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Pearl Harbor
The Japanese attacked the United States Navy's Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor on the Hawaiian Island Oahu. The Americans were not prepared. Japanese war planes loaded with bombs and torpedoes destroyed nearly 200 aircraft and destroyed four battleships leaving the other four damaged. The attack barely lasted two hours. Japan and the United States had come into conflict over French Indochina. Japan had also formed an alliance with Germany and Italy. Hideki Tojo was hostile toward the U.S. -
Loss of Philippines
General Douglas MacArthur led the defense in the Philippines. As the Japanese gained ground, MacArthur planned to retreat to the Bataan Peninsula. He urged officials to send ships with food and medicine, but War Planners decided it was too risky. MacArthur was ordered to leave his men and less than a month later, 10,000 Americans and 60,000 Filipinos were dead. -
Battle of Java Sea
The Japanese forces were eastily taking control of the Dutch East Indies and British Borneo. The Japanese caused much damage to the Allied navies. They also conquered British-controlled Burma as well. The Americans were about to discover the true strength of Japan's military. -
Bataan Death March
For 5 days, Japanese forced the starving and sick American and Filipino soldiers to march through the steaming forests of Bataan (Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga, & Capas, Tarlac, Luzon Island, Philippines). People that fell out of the line were beaten or shot. They provided little food or water. Thousands perished. -
Doolittle Raid
James Doolittle led a group of 16 American bombers on an air raid of Tokyo and other Jap cities. came from Aircraft carrier several hundard miles off the coast. Did not cause major damage to the Jap targets. finally gave American people something the celebrate. it angered and worried Jap leaders. their outrage and worry could cloud their judgement and lead to military mistakes. -
Island Hopping Strategy
“Island Hopping” is the phrase given to the strategy employed by the United States to gain military bases and secure the many small islands in the Pacific. Slowly the US army moved closer to Japan, taking control of many of the surrounding islands. In February 1945 US troops invaded Iwo Jima; the first American landing on Japanese territory. -
Battle of Coral Sea
featured the aircraft carriers that were not damaged at Pearl Harbor. Port Moresby, New Guinea. Jap forces were preparing to invade. General Nimitz sent 2 aircrafts on the attack. stopped the Jap attack. -
Battle of Midway
Japanese wanted to destory what remained of the US Naval power. The Americans knew the attack was coming (broken code) and they knew which direction they were coming from. Midway Island, middle of the Pacific. Nimitz. 1. Air attack. were waiting and fought it off. Americans followed them back. US destoryed all 4 of Jap. ships. -
Guadalcanal
Solomons wanted to capture island of Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands). Japs had an almost complete airfield there. most was swamps and dense jungles. temperatures: high 90s. disease carrying insects filled the air. Americans came ashore for 6 monthes. bloody combat. fought land, sea, air. Feb 1943, Japs fled the island. US won. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Nearly 300 ships took place in the largest naval battle ever fought. When the battle was over, the Japanese had lost four carriers, three battleships and a number of other vessels. The Allies had defeated Japan once again. Japan also started to use Kamikaze attacks, Japanese pilots would crash into a fleet with their plane that was loaded with bombs. This battle lasted from October 23-26, 1944 in the Leyte Gulf, Philippines. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
tiny volconic island 750 miles south of Tokoyo. The Battle of Iwo Jima was a major battle in which the United States Armed Forces landed and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. It lasted from February 19 to March 26, 1945. The marines managed to capture the island's tallest point, Mount Suribachi. Japanese troops refused to surrender and by the time the battle was over, nearly 7,000 Americans and more than 20,000 Japanese were dead. -
Battle of Okinawa
Island of Okinawa, 350 miles from Japan. would be the launching pad for the final invasion of Japan. but it had to be captured. They invaded on the 1st. The Japs retreated to the south tip of the island to plan their response. 5 days later, they attacked. The bloodiest battle in the Pacific. -
Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945 and American B-29 named Enola Gay flew over the city of Hiroshima and dropped its atomic bomb. Truman decided to drop the bomb to save American lives because Japan refused to surrender. In a single blast, Hiroshima was reduced to rubble and some 80,000 residents died immediately, 35,000 were injured and two thirds of the city's 90,000 buildings were destroyed. -
Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
In spite of Hiroshima, Japan's leaders took no action and tried to plan their next step for the next three days. On August 9, 1945 another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. The death toll was 40,000. This did not bring an end to the war. The Japanese emperor favored surrender, but military leaders resisted. -
VJ Day!!
was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II. Since then, both August 14 and August 15 have been known as “Victory Over Japan Day,” or simply “V-J Day.” The term has also been used for September 2, 1945, when Japan’s formal surrender took place aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay.
