War in the Pacific
Turning the Tide
Japan’s Strategy
• Create a defense perimeter of fortified islands far
enough away to prevent the U.S. from bombing
• At that point, the Japanese could negotiate a peace
that would leave Japan in control of resources in
China and SE Asia
Brutality of the POW’s
• Shortly after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan was able to
control the Phillipines, Hong Kong, Wake Island
• By Dec. Japanese land at Phillipines; MacArthur orders forces
to withdraw to Bataan Peninsula
• In Apr. 1942, 80,000 Phillipine/American soldiers endure the
90 mile trek from Bataan to POW camp; Camp O’Donnell
• Many suffered inhumane treatment (beaten, starved,
bayoneted), but most died from dysentary, malnutrition, and
lack of medical care. (25,000 die)
Bataan Peninsula
Fighting Back (Doolittle’s
Raid)
• Needing a morale boost for the Americans, FDR
orders a bombing raid on Tokyo in Apr. 1942
• Bombing did little damage, but the Japanese psyche
had been shaken
(8 primary targets hit including a steel mill and several
power plants; all repaired)
Coral Sea (May 1942)
• Japan’s objective: Cut supply lines between Hawaii
and Australia
• U.S. intercepted Japanese radio traffic
(“Magic”)Battle fought entirely by aircraft. (Ships
never saw each other)
• No victory for either side, but Japan abandoned plan
to cut supply lines
• Turned attention to Central Pacific and American
naval bases at Midway
Midway (June 1942)
Expansion of Japanese
Aggression Ends
• Most significant battle in the Pacific (U.S. uses
“Magic” to intercept communication)
• Zero fighters take down 36 of 42 U.S. planes
• U.S. allows Japan to strike first; then attacks when
Japan re-arms
• U.S. destroy 4 Japanese carriers to our 1.
• Japan shifts to defending what they already
controlled
Battle of Guadalcanal
(Aug. 1942)
• First in U.S. effort to recapture Pacific Islands (strategy of
“island-hopping”)
• Strategically located NE of Australia
• Marines in defensive position against the sea
• Fighting took place in the jungle under terrible conditions
• Emperor of Japan orders withdraw in Dec. (Japan loses 23,000
men of 36,000)
• Goal: Australia safe; Routes protected
Final Campaigns (Iwo Jima)
• From Feb 19 to Mar 11, 1945 the Marines captured
Iwo Jima
• 1st landing on Japanese islands; Would provide a
place for American bombers to land
• Japanese fight from caves, tunnels, and underground
network
• Battle lasted a month: 5,900 Americans lost; 19,000
Japanese lost
Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle for Okinawa (Apr. 1945)
• Okinawa was within 350 miles of Japan (a stepping stone)
• Largest American force of the war (550,000) w/ 1300 ships
• Japanese knew they could not win; goal was to create war of
attrition
• Bloodiest battle of the war (12,000 Americans killed; 100,000
Japanese)
•
Okinawa showed how costly an invasion of the Japanese home islands
would be
• Battle leads to discussion on use of the atomic bomb
Plan to Invade Japan
• US planned to invade Japan
with eleven Army and
Marine divisions (650,000
troops)
• Casualty estimates for the
operation were as high as
1,400,000
• Truman decided to use the
atomic bomb to avoid such
losses