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The End of the War in the Pacific 1942-1945: Key Events & Outcomes

Explore the key events and outcomes of the Pacific Theater in WWII, including the Battle of Midway, Manhattan Project, US Strategy, and the effects of the atomic bombs. Learn about Japanese advancement, US offensive tactics, and the role of Allied help in ending the war.

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The End of the War in the Pacific 1942-1945: Key Events & Outcomes

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  1. January 13—What mark do you think you earned on your IA? Why? Use the rubric.

  2. The End of the War in the Pacific 1942-1945

  3. Lecture Outline • Japanese Advancement • US Strategy • End of the War

  4. Key Terms • Battle of Midway • Manhattan Project

  5. Japanese Advancement • By the spring of 1942 the Japanese controlled a huge empire with a diameter of about 5,000 miles, a population of 450 million, and a self-supporting economy.

  6. Japanese Advancement • The Japanese plan was to control the eastern Pacific so they could deprive the US of military bases and cut its access to Australia and New Zealand.

  7. Battle of Midway • Took place early June 1942 • The mission of the Japanese fleet was to lure what was left of the US Pacific Fleet into combat, destroy it, and occupy Midway. • All 4 Japanese carriers were sunk. The US lost 1 carrier but it had 4 remaining and 13 under construction.

  8. Battle of Midway • At Midway Japan lost air and naval superiority in the Pacific. • In May and August of 1943 the army retook the Aleutian Islands.

  9. US offensive • In August 1942 American forces launched the first ground offensive in the Pacific Theater when marines landed on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

  10. US Strategy • Because of disputes between the army and navy a 2 pronged attack was aimed at the Japanese Islands. • The army went south and the navy went north. • US submarines sank more than 1,300 Japanese ships, including 8 aircraft carriers.

  11. US Strategy • Half of Japan’s merchant fleet was destroyed by the beginning of 1945. • In November 1944 B-29 bombers began the long-range bombing of the Japanese homeland. • A bombing of Tokyo in March 1945 killed over 100,000 people.

  12. US strategy • It was thought that an invasion and occupation of the Japanese homeland could cost as many as 1 million Allied casualties. • By the end of the Okinawa campaign there had been 2,550 kamikaze suicide missions of which 475 had secured hits or damaging near misses. • The Japanese held back over 5,000 planes to meet the forthcoming invasion of the home islands.

  13. Allied help • At Yalta, Stalin had promised that he would come into the war against Japan 3 months after the defeat of Germany. • FDR and Churchill promised Stalin Chinese territories in return. • Yalta was an attempt to ensure that the USSR came into the war at the most advantageous time for the US and to limit its expansion.

  14. Roosevelt • Died on April 12, 1945 at Warm Springs, Georgia from a stroke.

  15. The Manhattan Project • It started in June 1942 • On July 16, 1945 the first atomic bomb was detonated in New Mexico.

  16. Atomic bombs • August 6 an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima killing 87,500 people in less than 5 minutes. • August 9 an atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki killing 39,000 people.

  17. Truman’s decision • Atomic bomb was viewed simply as more cost-effective and efficient way of ending the war • It was seen as a way to intimidate the Soviet Union and ending the war before the Soviet Union could gain too much territory in Asia.

  18. End of the War • Between the 2 atomic raids the USSR declared war on Japan, easily occupying Manchuria and Korea • On August 15 the Japanese Emperor announced the Japanese surrender.

  19. Effects of WWII • 60 million dead and millions more permanently maimed. • US had 295,000 killed and an additional 110,400 wounded. • China, Japan and the USSR were devastated

  20. Effects of WWII • Europe’s wealth and influence was destroyed. • Cold War

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