The Pacific Theater of WWII
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Transcript of The Pacific Theater of WWII
THE PACIFIC THEATEROF WAR
(1941-1943)Section 9
Terms to Know
Campaign: a military operation (such as an invasion) with a specific objective
Turning point: a point in a war or campaign where one side experiences a reversal of fortune
Theater of War: the certain area of the world where a battle or event is occurring Pacific European African
Rainbow Five War Plan
Followed Pearl Harbor Generals decide on a “Germany First”
strategy Philippine Islands are to be defended with
existing forces supported by the latest American bombers
The Philippines are not to be reinforced American/Philippine forces are to withdraw
to the Bataan Peninsula to now allow the use of Manila Harbor by the Japanese
Commanders
Douglas Macarthur
Jonathon Wainwright
Macarthur’s Misjudgments
He believes he can hold the Philippines because: He thinks reinforcements are coming from the
US Has under his command the latest bomber
technology, with more on the way Has plenty of supplies throughout the islands
Japanese Ojectives
To prevent the use of the Philippines as an advance base of operations by American forces,
To acquire staging areas and supply bases to enhance operations against the Netherlands East Indies
To secure the lines of communication between occupied areas in the south and the Japanese Home Islands
Battle of Bataan
Fought between January and April, 1942 Japanese invade under the command of
Masaharu Homma Intense fighting that led to 30,000
American casualties and 19,000 Japanese Result: Japanese victory President Roosevelt orders Macarthur to
evacuate to Australia Macarthur’s famous quote
Battle of Corregidor
With Macarthur gone, Wainwright assumed command and was left with nearly 90,000 men
Was running out of supplies After two days of fighting, Wainwright did
not want to see all of his men killed, so he surrenders his combined forces
What War Can Do
Sometimes, war can bring out the best in people, whether it be through bravery or performing courageous deeds, but it also brings out the absolute worst as well
Some of the worst atrocities happened in the Pacific
Japanese viewed Americans as “devils” and “demons” while the Americans viewed the Japanese as “animals” and “subhuman”
How can you understand and sympathize with someone when you don’t view them as human?
Bataan Death March
Those captured were made to march 65 miles from Bataan to a prison camp, named Camp O'Donnell
The Japanese did not have decent enough motor transport to move them, so they had to walk
Prisoners were brutally treated, being beaten, clubbed, and murdered. Those who fell from exhaustion were bayoneted where they lay
Continued…
"They were beaten, and they were starved as they marched. Those who fell were bayoneted. Some of those who fell were beheaded by Japanese officers who were practicing with their samurai swords from horseback. The Japanese culture at that time reflected the view that any warrior who surrendered had no honor; thus was not to be treated like a human being. Thus they were not committing crimes against human beings. The Japanese soldiers at that time felt they were dealing with sub humans and animals.“
15,000 Philippine soldiers and 600 Americans died during the march
Wainwright would later be denied the Medal of Honor by Macarthur
BATTLE OF MIDWAYTurning the Tide of the Pacific
Japanese Government Strategy
Wants to set up a self-sufficient group of countries that will isolate itself from the rest of the world
Called the “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”
Defensive perimeter (naval blockade) of the Pacific and Island of Japan needed for success
Battle of Midway
Americans in desperate need of a victory over the decisive Imperial Navy of Japan
Chester Nimitz vs. Isoroku Yamamoto June 4-7, 1942
US Forces: 3 carriers, 180 planes Japan Forces: 4 carriers, 272 planes
First battle fought between ships AND planes acting in unison
American Objective
Seize Midway Island and cut a hole in the Japanese defensive perimeter
Provoke a decisive battle with the US Pacific fleet winning over the “unbeatable” Japanese
First use of American codebreakers intercepting messages to find where the Japanese were going to attack US then launches surprise attack of their own
American Victory
The Americans defeat the Japanese at Midway, however, they did make one mistake in not pursuing the tired Japanese navy as they retreated
Strategic losses for Japan: Loses its superiority in naval airpower Fails to plug the new hole in their perimeter Hole allows for US to take control of the Pacific
Theater
Strategic error still coming back to bite the Japanese: NOT DESTROYING AMERICAN FORCES AT PEARL HARBOR!
Guadalcanal (Aug. 1942- Feb. 1943)
US forces now have the momentum Japanese look to take the Island and destroy US
forces around Guadalcanal Main objective: capture American airfield
Japanese tactics: mass groups of skilled, dedicated, and fanatical troops and send them in wave after wave against Americans
US forces newly armed with M-1 rifle as well as better material strength
Result: 36,000 Japanese dead to only 7,000 Americans
TRIVIA QUESTIONWas there ever a WWII battle ever
fought on American soil?
(Do not count Pearl Harbor; it was an attack/event, NOT a battle)
Battle of Attu
End result of the Japanese invasion of Alaska and Aleutian Islands campaign
2,900 Japanese against 15,000 American/Canadian forces
Fought for nearly two weeks in May 1943 in bitter, arctic-like conditions
Results
Japanese knew they had no chance of winning, so they launched a suicide charge, known as a “Banzai Charge”, in which they would run towards the American lines and engage in brutal hand-to-hand combat They felt this was more honorable than
surrendering Japanese Result: 2,850 dead, 50 captured Americans lost 550 and suffered 1,100
wounded
Course Outline
Next week: Holocaust lesson/after-school movie
May 23: El Alamein, D-Day, Operation Market Garden, Strategy to Defeat Japan
May 30: The Collapse of the Axis Powers, Atomic Bombings, Deaths of Hitler, Mussolini, Tojo
June 6: (Last day for 8th graders) A look at the post-war world, Berlin Wall, 1950’s communist threat in America “RED SCARE” PARTY! BRING FOOD!
June 13: (Our last class) WWII trivia