Battles in the Pacific: Iwo Jima & Okinawa February 13, 2013

GOAL: Get as close to Japan as possible Island hopping strategy New way of fighting Japanese fight to DEATH Fight until last man standing Rather than surrender, kill themselves Kamikaze: deliberately crash planes into U.S. ships 3,000 Kamikaze pilots died Battles in the Pacific Iwo Jima (February/ March 1945) Operation Detachment 5 mile long island 650 miles from Japan U.S. marines face “dug-in,” determined Japanese 36 days of fighting 23,000 Marines died…but captured island Picture became symbol of U.S. patriotism Today: Iwo To

Deadliest Pacific battle (50,000 died) Okinawa (April - June 1945) Operation Iceberg Deadliest Pacific battle (50,000 died) 500,000 involved/ 1200 warships involved 340 miles from Japan (vital airbase) Need for invasion of Japan Japan defenseless Short of pilots, planes, fuel, & weapons From Okinawa… Bombers hit factories, military bases, & cities in Japan Operation Meetinghouse Single night in March 1945 Bomb 16 square miles of Tokyo, Japan Killed 83,000/ injured 100,000 Killed more than atomic bomb alone*** Single most destructive bomb raid in history Allies & Axis in race to develop BEST WEAPONS

End of WWII: Europe & the Pacific February 14, 2013

Hitler physical wreck Shakes, paranoid, still thinks chance of victory Giving orders but no one listen April 30, 1945: Hitler commit suicide May 7, 1945: Germany surrenders in Eisenhower’s Headquarters Americans celebrate V-E Day Victory in Europe

Short Timeline of Atomic Bomb 1930s: learn how to split atom 1939: Albert Einstein signs letter urging FDR to work on atomic bomb development (Hitler) 1942: FDR gives highest priority of atomic bomb Code name “Manhattan Project” Cost several billion dollars Employed thousands across country Security tight Scientist work “piece by piece” Don’t know whole picture

2 main scientists involved: J. Robert Oppenheimer July 16, 1945 New Mexico 1st atomic bomb tested LIGHT visible 180 miles away SOUND heard 100 miles away 2 main scientists involved: J. Robert Oppenheimer “Now I am become death, the destroyer of Worlds.” General Groves “The war is over…One or two of those things and Japan will be finished.”

Ending WWII in the Pacific February 19, 2013

President Truman makes decision 1. Ethical??? Civilian deaths 2. Knew Axis working on atomic bomb Don’t know how close Japan is 3. Priority: Save American lives Invasion of Japan could cost up to 1 million soldier lives Did not agonize over decision Needed to end war & save lives August 6, 1945 9:14AM U.S. pilots drop atomic bomb “Little Boy” on Hiroshima 60,000 dead

Finally…Hirohito surrenders August 15, 1945 Next 3 days… Debate whether to surrender or keep fighting August 9, 1945 USSR declare war on Japan & invade Manchuria U.S. dropped 2nd atomic bomb “Fat Man” on Nagasaki Killed 35,000 Finally…Hirohito surrenders August 15, 1945 Allies celebrate V-J Day (Victory in Japan) Japan OFFICIALLY surrendered September 2, 1945 on USS Missouri Most costly war in history OVER Estimates of over 60 million died