How will geography impact the
way the war will be fought?
WWII Pacific
WWII Europe
Major Battles and Incidents in WWII: Pacific Front
Japan, 1941
Dec. 7, 1941- Japanese attack Pearl Harbor and U.S.
enters WWII. Japan then invades the Philippines and
Indonesia hoping that America would accept Japanese
predominance in Asia
Jan-March, 1942- Douglas MacArthur resists Japan for
3 months in Philippines. Vows, “I Shall Return.”
April- Bataan Death March
Forced march 60 miles without
food or water.
American P.O.W.: Bataan Death March
Treatment of prisoners reflect savagery of fighting
10,000-16,000 prisoners die in route
June, 1942- “Miracle at Midway”
Why is Allied victory at Midway important?
American naval victory defeat much larger
Japanese force—ends threat to Hawaii—
begins “island hopping” campaign to Japan
Limit of Japanese occupation in 1942
Chester Nimitz
“Island Hopping” Campaigns are successful
MacArthur returns to the Philippines
Feb. to March and April to June 1945- Iwo Jima and Okinawa
Why is victory at these
tiny Islands so
important?
Brings Allies within
360 miles of Japan
Brought America closer than ever to Japan. Cost thousands
of lives– even more Japanese, as Japanese fought fiercely
for every inch of the islands.
Japanese would rather commit suicide than surrender– (Kamikaze)
***Navajo Code Talkers– use of oral, not written language
that was impossible for the Japanese to break.
Victory at Iwo Jima creates this lasting
symbol of American victory in Pacific
What was the Human Cost of taking
Iwo Jima and Okinawa?
American Death Toll:
6,000 Iwo Jima
7,500 Okinawa
Japanese Death Toll:
Over 120,000
Kamikaze Pilots
August 1945- Atomic Bomb
Prospect of terrible casualties if U.S. invaded Japan lead to
Harry Truman ordering use of atomic bomb on cities of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki to force surrender. Tens of thousands
of people killed. Japan surrenders.
Little Boy
Fat Man
Hiroshima
V-J Day- Sept . 2, 1945