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The War in the Pacific
Setting the Scene:
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September 1940: Japan joins forces with Germany and Italy in the Tripartite Pact (promised
mutual support against aggression)
Japanese expansion threatening US economic interests in Asia
Why was the US Fighting Japan?
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September 1940. The U.S. placed an embargo on Japan by prohibiting exports of steel, scrap
iron, and aviation fuel to Japan, due to Japan's takeover of northern French Indochina.
June 1941 through the end of July 1941. Japan occupied southern Indochina. Two days later, the
U.S., Britain, and the Netherlands froze Japanese assets.
The U.S. wanted to stop Japanese expansion but the American people were not willing to go to
war to stop it.
Pearl Harbor
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Japan strikes at the heart of the American Pacific Fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Prior to December 1941, Japan pursued two simultaneous courses: try to get the oil embargo
lifted on terms that would still let them take the territory they wanted, and to prepare for war.
Their greatest concern was the U.S. Pacific Fleet, based in Pearl Harbor so the Japanese navy
planned to cripple the Pacific Fleet by a surprise attack.
The U.S. had broken the Japanese diplomatic code and knew an attack was imminent. A warning
had been sent from Washington, but it arrived too late.
The Attack!
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On December 7th 1941 the first wave of Japanese airplanes left 6 aircraft carriers and struck
Pearl Harbor a few minutes before 8 AM local time.
Over the course of two hours, they killed or wounded over 3,500 Americans and sank or badly
damaged 18 ships - including all 8 battleships of the Pacific Fleet
At least 1,177 lives were lost when the Battleship U.S.S. Arizona exploded and subsequently
sank.
Both USA and Canada formally declared war on Japan following attack on Pearl Harbour;
Germany declares war on the US four days later
1944: War in the Pacific
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Now that Germany had unconditionally surrendered (VE Day), the Allies could now put all effort
to fighting Japan in the Pacific
Memories of Pearl Harbour still resonated with Americans who wanted revenge
After Pearl Harbour, both USA and Canada interned Japanese-Americans and Japanese
Canadians
Hong Kong (Dec 8th, 1941)
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Fall 1941 – Japanese troops invade parts of China
British PM Churchill feared that Hong Kong (British colony in the Pacific) would be next – asked
Canada to send troops to help with defence
December 8, 1941 – over 50,000 Japanese troops invade Hong Kong, one day after they
attacked Pearl Harbour
2000 Canadian troops were stationed there when the attack occurred
the Canadians helped to fight off the Japanese for 17 days but eventually were forced to
surrender.
Outcomes
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300 Canadians killed
493 Canadians wounded
remaining soldiers became POW’s (prisoners of war )
257 died in POW camps as a result of starvation, torture and outright murder
Canadian Prisoners of War in the Pacific
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Soldiers captured as POWs faced harsh treatment
1685 Canadians imprisoned in POW camps
Some tortured
Starvation diets
Some forced into labour
267 died in POW camps
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
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United States decided to use atomic bomb on Japan
Cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki chosen because of their military and industrial significance and
concentrated population (maximize the damage)
These are the only attacks with nuclear weapons in the history of warfare
Fat Man and Little Boy
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On August 6th, 1945 a lone B-29 Superfortress called the Enola Gay by its crew took off and
headed for Hiroshima
At 8:15am the atomic bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima
Within seconds two thirds of the city was flattened and thousands were dead
On August 11, a bomb called “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki at 11:02 am
At noon, August 15th, 1945 – Emperor Hirohito spoke directly to his people to tell them Japan
had surrendered
Why Did the Allies Win the Second World War?
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Complete material superiority – weapons etc.
More soldiers
Better Strategy
Technology
Morale
Material and financial Wealth