WWII Study Guide - The Pacific Front (+ bits and pieces)

What religion did Japan follow and what kind of mindset did it emphasize?

Shintoism stated that suicide is noble for the right cause. It emphasized “Death Before Surrender” (hence the suicide part).

What did Japan do to their Allied war prisoners?

Japan saved the worst for the Allies. In the Bataan Death March, Allied prisoners were forced to march over 50 miles. 500 Americans + around 2500 Filipinos died; a total of 22,000 died (started with 76k, ended with 54k).

When was the Battle of Coral Sea?

began May 1942

Why did both Japan and the U.S. say they won the Battle of Coral Sea?

Japan dealt more damage than the U.S. did. However, Japan never ended up invading Australia.

When did the Battle of Guadalcanal take place?

August 7th, 1942 through February 1943

Why was the Battle of Guadalcanal significant to WWII?

It was Japan’s first loss of territory (and a huge airbase). Japan nicknamed it the “Island of Death” because they lost 24,000 of the 36,000 soldiers they had.

What was strange about the Battle of Iwo Jima?

When American forces landed ashore, there were no Japanese forces in sight for miles. It turns out they were hiding inland using tunnels they had dug in the mountains.

Slightly-Fun Fact! (Flip for fact)

The single most reproduced photo in history was taken on the top of Mt. Suribachi, the very first mountain we won during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

How many soldiers did each side lose in the Battle of Okinawa?

America lost 12,500, Japan lost 110,000

What was the Battle of Okinawa mostly known for? Was it a decisive victory for either country?

It was the final battle of WWII as well as the bloodiest. Military intelligence had calculated that it would take at least one more year and one million lives in order to completely win Japan, so the U.S. raced to finish developing the first atomic bomb (the Manhattan Project). The battle itself had no clear victor, but the war did.

Where was the first atomic bomb successfully tested?

New Mexico

When and where was the first atomic bomb officially dropped? How many deaths resulted?

The first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945, killing at least 100,000 people.

When and where was the second atomic bomb officially dropped? How many deaths resulted?

The second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9th, 1945—just 3 days after the first one—killing at least 80,000.

When did Japan officially surrender with a signature? Which U.S. leader accepted this signature and occupied Japan? What did this signify?

September 2nd, 1945; General Douglas MacArthur accepted the signature on the U.S.S. Missouri. This was the official end of WWII.

How many Japanese leaders faces charges in which set of trials from 1946-1948?

25 leaders faced charges in the Tokyo Trials. Hideki Tojo and 6 others were hanged.

When was D-Day?

June 6th, 1944

What was the name of the D-Day operation? What was this operation’s significance?

Operation Overlord aimed to strike the Nazis while they were “on their heels” after retreating from the Soviet Union. Montgomery and Eisenhower squeezed Rommel’s Afrika Corps into Tunis to be crushed, pushing Germany back up from North Africa into Italy. After D-Day had liberated France (1944), Germany was on a losing streak.

When and how did Mussolini die?

He was caught hiding in Milan dressed as a Nazi soldier and shot to death on April 28th, 1945.

When did Hitler commit suicide?

April 30th, 1945

What was the other name for the Battle of Britain?

Operation Sea Lion

What kind of battle was the Battle of Britain?

It was an air battle; Churchill’s Royal Air Force vs. Goering’s Luftwaffe.

What advantages did each side have in the Battle of Britain?

The RAF had better planes (w/ radar and the Enigma) and better pilots. The Luftwaffe had twice as many planes and Hermann Goering, a very skilled commander.

Which country struck first in the Battle of Britain? How did this affect the course of the battle?

Churchill began by bombing Berlin and Dresden. Hitler responds with the London Blitz where he bombed the flip out of London just to spite Churchill. (None of those cities had much to do with the war, so a lot of civilians died for nothing.)

What purpose did The Tube (London subway) serve during the Battle of Britain?

It acted as bomb shelters and makeshift bomb-making stations.

What was the result of the Battle of Britain?

Hitler pulled away and pivoted toward the Soviet Union. This was a huge morale boost for Britain.

How much did the U.S.’ embargo against Japan cut back on?

60% of aluminum, 85% of iron ore, 40% of steel, 60% of copper, and 100% of oil, nickel, and rubber imports were shut down

What was the result of the attack on Pearl Harbor? How did FDR refer to this day?

Japan sank 19 vessels, killed 2,300 Americans, and wounded 1,100. FDR said it would be “a date which will live in infamy”. The U.S. declared war on Japan on December 8th, 1941—the very next day.