Post on 16-Dec-2015
Unit: World War IIUnit: World War IITopic: War in the Topic: War in the
PacificPacific
1. 1. A Japanese A Japanese
EmpireEmpire
A.A. The Japanese saw The Japanese saw World War II as World War II as their chance to their chance to build an overseas build an overseas empire.empire.
B.B. They had a They had a scarce supply scarce supply of natural of natural resources and resources and not a lot of not a lot of land for their land for their people.people.
2. Japanese 2. Japanese VictoriesVictories
A.A. By spring 1942, Japan By spring 1942, Japan had taken over Guam, had taken over Guam, the Philippines, the the Philippines, the coast of China, Hong coast of China, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaya, Kong, Korea, Malaya, Thailand, Singapore, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Burma.Indonesia, and Burma.
B.B. Under the slogan Under the slogan “East Asia for “East Asia for the Asians,” the the Asians,” the Japanese Japanese created the created the Greater East Greater East Asia Co-Asia Co-Prosperity Prosperity Sphere.Sphere.
C.C. After victory, After victory, however, the however, the Japanese treated Japanese treated people with people with cruelty.cruelty.
3. The 3. The Bataan Bataan Death Death MarchMarch
A.A. The Japanese reserved the most brutal The Japanese reserved the most brutal treatment for Allied POWs.treatment for Allied POWs.
B.B. On the On the Bataan Bataan Death Death MarchMarch – a – a forced forced march of march of more than more than 50 miles - 50 miles - the the Japanese Japanese subjected subjected their their captives captives to terrible to terrible cruelties.cruelties.
Of approx. 70,000 POWS, only 54,000 survived.
I was questioned by a Japanese I was questioned by a Japanese officer, who found out that I had officer, who found out that I had been in a Philippine Scout been in a Philippine Scout Battalion. They took me outside Battalion. They took me outside and I was forced to watch as they and I was forced to watch as they buried six of my Scouts alive. They buried six of my Scouts alive. They made the men dig their own made the men dig their own graves, and then had them kneel graves, and then had them kneel down in a pit. The guards hit them down in a pit. The guards hit them over the head with shovels to stun over the head with shovels to stun them and piled earth on top.them and piled earth on top.
- Lieutenant John Spainhower, - Lieutenant John Spainhower, War DiaryWar Diary
4. The 4. The Pacific Pacific
TheaterTheater
A.A. In April 1942, 16 B-25 bombers In April 1942, 16 B-25 bombers under Lt. James Doolittle bombed under Lt. James Doolittle bombed Tokyo and several other cities.Tokyo and several other cities.
B.B. In the In the Battle Battle of the of the Coral Coral SeaSea (1942), (1942), the Allies the Allies stopped stopped a a potential potential Japanese Japanese takeover takeover of of AustraliaAustralia..
C.C. When Japan targeted When Japan targeted Midway Midway IslandIsland, 1500 miles away from , 1500 miles away from Japan, the Allies stopped them Japan, the Allies stopped them - this turned the tide of the - this turned the tide of the war in the Pacific.war in the Pacific.
5. An 5. An Allied Allied
OffensiveOffensive
A.A. Under the Under the command of command of General General Douglas Douglas MacArthurMacArthur, , the Marines the Marines conducted an conducted an “island-“island-hopping” hopping” campaign.campaign.
B.B. They built air bases on the captured They built air bases on the captured islands; by 1944, Japan was blockaded.islands; by 1944, Japan was blockaded.
C.C. The Japanese were suffering, but would The Japanese were suffering, but would not consider surrendering.not consider surrendering.
5. V-J Day5. V-J Day
The Decision to Drop the The Decision to Drop the Bomb:Bomb:
Alternative PossibilitiesAlternative Possibilities1.1. A A massive invasion of Japanmassive invasion of Japan, expected , expected
to cost to cost millions of Allied causalitiesmillions of Allied causalities
2.2. A A naval blockadenaval blockade to starve Japan, to starve Japan, along with conventional bombingalong with conventional bombing
3.3. A A demonstration of the atomic bombdemonstration of the atomic bomb on a deserted island to pressure on a deserted island to pressure Japan to surrenderJapan to surrender
4.4. A A softening of Allied demandssoftening of Allied demands for an for an unconditional surrenderunconditional surrender
MORE ALLIED LIVES – WAR DRAGS ONMORE ALLIED LIVES – WAR DRAGS ON
President President Truman Truman considered the considered the bomb to be a bomb to be a military military weapon and weapon and had no doubt had no doubt that it should that it should be used. be used. “You “You should do should do your your weeping at weeping at Pearl Pearl Harbor,”Harbor,” he he told his critics.told his critics.
A.A. On August On August 6, 1945 6, 1945 the first the first atomic atomic bomb was bomb was dropped dropped on on HiroshimHiroshimaa..
B.B. Nagasaki Nagasaki was next on was next on August 9.August 9.
C.C. The Japanese surrendered on September 2, 1945.The Japanese surrendered on September 2, 1945.