other such islands that the Allies shall assign)
The Japanese military forces, after being completely disarmed, shall be permitted to return to their homes with the opportunity to lead peaceful and productive lives
We do not intend that the Japanese shall be enslaved as a race or destroyed as a nation, but stern justice shall be meted out to all war criminals, including those who have visited cruelties upon our prisoners
The Japanese Government shall remove all obstacles to the revival and strengthening of democratic tendencies among the Japanese people. Freedom of speech, of religion, and of thought, as well as respect for the fundamental human rights shall be established."
Japan shall be permitted to maintain such industries as will sustain her economy and permit the exaction of just reparations in kind, but not those which would enable her to rearm for war. To this end, access to, as distinguished from control of, raw materials shall be permitted. Eventual Japanese participation in world trade relations shall be permitted.
The occupying forces of the Allies shall be withdrawn from Japan as soon as these objectives have been accomplished and there has been established, in accordance with the freely expressed will of the Japanese people, a peacefully inclined and responsible government.
We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction.

12. August 6 and 9, 1945, Hiroshima and Nagasaki
“Little Boy” & “Fat Man” kill at least 200,000 people within a year
After the bombing of Nagasaki, the Japanese finally surrendered on August 14.
What happened:
First atomic bombs are dropped

13. September 2, 1945, Tokyo Bay
Leaders: U.S. General Douglas MacArthur and Japanese Emperor Hirohito
What happened:
Japan formally surrenders

14. Perspectives on whether the use of atomic bombs was “justified”