THE WAR IN THE THE WAR IN THE PACIFICPACIFIC

WORLD WAR IIWORLD WAR II

Why did the Allies experience a Why did the Allies experience a slow start in the Pacific?slow start in the Pacific?

Due to losses suffered during the attack Due to losses suffered during the attack on Pearl Harboron Pearl Harbor

The decision to concentrate major efforts The decision to concentrate major efforts on the war in Europeon the war in Europe

Japan’s AdvancesJapan’s Advances

Wake Island – late 1941Wake Island – late 1941 GuamGuam Hong KongHong Kong Singapore – taken from British in 2 weeksSingapore – taken from British in 2 weeks Dutch East IndiesDutch East Indies British BorneoBritish Borneo Battle of Java SeaBattle of Java Sea Burma – gained control of rich oil reserves, vital to Burma – gained control of rich oil reserves, vital to

military plansmilitary plans PhilippinesPhilippines

Bataan Death MarchBataan Death March

70,000 American & Filipino POW’s were 70,000 American & Filipino POW’s were force-marched 63 milesforce-marched 63 miles

7,000-10,000 died on the march in tropical 7,000-10,000 died on the march in tropical heatheat

Bataan Death MarchBataan Death March

The Bataan Death March The Bataan Death March continues with Americans continues with Americans improvising litters to carry improvising litters to carry comrades who have collapsed comrades who have collapsed along the road from a total lack along the road from a total lack of food and water. Over 5,000 of food and water. Over 5,000 Americans died on the march Americans died on the march which began April 10 and which began April 10 and lasted six days for some and lasted six days for some and up to twelve days for others.up to twelve days for others.

Reading from “The Great Raid” Reading from “The Great Raid” page 36page 36

Turning PointsTurning Points

Doolittle’s Raids over Tokyo – 1Doolittle’s Raids over Tokyo – 1stst attack on attack on Japanese mainland during war; Japanese mainland during war; psychological blow to Japanesepsychological blow to Japanese

Coral Sea – May 1942; 1Coral Sea – May 1942; 1stst time the time the Japanese advance had been haltedJapanese advance had been halted

Midway – Japanese navy suffered major Midway – Japanese navy suffered major blow; they no longer had an advantage at blow; they no longer had an advantage at seasea

U.S. AdvancesU.S. Advances

GuadalcanalGuadalcanal Gilbert, Marshall and Mariana IslandsGilbert, Marshall and Mariana Islands PhilippinesPhilippines Iwo JimaIwo Jima OkinawaOkinawa Navajo Code Talkers Navajo Code Talkers

GuadalcanalGuadalcanal

Japanese presence threatened AustraliaJapanese presence threatened Australia Guadalcanal – Aug 1942-Feb 1943Guadalcanal – Aug 1942-Feb 1943

““Before that we weren’t looking for the Before that we weren’t looking for the Japanese, they were looking for us . . . But Japanese, they were looking for us . . . But from there on out, they Japanese were on the from there on out, they Japanese were on the run.”run.”

Guadalcanal StatsGuadalcanal Stats

U.S.U.S.

60,000 ground troops60,000 ground troops

1,768 ground dead1,768 ground dead

4,911 naval dead4,911 naval dead

420 aircrew dead420 aircrew dead

4 captured4 captured

29 ships sunk29 ships sunk

JapanJapan

36,200 ground troops36,200 ground troops

24,600-25,600 ground 24,600-25,600 ground deaddead

3,543 naval dead3,543 naval dead

1,200 aircrew dead1,200 aircrew dead

1,000 captured1,000 captured

38 ships sunk38 ships sunk

Marines coming ashore on Marines coming ashore on August 7, 1942.August 7, 1942.

Images of GuadalcanalImages of Guadalcanal

Marines struggle up a jungle trail.Marines struggle up a jungle trail.

Only a few supplies for the Americans could be brought ashore before the transports were ordered out of the area. The lack of supplies made it very hard on

the Marines in the coming months.

Japanese Dead on GuadalcanalJapanese Dead on Guadalcanal

Marines survey the Marines survey the bodies of Japanese bodies of Japanese soldiers covering soldiers covering the battleground of the battleground of Edson's Ridge.Edson's Ridge.

Iwo JimaIwo Jima

Iwo Jima – 750 miles from Tokyo; better base to Iwo Jima – 750 miles from Tokyo; better base to launch raids of the Japanese capitallaunch raids of the Japanese capital

Feb – March 1945Feb – March 1945 7,000 Americans killed7,000 Americans killed 20,000 Japanese on Iwo Jima when U.S. troops 20,000 Japanese on Iwo Jima when U.S. troops

landed; all but 1,000 fought to the deathlanded; all but 1,000 fought to the death Navajo Code Talkers were important in the Navajo Code Talkers were important in the

taking of Mount Suribachitaking of Mount Suribachi

The Beaches of Iwo JimaThe Beaches of Iwo Jima

Marines of the 5th Division inch their Marines of the 5th Division inch their way up a slope on Red Beach No. way up a slope on Red Beach No. 1 toward Mount Suribachi on Iwo 1 toward Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, defended by seven Jima, defended by seven Japanese Battalions. By nightfall, Japanese Battalions. By nightfall, 566 Marines were killed and 1,854 566 Marines were killed and 1,854 wounded. February 19, 1945. wounded. February 19, 1945.

Soft Black Sand BeachesSoft Black Sand Beaches

Smashed by Japanese mortar and Smashed by Japanese mortar and shellfire and trapped by Iwo Jima's shellfire and trapped by Iwo Jima's soft black sands, amtracs and soft black sands, amtracs and other vehicles lay wrecked on the other vehicles lay wrecked on the

beach. February 1945.beach. February 1945.

OkinawaOkinawa

350 miles from Japan350 miles from Japan To be the launching pad for the final To be the launching pad for the final

invasion of Japaninvasion of Japan Okinawa – 12,000 Americans died; Okinawa – 12,000 Americans died;

Japanese losses = 110,000Japanese losses = 110,000

Death ValleyDeath Valley

On Okinawa, just 350 miles from On Okinawa, just 350 miles from Japan, a Marine dashes Japan, a Marine dashes through Japanese machine through Japanese machine gun fire while crossing a draw, gun fire while crossing a draw, called 'Death Valley' by the called 'Death Valley' by the men fighting there. Marines men fighting there. Marines sustained more than 125 sustained more than 125 casualties in eight hours casualties in eight hours

crossing this valley. May 1945.crossing this valley. May 1945.