THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA:
its significance, and how it
affected the outcome of the
war
Isabel
Nicholas
IBH2 European History
Ms. Gifford
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• BACKGROUND
– PLANNING AND INITIATION
• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BATTLE
– TO THE U.S.A.
– TO JAPAN
•
•
•
•
THE BATTLE
AFTERMATH
EVALUATION
CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
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e_dir/lacru/_p/prog/AntiJapan2.jpg
BACKGROUND: PLANNING
AND PREPARATION
BACKGROUND: PLANNING
AND PREPARATION
BACKGROUND: PLANNING
AND PREPARATION
It was a most depressing thought that we
had no available means left for the
exploitation of the strategical
opportunities which might from time to
time occur in the course of these
operations.
BACKGROUND: PLANNING
AND PREPARATION
“If America’s casualties
are high enough,
Washington will think
twice before launching
another invasion
against Japanese
territory”
BACKGROUND: PLANNING
AND PREPARATION
1. Japanese fought underground. Dug
1,500 rooms into the rock, connected
with 16 miles of tunnel.
2. “No Japanese survivors”
3. “Before you are killed, you must first kill
at least 10 American soldiers”
SIGNIFICANCE
650 miles
from Tokyo
Between
Japan and
American
bomber bases
in the
Marinaras
SIGNIFICANCE: JAPAN
• One of the last lines for Japan defense
against US bombing campaign
• Gave a 2 hour advance warning to the
mainland for incoming planes.
• Japanese forces on the island
threatened US planes and base in
Saipan.
SIGNIFICANCE: USA
• Landing, refueling, training station for
bombers going toward Japan
• Land/sea rescue for downed US planes
• Considered as an emergency landing
base for B-29’s carrying the atomic
bomb as planes were prone to engine
failures
THE BATTLE
D-Day, February 19th 1945: Shortly
before 2am
THE BATTLE
8:30am: “Land the Landing Force!”
Each Marine was always in the range of a
Japanese gun.
AFTERMATH
• US casualties greater than Japanese
casualties
• US suffered 6,800 deaths out of 26,000
total casualties
• The 2 hours leeway for Japan had been
removed; this resulted in increased
efficiency for bombing campaigns for
the USA
EVALUATION
For the USA, was it worth it?
EVALUATION
Several factors:
1) The number of casualties and wounded
2) Overall financial expenditure
3) The use of Iwo Jima after it was taken
•
•
As a US base between areas of refuel and
attack
Those saved by the proximity of Iwo Jima
4) The psychological benefits
EVALUATION
“One wonders if the same sort of airbase
could not have been reached by
acquiring other strategic localities at a
lower cost…”
- General William Pratt
EVALUATION
The losses of Iwo Jima formed the basis for a
“reverence for the Marine Corps” that not only
embodied the “American national spirit” but
also ensured the “institutional survival” of the
Marine Corps.
- Publishers of The Ghosts of Iwo Jima (written
by Captain Robert Burrell)
EVALUATION
CONCLUSION
Significance
• Geographical
• US casualties greater than that of
opponent’s
Effect on outcome of WWII:
• The answer to our question, was it
worth it?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alexander, Joseph. "Battle of Iwo Jima". HistoryNet. Febuary 2000. 29 August
2010. http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-iwo-jima.htm/3
Battle of Iwo Jima. 2004. World War II Database. 1 September 2010. <http://
ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=12>
Burrell, Robert S. 2006. The Ghosts of Iwo Jima. College Station: Texas A&M
University Press
Dawson, Rick. "The Battle of Iwo Jima". Article Myriad. 2007. 29 August 2010.
<http://www.articlemyriad.com/57.htm>
Justification for Iwo Jima's invasion. 2007. 30 September 2010.
http://www.historynet.com/worth-the-cost-justificaton-of-iwo-jima-invasion.htm/3
"Map of Iwo Jima". Photo. 2002. 30 August 2010.<
http://www.foxvalleyhistory.org/WWII/1945/map-iwo-jima.htm>
Rosenthal, Joe. "Raising the Flag Over Iwo Jima, 1945". Photo. EyeWitness to
History. 1980. 30 August 2010.
<http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/iwoflag.htm>