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Island Hopping
A tactic used by US and Japanese forces in order to take control of all Pacific islands. US and Japanese forces "hopped" from one island to the next, taking control of each one. Ended 1945.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/pacific-strategy-1941-1944 -
Battle of Wake Island
Just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a battle took place in Wake Island in the Pacific. Japan invaded the island and forced the US soldiers to surrender on 12-23-1941. https://www.historynet.com/battle-of-wake-island https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryxXN-0SHmw -
Battle of Bataan
Ended 04-09-1942, The Battle of Bataan took place in the Phillipines between the US and Japan. The US forces surrendered and were taken prisoner on the Bataan Death March. Several thousand US soldiers died even before reaching the camps on the Death March. Japanese Lieutenant General Homma was then convicted of committing war crimes and was executed.
https://www.thoughtco.com/battle-of-bataan-2360457 Bataan Death March | World War II Stories - YouTubewww.youtube.com › watch -
Battle of Coral Sea
The first air-sea battle in history resulted in an allied victory after strategically defeating the Empire of Japan. This battle lasted 4 days and ended 5-8-1942 https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-coral-sea https://www.britannica.com/video/22977/Battle-of-the-Coral-Sea-airplanes-The -
Battle of Midway
Ended 6-6-1942, Was a battle between the United States and Japan in the skies over the Midway Islands. This battle was a turning point in the Pacific Theater and resulted in an allied victory. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway-video -
Battle of Guadalcanal
First major battle in the Pacific Theater, the allies launched a surprise attack on the Japanese on the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands which resulted in an allied victory. The battle ended on 2-9-1943.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-guadalcanal -
Leyte Gulf
The largest naval battle in history, allies stormed the island of Leyte in the Philipines by air and sea leading to the overwhelming Japanese loss. Ended 10-26-1944. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-leyte-gulf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGYE7Xzu8ZU -
Battle of Manila Bay
The battle in the Philippines ended over 100k civillian lives. The US retook the Philippines from the Japanese after this battle ended on 3 March 1945. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Manila_(1945) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3l6d_o1mxc -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Ended 3-26-1945, the Japanese attempted a surprise attack on the US Marines. The Marines held off the attack and took back the island of Iwo Jima.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/randy-james-memories-of-iwo-jima-video -
Battle of Okinawa
Ended 6-22-1945, the Battle of Okinawa was the last major battle in WWII and was one of the bloodiest. Resulted in an allied victory. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/war-report-on-the-battle-of-okinawa-video -
Los Alamos
Los Alamos, New Mexico, was the testing site for the newly developed atomic bomb, aka. the Manhattan project. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/the-manhattan-project -
Bombing of Hiroshima
US bomb plane 'Enola Gay' released the first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. The bomb 'Little Boy' caused 100,000+ deaths. https://www.history.com/news/hiroshima-nagasaki-second-atomic-bomb-japan-surrender-wwii http://www.atomicheritage.org/history/bombings-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-1945 -
Bombing of Nagasaki
3 days after the first bombing in Hiroshima, the US dropped "Fat Man" on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. 40k people instantly died. https://www.history.com/news/hiroshima-nagasaki-second-atomic-bomb-japan-surrender-wwii http://www.atomicheritage.org/history/bombings-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-1945 -
Tokyo Bay
Aboard the USS Missouri, Japan formally surrendered to the US, ending WWII. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-surrenders#:~:text=Aboard%20the%20USS%20Missouri%20in,end%20to%20World%20War%20II.&text=On%20July%2016%2C%20a%20new,in%20the%20New%20Mexico%20desert. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX8hyM1a-sg -
Battle of Tarawara
A 3 day battle between the Allies and Japan in the Pacific theater at the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands ended in heavy casualties for both sides of the battle. The battle ended up becoming an allied victory and added on to the allies' island hopping strategy. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-tarawa