the battle of okinawa

THE BATTLE OF OKINAWABy: Josh Noble

Okinawa is on the Ryukyu Islands on the southern tip of Japan.

http://www.cando.lskysd.ca/candokaratewww.henfieldgardensandarts.org

Why did we need Okinawa?

• Allies needed to take the Pacific Islands before attacking

the mainland

• Okinawa was to be used a base in order to prepare for

the invasion of Japan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Okinawa

The battle begins…

• Codenamed “Operation Iceberg”

• Allies began the invasion on April 1, 1945

• 60k Allied soldiers arrived on first day

• Not much Japanese resistance

• Allies cleared north of the island

Battle Timeline

• April 1- 10th Army secures a Japanese airstrip

• April 4- 10th Army makes first contact with Japanese

defenses in southern Okinawa

• April 20- 3rd Marine Corps takes northern Okinawa

• May 24- Marines take Naha, the capital of Okinawa

Timeline cont…

• June 10- U.S. Generals offer surrendering terms to

Japan, but they don’t accept

• June 15- All Japanese resistance ends

• June 21- US General announces Okinawa has been

secured

• June 23- Japanese generals commit suicide

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Okinawa

Overview of Attack

http://www.japanfocus.org/-Aniya-Masaaki/2629

Battle Statistics

America• 34 Allied ships sunk• 368 ships damaged• 763 aircraft lost• 12,000 killed• 36,000 wounded

Japan• 16 ships sunk• 4,000 aircraft lost• 70,000 soldiers killed• Over 100,000 civilians killed

Civilian Suicide

• Grenades were given to civilians

• Japanese commanders encouraged mass suicide

• Over 100,000 civilians committed suicide

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Okinawa

Conclusion

• Bloodiest battle of the Pacific

• Allowed Allies to prepare for invasion of Japan

• Proved unnecessary after the atomic bombs were

dropped

zidbits.com

Okinawa Today

• The Cornerstone Peace Memorial has the names of all

military and civilians from all countries who were killed

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Okinawa

Bibliography• http://

www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa• http://

www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_okinawa.htm• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/ge

neral-article/pacific-civilians-okinawa/

• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/pacific-civilians-okinawa/