World War 11 In Colour:
VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC
PROGRAMME LENGTH
1 hour
SCREENING DETAILS
Monday 16 February at 9.30am EST/ NZ
This program deals exclusively with the end of WW2 in the Pacific theatre. It could be
seen as being a lightly disguised argument to justify the use of the Atom Bomb in
August 1945.
The footage throughout is coloured archival material. There is also some discussion of
the motives of the Allies that could be seen as a segue into a topic such as the Cold
War.
This would be an ideal introduction to a study of the War in the Pacific or a summary
of the last days of WW2. There is also a perspective presented that could be a useful
discussion point for a Depth Study.
Dr Denis Mootz
STAYING FOCUSED.
This is the data collection stage of the activity.
The detailed questioning is designed to ensure that students decode the visual and aural materials
presented to them in the video.
The video programs can be stopped at the end of each section. This will allow students to share and
discuss answers.
Introduction.
Note the situation in the Pacific theatre of war in early 1945.
What was the situation in Japan?
How did the Japanese expect to still win the war? Implications? Result?
What problem did the USA confront? Implications? Result?
Act 1.
Note the strategic value of Iwo Jima.
How did Nimitz prepare to invade Iwo Jima? Implications?
Note the stages in the invasion. Result?
Why did the USA marines face such fierce resistance from the Japanese? Result?
Note the significance of Mount Suribachi. Result?
How were the marines supported as they advanced? Result?
Note the raising of the USA flag on Iwo Jima. Significance? Result?
Why was the event restaged? Implications?
Note how the USA marines captured the rest of the island.
What orders had the Japanese defenders been given by their commander? Result?
Note the significance of the airfields on Iwo Jima. Result?
When did Iwo Jima “fall”? Cost? Implications
What was now “clear” to USA commanders and planners?
What was the “strategic bombing” campaign?
What held back this strategy? Result?
Note details of the Boeing B-29 “Super Fortress”. Result? Implications?
Note the use of Chengdu airport. Result?
How did the events of July 1944 change this situation? Result? Implications?
Note details of the air raid of November 1944. Result?
Why was accuracy a problem on these raids?
Note the problems the B -29s faced over Japan. Result? Implications?
Note the 18 December 1944 air raid from Chengdu? Result? Implications?
Note the raid on Tokyo on 9 March 1945. Result? Implications?
Note the other Japanese cities that were firebombed. Result?
Why were bases closer to Japan still needed?
How did the capture of Iwo Jima solve this problem? Result?
How did the Japanese respond to these horrors? Implications?
Act 2.
What was the next logical step in capturing the Japanese “homeland”?
Note details of the garrison on Okinawa.
Note Nimitz’s preparations for invading Okinawa. Result?
Note details of the USA invasion on1 April 1945. Result?
What happened in the south of the island? Result?
Note details of the air attack on the USA fleet. Result?
Note details of the Oka.
How did the USA make the Oka ineffective?
Note the action of the giant battleship Yamato. Result?
Note the impact of the weather on Okinawa.
Note Japanese tactics on Okinawa. Result?
Note USA casualties on Okinawa.
Note how the USA overcame Japanese resistance in the south. Result?
Note the death toll on Okinawa.
Why was this “sobering” to USA? Implications?
How did the Japanese respond to this series of devastating defeats? Implications? Result?
Act 3.
Why did an invasion of Japan seem inevitable?
Note the defense forces available on the Japanese homeland. Implications?
Who was USA President in July 1945?
Note the details of the Manhattan Project. Result? Implications?
What would provide the “fuel” source for this new bomb?
How were they different?
What was happening at Los Alamos in New Mexico? Result?
Why were there two bombs?
When was the bomb tested? Result? Implications?
When did Truman hear about “Operation Trinity”? Result?
Note the difference between “Little Boy” and “Fat Man”.
From where would the bombs be “delivered”?
Note the events of 6 August 1945.
Note details of the explosion. Result?
Why did people continue to die weeks after the explosion?
How did the Japanese respond to the destruction of Hiroshima? Implications?
Note Truman’s warning to Japan.
Note events of 9 August 1945 at Nagasaki. Result?
How did the Japanese respond to this second nuclear explosion?
Note the warning of the Secretary of State. Implications?
Act 4.
Note the USSR invasion of Manchuria. Implications? Result?
Note the division within the War cabinet. Implications? Result?
Why did Emperor Hirohito vote for peace?
Why was this surrender offer refused?
Note the continued attacks on Japan by USSR and USA forces.
Why did the Allies eventually offer Hirohito what he wanted? Result?
In what sense was this an “unconditional” surrender?
Note the reaction in USA and Britain to the announcement of peace.
Why were the Japanese “astounded” on the morning of 15 August? Result? Implications?
Why did USSR continue fighting in Manchuria? Result? Implications?
Note the events of 28 August 1945 in Tokyo Bay.
Note the events of 2 September 1945 on USS Missouri. Result? Implications?
Note the final event of this ceremony.
EXTENSIONS.
Useful, interesting, challenging, books, sources and websites will provide materials to supplement and
complement the History presented in the video program.
The data collected here should be used in the notemaking below.
Some useful Internet sites:
WW2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II
http://world-war-2.info
Pacific War: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_War
http://www.wtj.com/articles/pacific_summary/
http://www.ww2pacific.com
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005155
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/10/world-war-ii-the-fall-of-imperial-japan/100175/
Japan in WW2:
http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/imperial-japan
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2129.html
http://ww2history.com/japan
http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2014/07/07/what_prompted_japan_s_aggression_before_and_during_world_w
ar_ii.html
Admiral Chester Nimitz: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_W._Nimitz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_in_World_War_II
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/macarthur/peopleevents/pandeAMEX90.html
http://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=10
General Curtis LeMay: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_LeMay
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_bombing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_raids_on_Japan
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/airforce/p/lemay.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Tokyo
Boeing B-29 “Super Fortress”: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-29_Superfortress
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/militaryaircraft/p/b29.htm
http://www.boeing.com/boeing/history/boeing/b29.page
General Douglas MacArthur: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_MacArthur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leapfrogging_(strategy)
http://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=10
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/macarthur-douglas-10890
Iwo Jima: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iwo_Jima
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/p/battle-of-iwo-jima.htm
http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=12
Okinawa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Okinawa
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/p/battle-of-okinawa.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/pacific-civilians-okinawa/
Mariana Islands: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Islands
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_and_Palau_Islands_campaign
Kamikaze: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamikaze
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-kamikaze-attack-of-the-war-begins
Okha / Oka: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yokosuka_MXY7_Ohka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6GpsPzkQww
Yamato: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Yamato
http://ww2db.com/ship_spec.php?ship_id=1
Harry S. Truman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
http://www.biography.com/people/harry-s-truman-9511121
Manhattan Project: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_Project
http://www.ushistory.org/us/51f.asp
Hiroshima and Nagasaki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki
http://foreignpolicy.com/2013/05/30/the-bomb-didnt-beat-japan-stalin-did/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/japan_no_surrender_01.shtml
USSR in Manchuria: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_invasion_of_Manchuria
http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=167
NOTEMAKING.
This is the collation stage of the activity. Students need to organise the field of information and begin to
explore its context.
Directions and /or Inquiry questions are provided for notemaking / summary exercises that
will follow the viewing of the video.
The materials / data for the summaries have been collected above.
The activity could be done in teams, groups, or by individuals, or as a class with teacher direction.
1. Draw up a timeline / chronological chart of the events described and discussed in this program.
2. Note details of WW2 in the Pacific.
3. Note details of the Japanese “Empire”.
4. Note details of the USA strategy in the Pacific War.
5. Note details of the strategic bombing of Japan’s home islands.
6. Note details of “island hopping”.
7. Note details of the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
8. Note details of the Manhattan Project.
9. Note details of the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
10. Note details of the USSR invasion of Manchuria.
ISSUES & INQUIRY.
Key issues and inquiry questions that have been raised by the video are addressed at this stage for
discussion and research.
1. Why did USA accept the Japanese surrender in September 1945? Was it “unconditional”?
2. Why was the Manhattan Project established?
PROBLEMS of EVIDENCE.
Questions of reliability and validity of the perspectives, evidence and sources presented in the video
program need to be considered, tested and researched.
1. Why did USSR invade Manchuria in August 1945?
2. Why did the USA believe that using nuclear weapons was justified in August 1945?
COMMUNICATING.
The key issues and inquiry questions are potential topics for debate, essay writing, reports, historical
recount and explanation.
1. Write a REPORT on the Manhattan Project.
2. Prepare notes (both sides) for a DEBATE of the proposition that
The use of nuclear weapons was essential to bring WW2 in the Pacific
to an end and stop the increasing casualty rate.
3. Why did Japan surrender on 2 September 1945?