Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Pearl Harbor
Japanese attack force 200 miles N of Oahu,
beyond line of sight of any US forces
US radar on north shore picks up signature
of massive Japanese air assault, but
mistaken for B-17s due in from US west
coast
Imperial Japanese Naval Air
Forces Planes preparing
attack
Japanese carrier Kaga in heavy
seas on way to attack Pearl
Harbor
Battleship Row, 7 Dec
1941
USS West Virginia being hit by
torpedo (from attack plane)
Battleship Row after the
attack
USS Utah took a torpedo
early on in the attack
USS Oklahoma
Japan & Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
US losses –
▪ 2402 dead
▪ 5 battleships destroyed completely
▪ 3 battleships out of commission
▪ 11 other warships sunk or seriously damaged
▪ 180 aircraft destroyed on the ground
▪ The Good News: NONE OF THE CARRIERS
WERE AT PEARL / LARGE FUEL RESERVES
UNTOUCHED
Japan also attacks Guam, Philippines, Wake Island, Midway
Island (all US) & Malaya & Hong Kong (UK)
FDR signing the
congressional declaration of
war, 8 Dec 1941
Japan & Pearl Harbor
American Reaction
Enters popular culture “Pearl
Harbor Day”
Most Americans unaware of hostility
of Japanese vs. American actions
over previous years; therefore, the
attack blindsided most Americans
and let to sense of outrage
Questions soon raised in Congress to
lay blame about failures in
intelligence & preparedness
By evening of 6 Dec 41, US
administration certain that Japan
was planning a major action vs.
US, but unsure as to
when/where
Total War In The Pacific
● February 15, 1942 Japan captures
Singapore
● March 9 Japan captures Java
● April 9 Japan captures the Philippines
● April 18 Doolittle Raid on Tokyo
● May 4–8 Battle of the Coral Sea
● June 3–6 Battle of Midway
Total War in the Pacific
Casablanca Conference
12-13 Jan 43, FDR, Churchill meet at
Casablanca
Decide on accepting only unconditional
surrender from Germany
Discussed situation in Pacific
Agreed on invasion of Sicily
Agreed to hold off Allied invasion of Europe
across English Channel until summer,
1944
Agree to intensify bombing operations vs
The Strengthening Alliance
New Guinea
US & Australian forces on 16 Nov 42
launch offensive to retake New
Guinea
Majority of Japanese forces driven off
by Jan ‘43, some remain until well
into ‘44
Southeast Asia
Burma
UK takes responsibility for this front from India
Rangoon falls to Japan 8 Mar 42; UK forces
retreat to India; minor offensives cross
border until mid-43
Allies reorganize in ‘43 – UK & Chinese forces
advance on Chinese border; UK & US spec
ops go behind lines into Burma
Assam-Burma-China Airbridge over the
“Hump” to China
Burma Road secured and reopened in Jan 45
Rangoon liberated 3 May 45
Island Hopping
● October 20, 1944 Battle of Leyte begins
● December 31 Battle of Leyte ends
● February 19, 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima begins
● February 23 U.S. Marines reach Mt. Suribachi
● March 26 Iwo Jima declared secure
● April 1 Battle of Okinawa begins
● June 21 Battle of Okinawa ends
Island Hopping
●
Fierce fighting in '44 & '45 to regain islands taken by
Japanese in '41 & '42
●
Many are US, UK & Allied territories
●
Philippines, Solomons, Ryuku Islands
●
Battle of the Philippine Sea, 19-20 June 44 – most
Japanese naval air power lost
●
Battle of Leyete – Japanese lost 49k/3.5k US
●
Each battle more intense & costly; rethink strategy
Iwo Jima
●
Early warning station for
Japanese for US flights to
bomb home islands
●
Fierce fighting, massive
loss of life
●
Almost all Japanese
defenders (20k)
●
US - 7k
Okinawa
●
Last large-scale battle in the Pacific and the most
intense of the island invasions
●
Large civilian populace; 100+k Japanese defenders
●
Kamikaze attacks on US vessels
●
1 Apr – 21 Jun 45
●
100k Japanese military deaths; 80-100k civilian dead;
19k US dead
Mounting Casualties
●Increasing casualty rates as US forces
move close to Japan
●Almost every battle since Guadalcanal,