WWII- The Pacific

Japanese Imperialism and Militarism

Rapid industrialization and militarization under the slogan - Enrich the Country, Strengthen the Military

Emperor Hirohito assumed the throne in 1926◦ Revered as infallable ◦ Almost “God-like” to

Japanese◦ Approved vast military build-

up and aggressive imperialism

Military had great influence in society and politics◦ Military soon took control of

government

Japanese Imperialism and Militarism

Island nation of Japan depends on imports for much of its resources

Great Depression led Japanese to acquire new territory for resources◦ Invaded and conquered large

portions of East Asia in the 1920s and 1930s

◦ 1931 – Invades and conquers Manchuria

◦ 1937 - Japanese Imperial Army marched into China's capital city of Nanking Murdered 300,000 out of 600,000

civilians and soldiers in the city Known as the Rape of Nanking

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Japanese Fascism

Based on the Bushido Code - "the way of the warrior" ◦ Warrior code of honor◦ Willingness to

sacrifice life for Emperor and nation

Expansion of Empire ◦ Japan leaves the

League of Nations in 1933

Political opposition was not tolerated and political parties were outlawed

Media was censored

Japanese Leadership Prime Minister Fumimaro

Konoye (1937–41)◦ Distrusted and resisted military

influence◦ Loses job after failing to convince USA

to resolve differences Prime Minister Hideki Tojo

(1941–45)◦ Supporter of Nazi Germany ◦ Advocated “first strike” philosophy

against enemies Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

◦ Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet during World War II

◦ Responsible for attack at Pearl Harbor Hideki Tojo

Signing of Tripartite Treaty in 1940

Fighting Japan: Fall of the Philippines

Japanese attack Philippines in December 1941

General Douglas MacArthur begins a withdrawal from Manila

U.S. forces on Bataan peninsula surrender unconditionally to the Japanese

FDR orders MacArthur out of the Philippines ◦ MacArthur declares, “I shall

return”

Fighting Japan: Fall of the Philippines

Bataan Death March begins ◦ 76,000 Allied POWs are

forced to walk 60 miles toward a new prison camp 12,000 Americans Blazing sun No food or water Results in over 5,000

American deaths Japanese defeat last of

US forces in Corregidor◦ Philippines falls to Japan◦ U.S. and Filipino forces

unconditionally surrender

Liberated American soldiers 1945

Takes months to mobilize a army- American people become impatient- need a morale boost

Spring 1942- Bombing Raid over Tokyo◦ Led by James Doolittle◦ Plan- drop bombs, land in

mainland China and ditch planes

◦ Had no strategic Military Value This raid sent a message to

Japan- we can drop bombs on your cities

Preparing to fight Japan

Australia had become a major staging area for the U.S

Japan wanted to shut down the supply route to Australia

First battle here opposing sides never saw each other- ships v. airplanes

Battle of Coral Sea- May 1942

Turning Point of the War After Doolittle’s raid,

Japan is shocked- decide they needed to push farther east ◦ Sent 4 aircraft carriers and a

host of other ships U.S knew they were

coming- set a trap Japan lost- 275 planes

shot down, 4 carriers lost After Midway Japan will

fight defensively

Battle of Midway

The American strategy was called Island Hopping

Instead of attacking Japan directly, the navy would capture the smaller islands around Japan to back them into a corner

Island Hopping

Iwo Jima’s importance- had 2 air strips At total of 70,000 American troops landed on the island-

30,000 died Fighting took 6 weeks- almost all of the Japanese were

killed (21,000) If the Japanese would fight so hard for an island, how

hard would they fight to defend Japan itself?

Iwo Jima

Remembering the tragic aftermath of the Hiroshima bomb - BBC

Re-telling of Atomic Bomb Drop