5.03 Two Wars

Okinawa:

World War II battle in the Pacific that took place from March to June 1945 that killed more than 12,000 Americans and 11,000 Japanese; battle convinced the Allied commanders that invading Japan might not be the best plan of action

Iwo Jima:

World War II battle that took place in February 1945 after the Allies set out to capture the Japanese island of Iwo Jima, which was heavily guarded by Japanese troops; American troops faced fierce opposition from heavily fortified positions on the island, and fighting continued for weeks, killing some 19,000 Japanese troops and almost 7,000 American troops

Battle of Midway:

key naval battle in June 1942 between the United States and Japan during World War II during which Japan's naval forces were heavily damaged, equalizing the strength of the two sides and destroying Japan's naval advantage in the war in the Pacific

island hopping:

the Allied strategy used to gain control of the Pacific Theater in World War II

Pacific Theater:

the area of military operations in the Pacific Ocean region during World War II in which the United States and other Allies fought the Japanese

What Was the Outcome of the Early Battles?

At the same time the Japanese navy was attacking Pearl Harbor, the Japanese army launched an even deadlier attack. Japanese troops invaded the American-controlled Philippine Islands. American general Douglas MacArthur led the American troops stationed in the Philippines, as well as Filipino soldiers, in defense of the islands. The Japanese quickly took control of most of the islands, and the U.S. forces were forced to retreat to the Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor Island. Trapped on Bataan, the U.S. forces ran out of food, medicine, and other supplies. MacArthur requested more supplies, but military leaders decided that sending in supplies through the Japanese lines was too risky. In March 1942, MacArthur escaped to Australia, leaving with the promise, "I shall return." His troops continued to defend Bataan. Less than a month later, they were forced to surrender. About 75,000 troops, including about 12,000 Americans surrendered to the Japanese. The Japanese forced the captives to march 55 miles through the jungle of Bataan to a prison camp. They were starved and beaten along the way, and Japanese soldiers killed those who fell. Only around 50,000 troops reached the camp after what is known as the Bataan Death March. Thousands died or escaped into the jungle. The attacks at Pearl Harbor and the Philippines were the first part of the Japanese strategy against the United States and Great Britain. In early 1942, Japanese forces attacked American-held Wake Island and Guam, British-held Hong Kong, Singapore, and Borneo, as well as Burma and present-day Indonesia.

Did you know?

One of the most famous aviators in the world during the 1930s was American Amelia Earhart. In 1937, Earhart and a navigator set out on a flight around the world. Somewhere in the vast Pacific, Earhart disappeared. The plane and the human remains have never been found. Some people believe that Earhart was captured and executed by the Japanese for spying. Her flight took Earhart over an area northeast of New Guinea that was controlled by the Japanese. At that time, in 1937, few people knew that Japan was establishing a large naval base in that area. Some theories hold that Earhart was actually on her globe-circling flight to act an as aerial spy for the United States. The belief among many people is that Earhart crash-landed in an area near the secret naval base. Suspected of being a spy, she and her navigator were executed by the Japanese. No irrefutable evidence has ever supported the theories, and the disappearance of Amelia Earhart remains one of the great mysteries of the 20th century.

How Did the Allies Use Island Hopping as a Strategy in the Pacific?

The American victory at the Battle of Midway placed U.S. and Japanese naval power on an equal footing. U.S. leaders believed that the next step was for U.S. forces to attack. Using their land, sea, and air forces, the Allies launched a pattern of island hopping—taking one island after another in a strategic pattern. These island battles were gruesome, as both sides suffered heavy casualties. Americans who came onto the islands were often easy prey for the deeply-embedded Japanese soldiers. Eventually, manpower and determination gave the mainly American, Allied forces the victory in these islands that led to the main Island of Japan. Toward the later battles in the Pacific, the Japanese navy was no longer effective. To make up for their naval disadvantage, the Japanese resorted to kamikaze attacks. Kamikazes were trained pilots who loaded their planes with bombs and purposefully crashed them into American ships. Though the pilot died and the plane was destroyed, the goal of destroying American ships, planes, and people was often achieved.

Bataan Death March:

in April 1941, forced march of U.S. troops through the jungles of the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines after surrender to the Japanese; thousands of soldiers died during the march due to abuse and starvation

kamikaze:

trained Japanese pilots who loaded their planes with bombs and extra gasoline and purposefully crashed them into enemy ships in a suicide mission during World War II

-U.S. leaders determined that resources should be focused on defeating Germany and the Axis Powers in Europe when the nation first joined the war. - Battles were fought mostly on land over the large landmasses of Europe, Asia, and Africa. - Many battles fought in extreme cold, where soldiers suffered from freezing temperatures and trench foot. - Ground troops played biggest role. Army air force bombers attacked positions in the way that battleships did for sea-based attacks.

- Resources were limited after the attack at Pearl Harbor in December 1941. - Battles were fought mostly in the air and at sea; some ground combat on small islands. - Battles fought in tropical island locations and at sea; soldiers often died from malaria and other tropical illnesses. - Navy played biggest role, with Marines fighting ground war on islands. Some captured islands were used as airfields as Allied forces advanced.

What Were Key Battles in 1945?

A breakthrough in 1944 allowed the Allies to push farther into Japan with bombing raids. Designed by the army in January 1940 and first flown in 1942, the B-29 Superfortress bomber rolled off production lines across the United States in order to be put into service in the war. By late 1944, it was ready for action. The enormous B-29 bomber was able to go on round trip flights as long as 3,000 miles. It could carry up to 20,000 pounds of bombs. However, the Allies needed a launching location closer to the Japanese mainland. In February 1945, American forces attacked the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. The island was occupied by Japanese troops and heavily guarded. American troops faced fierce opposition from heavily fortified positions on the island. Americans took the highest point on the island, called Mount Suribachi, but the Japanese refused to surrender. Fighting continued for weeks, until all but 1,000 of the original 20,000 Japanese troops were dead. About 7,000 American troops were also killed in the Battle of Iwo Jima. The captured island provided a base for B-29s to begin firebombing attacks on Tokyo and other key industrial cities in Japan. Once the Allies had taken control of Iwo Jima, they wanted bases even closer to Japan. They set their sights on taking control of Okinawa, which was only 350 miles off the coast of Japan. The Japanese considered the island part of their homeland. In March 1945, the Allies invaded Okinawa. The Japanese initially retreated, but then they launched a massive counterattack. Using the island's many caves, tunnels, and rugged terrain, they struck quickly without warning. Fighting raged for months and killed more than 12,000 Americans. The Japanese lost 110,000 men in the Battle of Okinawa. The Allies took control of Okinawa in June 1945 in the bloodiest battle of the war in the Pacific. Soon waves of B-29 bombers filled the air over the Japan. The Japanese paid a terrible price for the bombing raids. In one raid, bombs destroyed sixteen square miles of Tokyo and killed an estimated 100,000 people. However, it was the number of Allied dead and wounded from the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa that concerned U.S. military leaders. Many began to question whether invading Japan was actually the best plan of action. It was feared by some leaders that a land invasion of Japan could result in one million Allied casualties.

dates and locations of some of the key battles

Coral Sea: In May 1942, the Allies scored a victory when they stopped the Japanese occupation of Port Moresby, New Guinea. The Japanese had hoped to capture Port Moresby, as well as part of the Solomon Islands. This would give them control of the Coral Sea. It would also allow them to block interaction between the U.S. and Australia in preparation for a possible invasion of Australia. In the Battle of the Coral Sea, U.S. forces succeeded in stopping the Japanese advance, however, and damaged an aircraft carrier and destroyed many aircraft. Midway: The Battle of Midway began early on June 4, 1942. Japanese planes launched an air raid on Midway, but U.S. forces fought off the bombers. American planes then attacked and damaged or destroyed Japanese aircraft carriers. The Battle of Midway put an end to Japan's naval advantage in World War II. Guadalcanal: U.S. leaders planned to first take Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands to get control of the Japanese airfield there. In August 1942, troops came ashore on Guadalcanal. For months, they fought Japanese forces. Some of the battle raged on land in the hot, dense jungles filled with mosquitoes. Air and sea battles also took place, with each side making small gains, only to lose ground later. Finally, in February 1943, the Japanese fled the island. They had lost some 24,000 troops, while the Americans had lost 1,600. Thousands more on both sides had died from tropical diseases. The Battle of Guadalcanal was a major victory for the Americans. Along with Midway, the Battle of Guadalcanal helped turn the Pacific war in the Allies' favor. The victory at Guadalcanal convinced Allied leaders to put more offensive operations in place. U.S. Marines unloaded from a landing barge in the Solomon Islands in August 1942. The Battle of the Eastern Solomon Islands was the early offensive during the Battle of Guadalcanal. During the air battle, the Japanese lost a carrier, a destroyer, and a submarine but also managed to sink an Allied destroyer. Santa Cruz: The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942 was one of the major aircraft carrier battles of the war. In carrier warfare, the ships on each side rarely came in contact with one another. Airplanes took off from either an airfield on an island base or from an aircraft carrier, and the battle was waged almost entirely in the air, over the ocean. In the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, U.S. and Japanese pilots were very closely matched, but the Allies were victorious because of better intelligence gathering. This photograph shows the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Hornet, which was attacked and damaged by Japanese divebombers and torpedo planes. The ship on the right side of the photograph is a battleship rescuing the crewmen who have to abandon the Hornet. Gilbert Islands: As part of the effort to launch an invasion of the Japanese mainland, the Allies began retaking islands in the Pacific in 1943, including the Gilbert Islands. The fighting at Tarawa, an atoll in the Gilberts, in November was extremely bloody. More than 6,000 combat troops, including 1,000 Americans, died in three days. Battle of the Philippine Sea: In June 1944, the Allies fought Japanese forces in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. It was the largest battle involving aircraft carriers ever to be fought. The Japanese attempted to attack U.S. forces with airplanes but during the process lost some 300 planes and three aircraft carriers. Guam: A U.S. Marine waits for the order to attack during the Battle of Guam. U.S. forces retook Guam in the Mariana Islands in July 1944. The island had been captured and occupied by the Japanese early in the war. Battle of Leyte Gulf: In October 1944, the Allies launched an assault to retake the Philippines that ended in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. During the battle, much of the Japanese fleet was destroyed, and Japan could no longer wage a naval war against the Allies. This photograph shows bombs hitting the Japanese battleship Yamato.

Why Was the United States a Target for Japan?

For nearly forty years before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan had been the most powerful nation in Asia. As an island nation, Japan had two needs that drove its quest for power. First, it was overpopulated and needed more territory. Second, it lacked natural resources such as coal, iron ore, and most importantly, oil. Those two issues forced Japan to aggressively seek new territory in Asia. In 1931, Japan invaded and captured Manchuria. In 1937, Japan invaded China and captured several Chinese cities. By that time, events in Europe enabled Japan to take control of colonial possessions held by the Dutch, French, and British. Japan also signed an agreement with the Axis Powers. In response, the United States froze Japanese assets and placed an embargo on oil shipments to Japan. It was this conflict over oil that set events in motion for the attack on Pearl Harbor and further Japanese expansion. Before Pearl Harbor, the Japanese military made a plan for war that took advantage of the geography of the region. In the western Pacific, there were mostly islands, some of which already had Japanese bases on them. In the east, there was mostly ocean, with the exception of Hawaii. This meant that there were no bases the Allies could use. The Japanese knew that the Allies did not have many troops stationed in the western Pacific and, therefore, Allied military presence there was not very strong. The Japanese had a large, well-trained, well-supplied military. Japanese leaders hoped to launch quick, offensive attacks to take over most of the Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia. This would enable them to control not only territory but also resources to supply the war effort. If the Japanese armed forces could accomplish this goal, Japanese leaders believed the Allies would be forced to negotiate peace. The map on this screen shows areas under Japanese control and the expansion during 1941 and 1942. The United States and Allied forces in the Pacific faced a formidable foe.

Midway

In June 1942, the U.S. Pacific naval fleet faced its next challenge. Another part of the Japanese plan to dominate in the Pacific Theater was to take Midway Island, a U.S. possession. It was an important stop for airplanes flying from San Francisco to the Philippines and was also home to a new U.S. air and submarine base. American forces discovered Japan's plan to take Midway by deciphering the communications code used by Japanese naval leaders. The Japanese were hoping to destroy what remained of the U.S. Pacific fleet and were sending most of their own fleet to Midway, along with their best pilots. However, the Japanese were unsuccessful in cracking the code used by the Americans--Navajo Indian code. Admiral Chester A. Nimitz, the commander of operations in the Pacific Theater, was prepared. Nimitz sent the three remaining Pacific aircraft carriers to Midway. In addition, around 115 land-based airplanes were stationed at Midway and Hawaii and could be used in the attack. The battle between the two sides began early on June 4, 1942. As they had planned, the Japanese began an air raid on Midway. Because the U.S. forces were prepared, they were able to fight off the bombers. Then, American planes followed the Japanese bombers back to their aircraft carriers and launched an attack on the carriers. They severely damaged three of the four Japanese carriers. The fourth carrier was destroyed, as was one of the American aircraft carriers. However, the Americans had won a huge victory in the Battle of Midway, a turning point for the U.S. in the Pacific Theater, and destroyed Japan's naval advantage.

Coral Sea

In the Battle of the Coral Sea, U.S. leaders sent two aircraft carriers to attack Japanese ships in the Coral Sea. One of the aircraft carriers was destroyed, along with many aircraft. U.S. forces succeeded in stopping the Japanese advance, damaged an aircraft carrier, and destroyed many aircraft. The Battle of the Coral Sea was the first battle in which opposing sides used a new type of warfare focused around the aircraft carrier. Aircraft carriers were a major new technological development after World War I. They could travel as fast as the fastest battleships. Although the Allies in the Pacific were initially short on carriers, more were built in the later years of the war and sent into action. Today, the aircraft carrier is considered one of the most powerful weapons in the world. The United States with approximately 10 carriers operational around the world is the world leader with that total. In addition, new aircraft were built that made the war in the air and on the ground much more dangerous. Torpedo-carrying dive-bombers could hit enemy ships accurately at low altitudes. Fighter planes could fly faster than earlier aircraft and carry up to eight machine guns in their wings.

Early Events

Military aircraft and sea vessels would prove necessary for the Allied troops to be successful in the Pacific Theater. Fortunately for the United States, during the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Navy's three Pacific fleet aircraft carriers were out at sea and were not destroyed. Shortly after the loss of the Philippines, U.S. leaders were able to launch an air attack on the Japanese city of Tokyo, using an aircraft carrier as a base. Army Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle led the April 1942 attacks. Known as the Doolittle Raid, the attacks did not do much damage to Tokyo. They did, however, surprise Japanese leaders and cause them to worry about future attacks. In May 1942, the Allies scored a victory when they stopped the Japanese occupation of Port Moresby, New Guinea. The Japanese had hoped to capture Port Moresby as well as part of the Solomon Islands. This would give them control of the Coral Sea, and allow them to strike at Australia.

European Theater:

Pacific Theater:

What Brought the United States Into World War II?

Sunday, December 7, 1941, began quietly at the U.S. naval base in Pearl Harbor, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Suddenly, the silhouettes of airplanes appeared in the distance. Warning sirens were sounded, but it was too late. A surprise attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy had begun. Launched from six Japanese carriers, more than 350 Japanese fighters and bombers hit Pearl Harbor. The attack damaged or sank much of the U.S. Pacific naval fleet. Americans were outraged. The next day, Congress declared war against Japan and entered World War II on the side of the Allies. While Americans initially focused on the war in Europe, it was not long before fighting increased in the Pacific. The fight against the Japanese in the Pacific Theater would be unlike any war the United States had ever fought.

Did you know?

The prisoners who survived the Bataan Death March were among thousands of Allied soldiers who were sent to Japanese prison camps during the war. Captives were placed on Japanese Hell Ships, which transported prisoners to the camps. Allied airplanes, whose pilots did not know that Allied prisoners were on the ships, often bombed the ships. Once at a prison camp, prisoners were crowded into rooms where large wooden shelves had been built as beds. As many as eight men were forced to sleep on each of the hard, wooden shelves. Because their captors gave them little food, some soldiers resorted to using ropes to trap and eat stray dogs that wandered through the camps. The men suffered from extreme cold in the winter and were given little coal to use for heat. Occasionally, soldiers attempted to escape from the camps. When caught, they were forced to dig their own graves, where they were shot and then buried as the other prisoners watched. Some prisoners spent as many as three years trapped in the prison camps. Like the other major culprits of World War II, Japan was a nation who did not know the one, true God. Instead, their confidence was in its military. But when God and His goodness, grace, and wisdom are abandoned, we get to see great depths of evil. Jeremiah 17:9 clearly states, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick."

How Did Naval Battles Change Warfare in World War II?

World War II can be thought of as two different wars, fought in two completely different locations—Europe and the Pacific. The geographical differences of Europe and the Pacific region forced the players to alter the way in which they approached the war effort.