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Pearl Harbor
attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet, take months to overcome. American damaged sea power + allies focusing on defeating axis in europe caused U.S to hold back on attack on Japanese. For Japan, major boost to nation pride+ to continue. U.S., inspired a firm resolve to fight. Japan confident, U.S. angry. -
Battle of Java Sea
damage to allied navies. Japan conquered British-controlled Burma also lots of key positions in the south pacific. Gained oil reserves for vital military plans. Months after pearl harbor, japanese military/ soldiers were highly skilled and well trained. Fighter aircrafts were good/better then anything allies could produce. Japan ships, torpedoes were higher quality. = japan advantage. British 1st to discover the strength of the japan militar in hong kong, singapore, and burma, -
Loss of Philippines & Bataan Death March
Japan targeted the philippines. General Douglas Macarthur led the defence of the island chain. Macarthur commanded small american force + some poorly trained and equipped filipino soldiers. Japanese invaders came ashore in December 1941. Macarthur planned retreat to Bataan Peninsula, then found they were short on supplies. Mac then told to send reinforcement. Secretary of war henry stimson grimly noted “ there are times when men have to die” denied help and march 1942 Mac was ordered -
Doolittle Raid
april 18, 1942 led a group of 16 american bombers on a daring air raid of tokyo and several other Japanese cities. Airplane take off, several hundred miles off the coast of japan on an aircraft carrier. Did little damage to japanese targets, but finally give the american people something to celebrate, worried and anger japan’s leaders. There outrage affected their judgment in the future. -
Battle of Coral Sea
may 1942, news reach america. Battle was one of the pacific fleet that had not been badly damaged at pearl harbor- the aircraft carriers. Took place as japanese forces were preparing to invade the british controlled port moresby on the island of new guinea. U.S. admiral chester nimitz sent 2 aircraft carriers on the attack. Americans losses- aircraft carrier, several dozen aircraft. 1st time ever japanese advances had been halted. -
Battle of Midway
Japan plan- lure the american into a large sea battle. 1st step is attack Midway Island, was in middle of the pacific ocean. Japan thought this would pull the american fleet into the area then the japan destroy it. Japan advantage is number of ship and carriers, american- naval intelligence officers had broken the japanese code and learned about the plan for attack midway. Date of attack was June 3, 1942. -
Guadalcanal
first strategic step for american now that the pacific was in balance of power. Try to take control of Solomon island. Japan movie in 1942, this threatened nearby australia, which fight with allies in the pacific. Allied presence in the solomons would help protect australia, plus proved a base. Goals in solomons was the capture of an island called guadalcanal. Japanese had nearly completed an airfield there making it a tempting target. Rest of island was swamps and dense jungle -
Island Hopping Strategy
General MacArthur and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz seized the initiative, launching an 'Island Hopping' campaign. Their strategy was to capture the Pacific islands one by one, advancing towards Japan and bypassing and isolating centres of resistance. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
the first major action took place on the seas. 300 shops took part in the largest naval battle ever fought. Allies held huge advantage, when battle over. Japanese lost 4 carriers, 3 battleships, and a number of other vessels. First time major use of a new japanese weapon the kamikaze attack. Meaning “divine wind”. Refers to famous event in japanese history, sudden storm that drove off a fleet preparing to invade japan in the 1200s. In ww2, a kamikaze was crash into planes -
Battle of Iwo Jima
marines managed to capture the island's tallest point, mount suribachi.some americans thought that the capture of mount suribachi means that that battle was over, but the japanese troops refused to surrender. The fighting raged on for several more weeks. 7000 americans were dead and many more were wounded. More than 20000 japanese defenders had been on Iwo jima when the americans landed. But lots of them fought to the death. -
Battle of Okinawa
april 1, 1945. Japanese forces retreated to the southern tip of the island to plan their response. 5 days later they attacked. Island of okinawa was filled with caves and tunnels. 12000 americans died in the battle of okinawa. And thousand more were injured. Japanese lost a staggering 110000 troops in the fighting. -
Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
An american B-29 named the enola gay flew over hiroshima and dropped its atomic bomb.80,000 residents died immediately and 35,000 were injured. ⅔ of the cites 90000 building were destroyed. Still japan didn’t surrender. -
Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
death toll was 40,000. Code name fat man. Japanese emperor hirohito favored surrender. -
VJ Day
hirohito announced the end of the war and first time the people of japan heard the emperor voice.
