1. The Pacific Theater
Early World War II

2. Admiral Isoruko Yamamoto
Arguing against war:
“I will run wild for six months or a year, but I have no confidence in the outcome in the second and third years”
After Pearl Harbor:
"A military man can scarcely pride himself on having 'smitten a sleeping enemy; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten. I would rather you made your appraisal after seeing what the enemy does, since it is certain that, angered and outraged, he will soon launch a determined counterattack.“
How did Admiral Yamamoto feel about going to war?

3. Background Japan invades China in 1931.
Japan joins the Axis in Sept 1940.
US, British, and Dutch impose oil embargo in July 1941 to put brakes on Japanese imperialism.
Japanese expect armed conflict, but buy time and surprise through negotiations.
US population focused on war in Europe.

4. Japan’s Strategic Objectives
Seize critical natural resource areas
Establish defensive perimeter
Sue for peace

5. Japanese soldiers ‘conquer’ the Great Wall 1933

6. Occupation of China 1938 There were 1 million Japanese troops in China
million troops- but this was still not enough
Could occupy only key areas and cities
Out of fear adopted The ‘Three All Campaign’ (‘Kill all, burn all, destroy all’)
Didn’t have enough soldiers
By 1945
4 million Chinese people had died;
60 million had been displaced
Many Chinese cities lay in ruins

7. Further Expansion
Japanese army rapidly advanced through China, Indo-China, Malaya, and Indonesia
Some people welcome them as liberators from western Imperialists
Soon were feared as new imperialists, not as Asian liberators
They treated non-Japanese peoples with ruthlessness, cruelty and severity

8. Imperial Japanese expansion up to 1941

9. European Response British government
alarmed at the rapid Japanese advance
decided to send warships to show strength
Ignored threat of airplanes
Both ships sunk by over 100 Japanese planes.

10. Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941 Americans taken completely by surprise
“a date which will live in infamy”
Americans taken completely by surprise
The first attack wave targeted airfields and battleships
The second wave targeted other ships and shipyard facilities

11. Broader Results of Pearl Harbor
In spite of the tactical success, the attack on Pearl Harbor was an operational and strategic failure for the Japanese
The attack failed to destroy the American aircraft carriers, fleet repair facilities, or fuel reserves
The “sneak attack” galvanized American support for entry into the war

12. Logistics Logistics plays a crucial role in the Pacific.
Island Hopping to seize advanced (primarily air) bases and cut Japanese LOC.
Japanese have qualitative edge in military hardware at the beginning of war.
Choose quality over quantity (Zero, Yamato).
Unable to replace assets quickly.
US is master of mass production.
Average quality, tremendous quantity.
Implement ideas from captured equipment.
US subs operate independently and sink Japanese ships faster than Japan can produce them.

13. Fall of the Philippines
Shortly after Pearl Harbor the Japanese made landings in Philippines
On Dec 24, MacArthur ordered his forces to withdraw to the Bataan Peninsula
By Apr Bataan surrendered

14. Doolittle’s Raid 18 April 1942

15. Battle of the Coral Sea Japanese Objectives:
Extend defensive perimeter
(in response to Doolittle raid)
Extend hold over Solomon Islands
Isolate Australia from the United States

17. Results of Coral Sea: Tactical Draw
U.S. lost fleet carrier Lexington, destroyer Sims, oiler Neosho
Fleet carrier Yorktown damaged
Japanese light carrier Shoho sunk, very heavy aircraft losses
Strategic victory for United States
Stopped planned Japanese advance towards Australia
Provided badly needed boost to U.S. morale

18. Battle of Midway Japanese Objectives: Capture Midway
Use Midway to launch air strikes on Pearl Harbor
Eliminate the bombing threat to the home islands
Lure the remnants of the U.S. Pacific Fleet into battle and destroy it

20. Results of Midway: Tactical Victory for United States
U.S. lost fleet carrier Yorktown
Japanese lost fleet carriers Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu and heavy cruiser Mikuma
Heavy cruiser Mogami seriously damaged
Strategic Victory for United States
Ended Japanese naval supremacy in the Pacific
Proved to be the turning point in the Pacific war
Gave the United States the strategic initiative