WW2 Pacific Theater

Island Hopping Campaign

• U.S. military strategy to capture key islands and bypass heavily fortified Japanese positions.

Battle of Coral Sea (May 1942)

Naval battle between Japan and Allied forces; first battle where aircraft carriers fought without direct ship-to-ship combat.

Battle of Guadalcanal (Aug 1942 – Feb 1943)

First major offensive by Allied forces in the Pacific

Operation Cartwheel (1943–44)

• Allied strategy to neutralize Rabaul, a major Japanese base, by isolating it.

Iwo Jima (Feb–Mar 1945)

A pivotal battle in the Pacific Theater during World War II, where U.S. Marines captured the island from Japanese forces after intense fighting and heavy casualties.

Code Breaking in WWII

• U.S. and Allied success in breaking Japanese codes, e.g., PURPLE and JN-25.

🇵🇭 Battles for the Philippines (1941–42, 1944–45)

Major conflicts between U.S. and Japanese forces for control of the Philippines during World War II, marked by significant battles such as Bataan and Leyte Gulf.

Bataan Death March (1942)

A forced transfer of over 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war by the Japanese army, resulting in thousands of deaths due to disease, starvation, and exhaustion.

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

A Japanese imperialist concept promoting Asian unity under Japanese leadership, often used to justify expansion during WWII.

Navajo Code Talkers

Members of the Navajo Nation who served in the U.S. Marines during World War II, using their native language to create an unbreakable code for secure communications.

IJN (Imperial Japanese Navy)

The navy of the Empire of Japan, responsible for naval operations during World War II, playing a key role in the Pacific theater.

Use of Aircraft Carriers in Pacific War

• Carriers replaced battleships as key naval assets.

Kamikaze Fighters

Japanese suicide pilots who aimed to crash their planes into enemy ships during World War II.

Conditional Surrender

A proposal made by Japan during World War II suggesting that they would agree to end hostilities under certain conditions, instead of an unconditional surrender.

War Production: Japan vs. USA

• USA: Massive industrial mobilization; “Arsenal of Democracy.”

• Japan: Limited resources, fewer factories, bombed heavily.

Okinawa (Apr–Jun 1945)

A major battle in the Pacific during World War II, where Allied forces fought to capture the island of Okinawa from Japanese troops, resulting in significant casualties on both sides.

Atomic Weapons

Nuclear bombs developed during World War II, notably used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Manhattan Project

Top-secret project to develop atomic weapons during World War II, involving collaboration among the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Impact of WWII for Women

World War II significantly expanded women's roles in the workforce, as they took on jobs traditionally held by men, contributing to the war effort and paving the way for future gender equality movements.

Impact of WWII for Minorities

World War II highlighted racial injustices and led to increased activism for civil rights among African Americans and other minority groups, as they fought against both Axis powers abroad and discrimination at home.