1. The War in the Pacific
Section 18.4

2. After Pearl Harbor
Japanese forces attacked American bases on Wake Island on Dec.8th and Guam on Dec.10th
Days later Japanese attacked the Philippines
MacArthur withdrew most of his troops south to the Bataan Peninsula – hoped the navy would be able to evacuate
Faced several months of attack – had to escape to Australia

4. Japanese Advance
Hoped that the U.S. would withdraw from Asia, leaving them access to much needed natural resources

5. Bataan Death March
Most of Bataan’s (Philippines) defenders surrendered in April, 1942
2,000 soldiers & nurses escaped to the island of Corregidor – lived in rock tunnels
Japanese captured 76,000 prisoners

6. Bataan Death March
Weakened by disease, lack of food, and tropical heat
Captors were forced to march 63 miles
Brutally beaten, tortured, denied water and rest
10,000 died on the journey
– another 15,000 die in the camps

7. Bataan Death March
Japanese defied the accepted international standards of conduct toward P.O.W.’s
Geneva Convention states, “P.O.W.’s shall at all times be humanely treated and protected, particularly against acts of violence…”

8. Defending Burma & China
Dec. 9, 1941: China joined the Allies
U.S. sent supplies and military advisors
American Gen. Joseph Stilwell led the Chinese armies defending Burma
“Flying Tigers:” volunteer American aviators
China’s ragtag forces fared poorly against the well trained Japanese

9. Island-Hopping in the Pacific
A military strategy of selectively attacking specific enemy-held islands and bypassing others
Allies pushed north from Australia and west from Hawaii
Nimitz and MacArthur

10. War at Sea
At Pearl Harbor, Japanese didn’t achieve one of its main goals:
Destroy 3 aircraft carriers (all were out at sea or being repaired in California)
Doolittle’s Secret Mission: squadron dropped bombs on Tokyo before crashing into China
Shocked Japan and boosted Allied morale

11. Turning Point-Battle of Midway
Japanese Admiral Yamamoto committed a large part of Japan’s navy to the attack on Midway
Yamamoto expected Nimitz (U.S.) to do the same to protect the island
June 4, 1942: battle was fought entirely in the air
Sunk 4 Japanese carriers; lost 250 planes and most of their skilled pilots
American victory due to breaking the Japanese code JN-25

12. http://www. looksmart. com/r. page=/search/frames/index
Yamato largest battleship ever built sent with only enough fuel for one-way trip

13. Iwo Jima Iwo Jima: one of the bloodiest battles of the war
Volcanic island, steep, rocky slopes of caves and tunnels
74 days of battling – 7,000 tons of bombs and 20,000 shells
Mid-Feb.,1945: marines stormed the beaches, faced fierce resistance
110,000 Americans vs. 25,000 Japanese
Took 1 month to secure island

16. Near the End
Battle of Okinawa was the costliest engagement of the Pacific war (50,000 casualties)

18. The Manhattan Project
1939: FDR received letter from Einstein about a new type of bomb
Manhattan Project: top secret plan to develop an atomic bomb
July 16,1945: 1st field test in New Mexico

19. Decision to Drop the Bomb
Alternative possibilities:
A massive invasion of Japan – millions of Allied casualties
Naval blockade to starve Japan w/conventional bombing
Demonstration of new weapon on a deserted island
Softening for an unconditional surrender

20. FDR died in April, 1945
President Harry S. Truman had to make the final decision – had no problem and never regretted his decision
Aug. 6,1945: Bombed Hiroshima
Aug. 9,1945: Bombed Nagasaki

21. Nagasaki – 60,000-80,000 Hiroshima - 90,000-160,000