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WWII – Pacific Theatre. Lecture II - COURSE. Course and Outcome WWII Pacific. Japan attacked Philippines, Malaya, Dutch East Indies & other Pacific islands . Defeated US and Filipino forces 1942, Japan ControlledS.E. Asia Named Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
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WWII – Pacific Theatre Lecture II - COURSE
Course and Outcome WWII Pacific • Japan attacked Philippines, Malaya, Dutch East Indies & other Pacific islands. • Defeated US and Filipino forces • 1942, Japan ControlledS.E. Asia • Named Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
US Strategy Vs Japanese Strategy USA • Island hopping – capture certain key islands until Japan’s came within Bomber range • Bypass those with no strategic value to save lives and isolate Japanese defenders • left with no one to fight against and cut off from supplies • Island hopping campaign was led by General Douglas MacArthur(Army) and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz(Navy)
JAPAN • expansion into Asia’s mainland and securing of resources they lacked, • Japan was forced to get oil from Southeast Asia(Embargo) • deal a huge blow to the US first: Pearl Harbor • hoped the US would take a long time to rebuild and would try to bargain for peace • Japanes plan on destroying US Air Craft Carriers • They would occupy Islands around the Pacific to protect Japan • Japan would regress to a stiff defensive strategy for the next three years
Discuss • What are the key differences in the US and Japanese War strategy?
Taking of the Philippines • Just hours after the attack at Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces attacked the Philippines and other Pacific Islands. • Over the next week, the Japanese bombed the Philippines and gained air superiority. In Dec 22, Japanese landed ground forces. • By March General Mac Arthur fled the Philippines
Bataan Death March. • After the April 9, 1942, U.S. surrender of the Bataan Peninsula • about 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan made a 65-mile march to prison camps. • from 5,000 to 18,000 Filipino deaths and 500 to 650 American deaths during the march. • Thousands more died in the POW Camp O’Donnell
Discuss • Why do you think the Japanese treated the POW’s with such cruelty?
James Doolittle led raid was on Tokyo April 18, 1942. • 3 of the 8 airmen captured were executed. • The damage to the intended military targets was modest but it boosted morale for Americans. • The Japanese planned the early destruction of America's aircraft carriers, • Battle of Midway Doolittle’s Air Raids
Allies Advance in Pacific • In Pacific, Battle of the Coral Sea, May, 1942 stopped Japanese advance and saved Australia from invasion. • Battle of Midway, U.S. planes destroyed four Japanese aircraft carriers (US broke Japanese secret military code.) • U.S. naval supremacy.
First fighting on Japanese Soil 1945 Iwo Jima • Uninhabited Island. • Make a perfect airstrip for constant bombing of Japan • US losses 6,821 JAPAN losses estimated at over 18,000 • Japanese forces built miles of tunnels safe from bombardment • Refusals to surrender made this battle extremely bloody and difficult
Okinawa • Over 2 ½ month battle on a civilian populated Island • US goal was to use as base for Air operations for possible attack on Japan • 12,500 Us Troops killed Japan lost over 100,000 • Many civilians jumped off cliffs or committed suicide in fear of US troops • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXvtDi9a1Oc
Discuss • Why was Okinawa seen as a preview for an invasion of Japan.
Japanese Internment Camps • Japanese Americans faced even more serious discrimination. • On West Coast, 110,000 Japanese-Americans (most of whom were U.S. citizens) were removed to internment camps for “security reasons.” • Most lost all possessions • They allowed Japanese American men to enter US Army and fight in Europe.
White Board • List one reason Japanese Americans were targeted more so than German Americans
Total War Against the Japanese • Warfare that includes any and all civilian-associated resources and infrastructure as legitimate military targets, mobilizes all of the resources of society to fight the war, • Allies bombed civilian factory and cities in Germany and Japan • Tokyo Fire bombing 1942: 75k-200k fatalities
Japanese War Time Mentality • The Japanese fought for their Emperor “Hirohito” who was godlike • HedekiTojo: Was the military leader making most of the decisions. • Military Had the Bushido code • Soldiers could not surrender • Towards the end of the war Kamikaze suicide pilots were used. • Kamikaze: Divine wind • Mobilization of entire nations made a land assault difficult. • Japansepropoganda portrayed US troops as monsters • Civilians were pushed to fight to the end • US feared heavy losses in street fighting.
Manhattan Project • US created the Atomic bomb “Manhattan Project” Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico • Robert Oppenheimer lead man.
A BOMBS Hiroshima • Aug 6 1945- Air Plane “Enola Gay” drop A-bomb“Little Boy” on Hiroshima • killing 70,000 people Nagasaki • Aug 9 1945- Air plane “Bockscar” drop “Fat Man” city- Nagasaki • Killing 40,000 people • many more died later of wounds and/or radiation poisoning. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF4LQaWJRDg
Discuss Was the US justified in its attack with A bombs?
(VJ- Day!) • After the Devastations of the 2 Bombs Emperor Hirohito forced his military generals to surrender unconditionally on August 14, 1945 (VJ- Day!)
After the War • Allied forces occupied Japan 1945-1952 • Emperor is allowed to keep his title but with no Political power • General Douglas A. MacArthur, enacted widespread military, political, economic, and social reforms. • Tokyo Trials :Trial for Japanese War Criminals • Charges were brought by various nations affected by the Japanese. • China had the highest with resulting in 504 convictions and 149 executions.