WWII in the Pacific 1941-1945

WWII in the Pacific 1941-1945The Japanese Advance

US moved Pacific fleet to Pearl Harbor in HawaiiGeneral Tojo, an expansionist, became Prime Minister of Japan in 1941US declares war when Japan attacks the fleet at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941

Japanese Advance in the PacificGuam taken 10 December 1941

Wake Island First Invasion stopped - 8 December 1941Taken 23 December 1941Japan advancesBy 1942, Japan controlled much of South AsiaMuch of the fighting was in the jungleAmericans would have to launch amphibious assaultsGeneral Douglas Macarthur was the commander of the US army in the PacificUS was forced to leave the Philippines in 1942Japan tries to take over Australia

Battle of Coral SeaMay 5- 7 1942

The Japanese were targeting Australia

Fought entirely from the air from aircraft carriers a 1st

Battle of the Coral SeaOutcome:The U.S. Lexington sunk and the Yorktown was damaged

Japanese carrier Shoho sunkZuikaku and Shokaku damaged -Japanese tactical victoryTook more kills than the U.S., but the Lexington was destroyedU.S. strategic victory Japanese advance temporarily haltedBattle of MidwayTurning point in the warJapan is forced to turn back from an advance on Hawaii

Guadalcanal August 1942 January 1943First major amphibious assaultThe target was the airfield Japan was building thereFighting occurred on this tropical island ( Jungle warfare)It negatively impacted the soldiers and their weaponsMalaria infested

. 9Guadalcanal Japanese used surprise warfareSnipers hiding under palm tree frondsFighting on the ground and at seaAn American win!!Australia was now safe

. 10The Allies fight backDecide on island-hopping strategy- Capture one island after anotherUse each to make next attackIsland-hopping is successfulBegin bombing Japan in 1944Gen. Macarthur recaptures the PhilippinesJapanese begin using KamikazesSuicide bombersAllies capture Okinawa, a Japanese islandAllies begin planning an invasion of Japan