Transcript War in the Pacific

The United States and World War II
War in the Pacific
The End of the War in Europe
Allied Invasion of Germany
- March 1945: Allied troops capture key cities in Western, Eastern, and Northern Germany.
- American troops could have reached Berlin, Germany and Prague, Czechoslovakia, but
chose to halt their advance.
Victory in Europe
April 25th 1945: US and Soviet troops link
April 30th 1945: Adolf Hitler commits suicide
May 8th 1945: Germany unconditionally surrenders to the Allies (V-E Day)
Describe how the war in the Pacific unfolded immediately
after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Was Pearl Harbor a success?
QUESTION.
The Pacific Theatre – Japanese Empire
War in the Pacific – Post Pearl Harbor
Japanese Domination of the Pacific
Japan seized Guam, Wake Island, Hong Kong, French Indochina, Thailand, China, and
reached the Aleutian Islands.
Forced an American retreat from the Philippines and the Bataan Death March in 1942
Bataan Death March
Forced 60 + mile march of 90,000 to 100,000 Filipino and American troops from the Bataan
Peninsula to a camp in the north.
Only 54,000 would reach the camp. 7,000 to 10,000 killed.
The Pacific Theatre
American Strategy in the Pacific
Gen. MacArthur
What was the strategy the United States used to defeat the Japanese in the Pacific?
The Aleutian Islands – War in the US
War in the Pacific
Research and complete the chart on the major battles that took place during the
Pacific Theatre of war.
1. Japanese Invasion of the Philippines
Location: Philippine Islands
Date: December 1941
Info & Outcome: The American controlled island was in a vital location in the middle of Japan and the
South Pacific. A Japanese invasion force numbering over 40,000 troops quickly dominated vital
infrastructure on the island. American and Filipino troops were captured resulting in the Bataan Death
March.
2. Doolittle’s Raid
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Date: April 1942
Info & Outcome: The most daring operation taken by the American military in the opening stages of the
war. Sixteen B52 bombers attacked Tokyo, Japan catching the Japanese by surprise and raising
American morale following the attacks on Pearl Harbor and early Japanese victories in the Philippines.
War in the Pacific
3. Battle of the Coral Sea
Location: Coral Sea (North of Australia)
Date: May 1942
Info & Outcome: Halted the Japanese expansion and prevented the invasion of New Guinea. The United
States suffered heavier losses than the Japanese, but the invading Japanese fleet was turned back.
4. Battle of Midway
Location: Midway Island
Date: June 1942
Info & Outcome: Japanese forces expected to destroy Adm. Nimitz and his three remaining aircraft
carriers. Although outnumbered, the United States was able to destroy four Japanese aircraft carriers
and defeat the Japanese navy in this turning point in the war in the Pacific. First modern day naval
defeat for the Japanese.
War in the Pacific
5. Guadalcanal
Location: Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
Date: August 1942 to February 1943
Info & Outcome: First major offensive for the Americans, this six month long battle that ended with a
costly American victory. Allowed the Americans to secure an airbase on the island that solidified their
island hopping strategy and the safety of Australia and the surrounding islands.
6. Battle of Leyte Island and the American Invasion of the Philippines
Location: Philippine Islands
Date: October 1944
Info & Outcome: One of the bloodiest battles to take place during WWII, Gen. MacArthur returned to
the Philippines and met a notable Japanese force that would lose over 70,000 troops over the course of
the battle. Japanese pilots utilized kamikaze methods which asked Japanese pilots to fly planes loaded
with explosives into ships.
War in the Pacific
7. Iwo Jima
Location: Island of Iwo Jima
Date: 1945
Info & Outcome: A month long bloody battle over a “useless” volcanic island, but was the first invasion
of Japanese territory. Out of 22,000 Japanese soldiers, only 212 survived. Victory on this island allowed
the USA to invade Okinawa and firebomb Tokyo.
The End of the War in the Pacific