War In The Pacific

The War in the Pacific  Japan& Pearl Harbor  Total War In The Pacific  The Strengthening Alliance  Southeast Asia  Island Hopping  Mounting Casualties

Japan & Pearl Harbor ●

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1937 Japan goes to war with China

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July 1939 Roosevelt announces that Treaty of Commerce and Navigation will not be renewed

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July 2, 1940 U.S. Congress passes Export Control Act August Japan declares greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere September 27 Japan signs Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy January 1941 Yamamoto prepares plan for attack on Pearl Harbor July Japanese troops occupy Indochina

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October Hirohito gives general approval for Pearl Harbor attack November 8 Hirohito approves formal battle plan for attack in December November 26 Japanese attack fleet sets sail from Japan December 7 Japan launches surprise attack on Pearl Harbor December 8 United States and Britain declare war on Japan December 11 Germany declares war on United States

Japan & Pearl Harbor 

Tensions in the Pacific  Japan seeks autarky over east Asia – “Greater    

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East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” Seizure of Manchuria in 1931 War with China begins 1937 Courting good relations with Germany Counting on Germany to tie-up Soviets in the west, making it possible for Japan to seize eastern Siberia German-Soviet non-aggression pact scandalizes Japan; puts plans on seizing Soviet territory on hold

Japan & Pearl Harbor 

Japan and the United States  US tariffs during Depression lead to reduced Japanese exports to US, heights effects of depression in Japan; anti-American sentiments  Japan feels compelled to invade China (honor/economic)  1939 FDR does not renew 1911 U.S.-Japan Treaty of Commerce and Navigation  US Congress passes Export Control Act, 2 July 1940 (these two actions effectively eliminate Japan’s main source for oil & scrap metal)  Japan’s leaders humiliated by these actions; believe US has no right to pass judgment on them or interfere in their affairs  Japan signs Tripartite Pact with German & Italy 27 September 1940 – in effect, making the three nations allies

Japan & Pearl Harbor 

The US prepares for war  US officially neutral for first two years of WWII ('39-'41)  US provides material support to UK & USSR (after Germany violates the non-aggression pact and attacks USSR)  Lend-Lease Act, March 1941, empowers FDR to give Allies aid in exchange for whatever compensation or benefit FDR deems acceptable(!)  By mid-’41, war with Germany & Japan seems likely  US intel services have direct access to coded Japanese message traffic, so US well aware that Japan was planning something against US – but did not know precisely what.  RADM Richmond K. Turner, Director of War Plans in DC, urged US forces in PAC be placed on higher state of alert; esp. concerned about Pearl Harbor

Japan & Pearl Harbor 

Indochina  French-administered colony in SE Asia (now Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia  Since fall of France to Germany, Vichy French gov’t (controlled by Germany) unable to protect Indochina  Japan enters 20 July 41 and quickly occupy entire area  Japan justifies action by saying it would deny resources to the Chinese resistance  Japan negotiating peace with US & others, but has war plans vs. US, UK & Netherlands (powers in region – Philippines, Singapore/Malaya/Burma, Dutch East Indies  US & UK clearly see this threat; freeze all Japanese bank accounts

Japan & Pearl Harbor

Japan & Pearl Harbor 

The Japanese attack plan

 Japanese Navy planning operation vs. Pearl Harbor     

since Jan ’41 Japanese Navy advises that it has 2 yr supply of oil (with no additional supplies in sight); if war with US to start, best to do it soon Emperor approves attack plan, Oct ‘41; attack fleet sails 25-26 Nov 41 Heated discussions in Japanese cabinet & in military, but all debated ends 1 Dec 41; Emperor orders plans to proceed Additional plans vs UK forces at Singapore planned as well Goal: once and for all end possibility of US/UK interference with Japanese plans for east Asia

Japan & Pearl Harbor

Japan & Pear Harbor 

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”

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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

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Total War In The Pacific ●

February 15, 1942 Japan captures Singapore

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March 9 Japan captures Java

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April 9 Japan captures the Philippines

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April 18 Doolittle Raid on Tokyo

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May 4–8 Battle of the Coral Sea

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June 3–6 Battle of Midway

Total War in the Pacific 

The Japanese Onslaught  15 Feb 42, Japanese forces take Singapore  9 Mar 42, after a series of extended sea

battles, the Dutch colony of Java surrenders  9 Apr 42, U.S. territory of the Philippines falls to Japan.  Island colonies, territories, and nations in Southeast Asia continued to fall  Threatening Burma and even India.

Total War In The Pacific

Total War in the Pacific 

The Doolittle Raid

Total War In The Pacific 

The Battle of the Coral Sea  Early May ‘42, Japanese invasion fleets

ordered to take Talagi in the Solomons & Port Moresby in New Guinea – last Allied base & outpost between Japanese & Australia  Intercepted radio transmissions give Americans in area advanced notice  American task force engages the Japanese

Total War In The Pacific

Total War In The Pacific 

Japan’s New Plan  After Doolittle Raid & Battle of the Coral

Sea, Japanese planners determined to end threat from US carriers  ADM Yamamoto plans massive assault on Midway & Aleutian Islands  Japanese plans intercepted & US sends entire PAC fleet to Midway

Total War In The Pacific 

The Battle of Midway

Total War In The Pacific 

Japan on the defensive  Losses in first six months of 1942 finds

Japan overextended and quickly at a disadvantage  US mainland and Australia no longer at risk of attack  Japan struggles the rest of the war to retain territory taken in 1941 & early 1942

The Strengthening Alliance 

Casablanca Conference  12-13 Jan 43, FDR, Churchill meet at    

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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 

The Tehran Conference  28 Nov – 1 Dec 43 in Tehran, Iran  FDR, Churchill, Stalin  Discuss Allied invasion of Europe –

Operation Overlord; Stalin wants western front engaged ASAP; Churchill & FDR want Germany’s defenses softened up  Stalin commits USSR to enter war vs Japan once Germany is defeated

Southeast Asia 

Events              

March 8, 1942 Japan takes Rangoon, Burma July Japan occupies Guadalcanal August 7 Allies launch offensive on Guadalcanal November Allies launch offensive in New Guinea February 9, 1943 Battle of Guadalcanal ends August 4, 1944 Allied forces take Myitkyina, Burma October 20 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 May 3 Allies liberate Rangoon June 21 Battle of Okinawa ends

Southeast Asia ●

March 8, 1942 Japan takes Rangoon, Burma

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July Japan occupies Guadalcanal

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August 7 Allies launch offensive on Guadalcanal

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November Allies launch offensive in New Guinea

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February 9, 1943 Battle of Guadalcanal ends

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August 4, 1944 Allied forces take Myitkyina, Burma May 3, 1945 Allies liberate Rangoon

Southeast Asia 

Guadalcanal

Southeast Asia 

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

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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

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December 31 Battle of Leyte ends

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February 19, 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima begins

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February 23 U.S. Marines reach Mt. Suribachi

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March 26 Iwo Jima declared secure

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April 1 Battle of Okinawa begins

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June 21 Battle of Okinawa ends

Island Hopping ●

Fierce fighting in '44 & '45 to regain islands taken by Japanese in '41 & '42

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Many are US, UK & Allied territories

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Philippines, Solomons, Ryuku Islands

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Battle of the Philippine Sea, 19-20 June 44 – most Japanese naval air power lost

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Battle of Leyete – Japanese lost 49k/3.5k US

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Each battle more intense & costly; rethink strategy

Iwo Jima ●

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Early warning station for Japanese for US flights to bomb home islands Fierce fighting, massive loss of life ●

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Almost all Japanese defenders (20k) US - 7k

Okinawa ●

Last large-scale battle in the Pacific and the most intense of the island invasions

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Large civilian populace; 100+k Japanese defenders

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Kamikaze attacks on US vessels

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1 Apr – 21 Jun 45

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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, Japanese refuse to surrender; huge death tolls ●Speculation of huge US casualty rate if invasion of Japanese home islands were to take place; rethinking of strategy ●Greater emphasis on bombing of population centers to bring capitulation ●