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The Pacific War: Turning Points in Japan’s Strategy and U.S. Response

This overview explores the critical phases of the Pacific War, highlighting Japan's initial strategy to create a fortified defense perimeter, control key territories, and brutal treatment of POWs. It details significant battles such as the Doolittle Raid, Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, showcasing the shifting tides of the conflict. The narrative examines Japan's aggression, its eventual defensive stance, and the U.S. strategies that ultimately led to discussions on the use of the atomic bomb to avoid massive casualties in a planned invasion of Japan.

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The Pacific War: Turning Points in Japan’s Strategy and U.S. Response

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Presentation Transcript

  1. War in the Pacific Turning the Tide

  2. Japan’s Strategy • Create a defense perimeter of fortified islands far enough away to prevent the U.S. from bombing • At that point, the Japanese could negotiate a peace that would leave Japan in control of resources in China and SE Asia

  3. Brutality of the POW’s • Shortly after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan was able to control the Phillipines, Hong Kong, Wake Island • By Dec. Japanese land at Phillipines; MacArthur orders forces to withdraw to Bataan Peninsula • In Apr. 1942, 80,000 Phillipine/American soldiers endure the 90 mile trek from Bataan to POW camp; Camp O’Donnell • Many suffered inhumane treatment (beaten, starved, bayoneted), but most died from dysentary, malnutrition, and lack of medical care. (25,000 die)

  4. Bataan Peninsula

  5. Fighting Back (Doolittle’s Raid) • Needing a morale boost for the Americans, FDR orders a bombing raid on Tokyo in Apr. 1942 • Bombing did little damage, but the Japanese psyche had been shaken (8 primary targets hit including a steel mill and several power plants; all repaired)

  6. Coral Sea (May 1942) • Japan’s objective: Cut supply lines between Hawaii and Australia • U.S. intercepted Japanese radio traffic (“Magic”)Battle fought entirely by aircraft. (Ships never saw each other) • No victory for either side, but Japan abandoned plan to cut supply lines • Turned attention to Central Pacific and American naval bases at Midway

  7. Midway (June 1942) Expansion of Japanese Aggression Ends • Most significant battle in the Pacific (U.S. uses “Magic” to intercept communication) • Zero fighters take down 36 of 42 U.S. planes • U.S. allows Japan to strike first; then attacks when Japan re-arms • U.S. destroy 4 Japanese carriers to our 1. • Japan shifts to defending what they already controlled

  8. Battle of Guadalcanal(Aug. 1942) • First in U.S. effort to recapture Pacific Islands (strategy of “island-hopping”) • Strategically located NE of Australia • Marines in defensive position against the sea • Fighting took place in the jungle under terrible conditions • Emperor of Japan orders withdraw in Dec. (Japan loses 23,000 men of 36,000) • Goal: Australia safe; Routes protected

  9. Final Campaigns (Iwo Jima) • From Feb 19 to Mar 11, 1945 the Marines captured Iwo Jima • 1st landing on Japanese islands; Would provide a place for American bombers to land • Japanese fight from caves, tunnels, and underground network • Battle lasted a month: 5,900 Americans lost; 19,000 Japanese lost

  10. Battle of Iwo Jima

  11. Battle for Okinawa (Apr. 1945) • Okinawa was within 350 miles of Japan (a stepping stone) • Largest American force of the war (550,000) w/ 1300 ships • Japanese knew they could not win; goal was to create war of attrition • Bloodiest battle of the war (12,000 Americans killed; 100,000 Japanese) • Okinawa showed how costly an invasion of the Japanese home islands would be • Battle leads to discussion on use of the atomic bomb

  12. Plan to Invade Japan • US planned to invade Japan with eleven Army and Marine divisions (650,000 troops) • Casualty estimates for the operation were as high as 1,400,000 • Truman decided to use the atomic bomb to avoid such losses

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