WWII Pacific Theater 1942 1945 Where we were

Where we were… • • Fall of Philippines and Bataan Death March Doolittle Raid—April

Where we are going • • • Island Hopping Battle of Tarawa (Gilbert Islands)

GUADALCANAL: Operation Watchtower Guadalcanal: Aug. 7, 1942 -February 9, 1943. U. S. lost 7.

BLOODY RIDGE: 3 K Japanese hit the 1 st Marines with all they have.

Island Hopping • The U. S. will capture islands closer and closer to Japan

Retaking the Philippines • Battle of Leyte Gulf allows U. S. to retake Leyte

Iwo Jima • After conquering the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, the U. S. stood

Battle of Okinawa • Codename Operation Iceberg • U. S. 700 K troops vs.

Strategic Bombing • Fire bombing of Tokyo March 9, 1945 (100200 K killed, over

Common narratives about the bomb… • Necessary to save U. S. lives – Evidence:

Slides: 44

Download presentation

WWII: Pacific Theater 1942 -1945

Where we were… • • Fall of Philippines and Bataan Death March Doolittle Raid—April 1942 Battle of Coral Sea—May 1942 Battle of Midway—June 1942

Where we are going • • • Island Hopping Battle of Tarawa (Gilbert Islands) Retaking the Philippines Battle of Iwo Jima Battle of Okinawa Bombing of Tokyo/Hiroshima/Nagasaki

GUADALCANAL: Operation Watchtower Guadalcanal: Aug. 7, 1942 -February 9, 1943. U. S. lost 7. 1 K men, 29 ships, and 615 aircraft Japan’s losses: 31 K men, 38 ships, and 678 aircraft.

TURNER AND VANDEGRIFT

OPERATION WATCHTOWER

1 ST MARINES HIT THE BEACH

LAND/SEA CAMPAIGNS

BATTLE OF TENARU RIVER

BATTLE OF EDSON’S RIDGE

BLOODY RIDGE: 3 K Japanese hit the 1 st Marines with all they have. U. S. Victory…

Island Hopping • The U. S. will capture islands closer and closer to Japan • Set up air bases on islands taken from Japan • Air Bases to bomb the Japanese mainland • After Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands – Gilbert Islands (Tarawa)

TARAWA

AMPHIBEOUS TRACTOR

LANDING CRAFT INFANTRY

Retaking the Philippines • Battle of Leyte Gulf allows U. S. to retake Leyte Island – Leyte Gulf is largest naval battle in history! – Establish beach head from which to advance – At the B. Leyte Gulf, first time Japan unleashes Kamikaze bombers—effective but desperate • Gen. Mac. Arthur, “I have returned. ” • By January 1945, the Philippines are retaken from the Japanese • American and Philippine POWs liberated

Iwo Jima • After conquering the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, the U. S. stood poised to hit Iwo Jima • 70 K U. S. Marines vs. 20 K Japanese • Japanese dug into mountainside and fought to the last • 7 K U. S. deaths and 20 K wounded in 36 days of fighting • Iwo Jima’s airfield used as stopping place for U. S. long-range bombers

MARINES ON IWO JIMA

MORTAR DAMAGE

IWO JIMA

Battle of Okinawa • Codename Operation Iceberg • U. S. 700 K troops vs. Japan’s 120 K • Strategically close to Japanese mainland (use as a military base) • 12 K KIA U. S. and 40 K wounded • Nearly all Japanese killed • This may have led to the “necessity” of dropping the bomb. Why?

INVASION OF OKINAWA

BATTLE FOR OKINAWA

Strategic Bombing • Fire bombing of Tokyo March 9, 1945 (100200 K killed, over 1 million displaced) • Hiroshima August 6, 1945 (100 -175 K killed) • Nagasaki August 9, 1945 (40 -80 K killed) • Japan surrenders on August 15, 1945 ending World War Two (Germany surrendered a few months earlier)

B-29 SUPERFORTRESS

B-29 SUPERFORTRESSES

TOKYO FIREBOMBING

LITTLE BOY

FAT MAN

HIROSHIMA

BOMBING NAGASAKI

Common narratives about the bomb… • Necessary to save U. S. lives – Evidence: ? • Show of power – Evidence: Revenge P. H. and tensions with USSR mounting and on 8/7/45 Soviets declare war on Japan and mobilize army in Siberia • Over 2 billion spent and 120 K jobs to build – Evidence: Logic--So why not use?