Monday- WWII movie reviews.
Tuesday-
Basics of Pearl Harbor Attack:
Date: December 7, 1941- Sunday- 7:40 AM and 8:50 AM
Location: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory
War Results:
Japanese major victory
US Declaration of War on Japan
Germany and Italy Declare War on the US (Tripartite Pact)
US declares War on Germany and Italy
Battle Results:
All eight US Navy battleships were damaged, with 4 being sung
3 cruisers, 3 destroyers, and anti aircraft ship and 1 minelayer ship were sank or damaged
188 US aircraft were destroyed (Pacific Fleet)
Fortunately, all US aircraft carriers were out at sea at the time, so they were saved- very important in the war in the Pacific
Deaths/Casualties:
2,402 killed
1,282 wounded
Remember Pearl Harbor
One of the most patriotic songs during WWII
It was played at family and religious gatherings throughout the country
Why did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor?
After Japan invaded French Indochina in 1940, US stopped trading oil with Japan
Japan signed the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact in April, 1941, guaranteeing that Japan and USSR would not go to war
Japan realized they needed US trade to be successful in war
Only way to force US' hand was to hit them hard in a surprise attack forcing them out of the war
Japan knew that this plan was a huge risk, but thought it was the only way to defeat the US
Plan backfired, Instead, Japan "awoke a sleeping giant".
Backdoor to War Conspiracy
Some people believe that FDR knew about Pearl Harbor, but let it happen to bring the US into the war
Wednesday- Bombing in Japan- August 6, 1945
FDR's War Message
Pearl Harbor was not the only area Japan attacked on December 7
"Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya."
"Last night Japanse forces attacked Hong Kong."
"Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam."
Last night Japanee forces attacked the Philippine Islands."
"Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island."
"This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island."
Bataan Death March- Philippines- 1942
Up to 10,000 Filipino and 650 American POW's died during march
Doolittle's Raid- April, 1942
American forces bombed Tokyo, Japan as soon as possible and crash-landed in China
More for revenge than military purpose- boost American morale- we got them back- like 9/11 at the time
Also showed Japan that we're not knocked out of the war- on the contrary, we're coming in stronger
Wednesday-
Battle of Coal Sea- First Turning Point in Pacific
Stalemate, but at least Japan didn't win
Probably first battle in history that wasn't on land
Battle of Midway
June 1942
Major turning point in Pacific
About getting control of runways on island
US massively destroyed Japan- Japan was never quite the same again
Magic- US method of deciphering Japanese military code
Island-Hopping in the Pacific
Going from island to island
Lots and lots of islands in the Pacific
Got the more strategically important islands first, and then the rest surrendered- cut off from supplies
Often times, invading the islands are like a mini D-day invasion
If we invaded Japan, about a million lives would be lost- ironically, US actually saved lives by using the atomic bombs instead
Solomon Islands- Guadalcanal
Kamikazes
Japanese planes suicide missions
Filled their planes with explosives and crashed into US ships
US had to try to shoot them down before they hit the ship so the planes would break apart and fall into the sea
Battle of Leyte Gulf, Philippines
Oct 20, 1944 – Dec 31, 1944
US crippled Japanese navy
Iwo Jima- February-March, 1945
Thursday-
Mount Suribachi- famous flag raising
US had been bombarding the island for days to try to weaken the Japanese
6,821 US Deaths at Iwo Jima
US eventually won
Battle of Okinawa- April-June, 1945
First Japanese mainland island US tried to take over- the rest were Japanese controlled
US won- tough fighting- Japanese fought to the death
Summer 1945- Preparing for the Invasion of Japan
Operation Downfall
Planned for October 1945
Estimated to have over 1 million casualties
Estimated to have 267,000 deaths
Never took place because of atomic bombs
Didn't want to bomb culturally important cities like Tokyo, went after more industrial cities instead
The Manhattan Project
Code name for the development of the atomic bomb
1939-1945
Trinity Test- July 16, 1945- New Mexico- first ever atomic bomb exploded
Friday-
Hiroshima Bombing
Enola Gay-B29 Super-fortress- designed to carry atomic bomb- Paul Tibbits was the pilot
Uranium bomb was nicknamed "Little Boy"
Blast was momentarily hotter than the sun
Radiation Sickness and Atomic Shadow
Nagasaki Bombing
Plutonium bomb, nicknamed "Fat Man", imploded
Plane was called Bockscar, piloted by Charles Sweeney
VJ Day
August 14/15, 1945 (Official UK) 2 days because of time difference
September 2, 1945 (Official for US)
When Japan official signed of USS Missouri
Potsdam Conference-July, 1945
On July 26, the US, GB and China issued the Potsdam Declaration
Announced the terms for Japan's surrender
"We will not deviate from them. There are not alternatives."
Dismantle the current government of Japan (excluding Emperor Hirohito)
The Allies (US) will occupy Japan
Japan will consist only of the major islands (Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku). It will lose all territory gained in WWII and years leading up to it.
Japanese military forces will be disarmed and allowed to return home
There will be war crimes trials for the atrocities committed by Japan throughout WWII
Democracy will be promoted as well as Freedom of speech, religion, and of thought, as well as respect for fundamental human rights (Universal Declaration of Human Rights- 1948)
Japan will be allowed to have industry so they can make money to pay for reparation, World trade will also be enabled at some point
Allied (US) occupation of Japan (1945-1952) will end once Japan accomplishes all the above points.
"We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction."- President Harry Truman
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