WWII – Pacific Front Mrs. Post AC2

The Pacific Front Environment –Jungle - heat, rains, tropical folliage –Far from cities –Soldiers suffered from: Heat exhaustion Malaria Jungle illnesses (swamp foot

US Strategy Island HoppingIsland Hopping –Retake islands from Japanese –Build islands as bases –Attack mainland of Japan

Key Benchmark Events June 1942 – Midway –Major defeat for Japan (Turning Point in PT) August 1942-Feb 1943 – Guadalcanal –Needed to take island b/c J were building an airfield New Guinea – stop Japanese advancement in SW Pacific

Kamikaze Culture Kamikaze – divine wind – so devoted to emperor that they would go on suicide missions Surrendering was considered dishonorable Civilians would attack Am. Troops instead of surrender Guerilla style warfare

Major Battles in Pacific Theatre

And so it begins… Pearl Harbor Surprise attack by Japanese –Tried to destroy American Pacific fleet

Invasion of Philippines to Japan invaded American Controlled Philippines

Conquest of Bataan Jan 7 – Apr Americans and Filipinos had retreated to Bataan Japanese chased them & imprisioned Bataan Death March –Americans & Filipinos subject to Japanese torture

Battle of Coral Sea May US Decodes Japanese communication code US & Japanese naval battle occurs No winner

Battle of Midway June Air strikes and counter strikes sunk Japanese carriers Resulted in Major Japanese naval defeat Turning Point in War

Battle of Guadalcanal Aug – Feb Japanese building an airfield Marines landed and gained control of airfield Long fight ensued Japanese secretly evacuated in Feb

Battle of Leyte Oct 20 – Dec Island needed to have in order to liberate the Philippines 2 months later the US recaptured –Battle of Leyte Gulf Oct One of greatest naval battles of WWII US victory helped land forces on Leyte Island

Reconquest of Philippines Jan 1-Aug US forces invaded from bases on Leyte July 5 th US Liberated Philippines

Battle of Iwo Jima Feb 19 – Mar 11, 1945 Important for US to retake island in order to attack/bomb mainland of Japan Fierce resistance from Japanese Fortified the island 17,000 Americans wounded 6000 Americans dead

Okinawa April 1 – June 14, 1945 Invasion was the largest naval operation in Pacific 130,000 Japanese troops defended the island Kamikaze attacked US Navy 42,000 Japanese soldiers dead 450,000 Japanese Civilians died 12,500 US were killed, 35,000 wounded

Secrets to Success B-29 Firebombings of Japanese cities –Military targets and civilian fallout Decoding Japanese communications Operation Olympic (Allied Plan) –15 divisions –500,000 to 1 million Am men would die in Pacific Theater invasion

Japanese Surrender??? Remember – dishonorable Will take extreme action on behalf of American & Allied forces Spoiler Alert – Dropping Bombs are hazardous to Japanese health – details to follow Japan Surrenders August 15 th 1945 known as VJ Day (Hito officially surrenders )