Download The War in Asia

Do Now:
To what extent should a country go
to win a war? Explain your answer.
World War II
The War in Asia & The Pacific
The War in Asia
Facts:
•1. Douglas MacArthur was the
“Supreme Commander of U.S. forces
in Asia.”
The War in Asia
•2. The Allies operated under an
“Island Hopping” strategy.
The War in Asia
Using their own
language, Navajo
“code-talkers” radioed
vital messages from
island to island. The
Japanese never broke
the code.
The War in Asia
•3. Japan’s strategy was to invade the
Philippines first, and then take Australia and
Hawaii.
The War in Asia
Battles:
1. Guadalcanal- the first offensive by US land forces in the
Pacific Campaign.
• Japan had taken control of this pacific island in order to cut
off U.S. trade and build military bases.
• US, Australian and New Zealand navies formed an invasion
fleet & it took 6 months for the Allies to secure the island.
The War in Asia
•
•
The lack of supply on both sides meant that combat
was especially intense and characterized by extreme
desperation.
Disease also played a significant role in the ground
campaign, as both the Japanese and American forces
were weakened by malaria in the insect-infested
jungles.
The War in Asia
Battles:
2. Philippines- Japan forced about 75,000 American
& Filipinos on a 65 mile death march in 1942.
•By Oct. 1944, MacArthur and the Allies returned
and regained the Philippines.
The War in Asia
3. The Battle of Midway- U.S. forces surprised a
much larger approaching Japanese force at
Midway Island. U.S. destroyed much of the
Japanese Navy, who were on their way to take
over Hawaii.
The War in Asia
4. Iwo Jima and Okinawa- U.S. invasions of
these islands brought the Allies closer than
ever to Japan. But, the U.S. suffered
100,000’s of casualties due to the fierce
Japanese fighting tactics.
•
Ex: Kamikaze Pilots- loaded old planes
with bombs and then deliberately crashed
them into Allied ships.
The War in Asia
5. Hiroshima and
Nagasaki- President
Truman ordered the
use of atomic bombs
on these two
Japanese cities,
killing and injuring
millions, in order to
save American lives.
The War in Asia
6. V-J Day- Victory in Japan
Day- Sept. 2, 1945.
•AIM: Why did Japan finally
surrender in World War II?
Atomic Bomb Victims