World War II The Pacific Theater Japanese Offensive

World War II: The Pacific Theater

Japanese Offensive

Japan seizes Manchuria - September 1931: Japanese army seizes Manchuria, China - League of Nations condemns the aggression (cannot enforce) Result: Japan withdraws from League of Nations

Japan Invades China - July 7, 1937: Japanese army attacks N. China - Conquer Beijing, Nanjing (capital), & most of north China

Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor

December 7, 1941: Japan attacks U. S. Navy Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Tide of Japanese Victories After bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japan attacks and seizes more in 1941………………… Guam, Marianas, Wake Island, Gilbert Islands, Samoan Islands, and Caroline Islands

Singapore (Malaya) Surrenders [February, 1942] The Dutch East Indies Seized [March, 1942]

The Philippine Islands Invaded January 1942: Japan invades Philippines April 1942: U. S. troops surrender the Philippines “One day I shall return again” Closing Remarks after leaving the Philippines, Douglas Mac. Arthur

Bataan Death March April 1942: 76, 000 prisoners [12, 000 Americans] Marched 60 miles in the blazing heat to POW camps in the Philippines.

Dead Allied troops as result of the Bataan Death March An Australian Allied soldier being beheaded!

British POWs A Liberated British POW

The Japanese Seize Burma May 1942 The “Burma Road” seized and supply line to China cut off!

Farthest Extent of Japanese Conquests

Allied Offensive

Douglas Mac. Arthur Who American General Why Important Supreme Allied Commander in the Pacific. Theater

Allied Strategy in Pacific Theater What “Island-Hopping” (drive Japan off islands they have conquered through a series of amphibious invasions) Goal Get close to Japan…Bomb Japan…Invade Japan

Battle of the Coral Sea (May 7 -8, 1942) What Japanese attempting to invade Australia; Naval & Air Battle Outcome Allies stop Japanese invasion attack on Australia

Battle of Midway Island: (June 4 -6, 1942) What Japanese advancing across the Pacific; Air & Naval Battle Outcome Allies stop Japanese advance; No further advances will be made by Japanese (Turning Point of Pacific)

Japanese Kamikaze Planes: Japanese Suicide Bombers

Battle of Guadalcanal: (August 1942 to February 1943) What 1 st Allied land invasion of Japanese held territory Outcome 1 st piece of territory Allies will take back from Japan

Battle of Saipan (June-July 1944) What Allied invasion of Marianas Islands Outcome Costly Allied victory; Allies now have an island close enough to Japan to begin bombing raids on Japan

Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 1944) Leyte Gulf What Allied invasion of the Philippine Islands Outcome Mac. Arthur and Allied forces will return and retake the islands from the Japanese

Bombing of Tokyo (March-August 1945) What Allies begin aerial bombing raids on Tokyo (including using B-29 bombers, napalm-filled bombs) Outcome Mainland Japan suffers devastation & casualties

Battle of Iwo Jima February 1945 U. S. Marines on Mt. Surbachi What Allies attack on Japanese territory within 660 mi. of Japan Outcome Allies are almost close enough to launch an invasion of Japan from

Battle of Okinawa (April-June 1945) What Allied attack on Japanese territory within 330 mi. of Japan Outcome Costliest battle of war for U. S. ; Allies now control an island to stage an invasion of Japan from

Options to End the War Option 1: Land Invasion Pros: - less civilian loss of life Cons: - massive amount of Allied casualties - war will take longer to end - requires largest invasion force ever Option 2: Drop the Atomic Bomb Pros: - less American casualties - quicker end to the war Cons: - catastrophic loss of civilian life

The Manhattan Project Los Alamos, New Mexico Top Secret project to create an “atomic bomb” begun in 1939 Major General Lesley R. Groves (General in charge) Dr. Robert Oppenheimer (lead scientist) “I am become death, the shatterer of worlds!”

President Truman’s Decision

Drop the Atomic Bomb! Little Boy Fat Man

The Enola Gay B-29 bomber which carried and dropped the Atomic Bomb

Hiroshima – August 6, 1945 © 70, 000 killed immediately. © 48, 000 buildings. destroyed. © 100, 000 s died of radiation poisoning & cancer later. But………….

Japan does not surrender…

Nagasaki – August 9, 1945 © 40, 000 killed immediately. © 60, 000 injured. © 100, 000 s died of radiation poisoning & cancer later. This time………….

Japan Surrenders

V-J Day September 2, 1945

V-J Day in Times Square, NYC

The War is Over……. Occupation begins!