4/15
Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor? After Japan invaded French Indochina in 1940, US stopped trading Oil with Japan. Japan signed the Soviet-Japenese Neutrality Pact in 1941 guaranteeing that Japan and the USSR would not go to war. Japan realized they needed US trade for success in the war. The only way to force the US' hand was to hit them hard so they don't come back into the war. It was a big risk but the only way to defeat the US. The plan backfired and woke a sleeping giant.
Douglas MacArthur- General in the Philippines when Japan attacked.
16 American B-25 bombers launched from the USS Hornet 650 miles East of Japan attack on the Japenese mainland, especially to Tokyo. After the bombing, they were supposed to fly to China. Militarily, this attack made little sense and did little damage, but it was really just meant for revenge. All but three of the piolets survived but were tortured and captured by Japenese. One was picked up by the Chinese.
Island Hopping- launching invasions from island to island depending on how important they were to the enemy in terms of supplies.
4/16
Why we did so well in the Battle of Midway- We had broken their code so we know the attack was coming. (The code word was "Magic")
Native Americans- Navajo Code Talkers. Only the Navajo could speak Navajo and there was no way of learning the language.US troops were ordered to shoot and kill any captured Navajo people by Japan.
There were much more Japanese deaths than the US because suicide and death meant a lot to their honor so they weren't afraid to die. Some planes were loaded with explosives and they would fly into battleships.
In the Summer of 1945, the invasion of Japan was planned, called "Operation Downfall". There was estimated to be over a million deaths, a quarter being US. What finally got Japan to surrender was Nuclear warfare.
Postdam Declaration- July 1945- Dismantled the current government of Japan other than the emperor. The Allies, US, would occupy Japan. Japan would lose all islands gained during the war and years leading up to it. Japan military forces would be dismantled and privates would be sent home but higher commanders would face war trials. Democracy and freedom of speech were promoted. Japan was allowed to have industry so they can make money to pay for reparations.
Trinity Test- First nuclear bomb test in New Mexico.
4/17
Atomic Shadow- Atomic bombs were hotter than the sun and burned shadows into the ground.
Nagasaki bombing- The bomb was way off and did a lot less damage than what was intended, in hindsight this was good, however, because Japan surrendered days later.
D-Day Facts- June 6,1944
4/18
No School
4/19
No School
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