THE PACIFIC WAR - Japan versus the US | Full Documentary
WELT Documentary・29 minutes read
Japan's provocation of the US in the Pacific War led to significant global expansion of World War II, with pivotal moments like the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway shifting the tide of the conflict. The war culminated in the US dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's unconditional surrender aboard the USS Missouri in 1945, marking the end of World War II.
Insights
- The attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7, 1941, significantly altered the course of World War II, leading to the US declaring war and escalating the conflict globally.
- The interception and killing of Admiral Yamamoto by the US in Operation Vengeance in April 1943 eliminated a key Japanese figure, impacting the trajectory of the Pacific War and showcasing the importance of strategic military operations in shaping the outcome of the conflict.
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Recent questions
What event marked a significant turning point in the Pacific War?
The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, marked a significant turning point in the war as the Japanese attacked the US Pacific Fleet, sinking battleships and destroying planes.
How did the US retaliate against Japan after Pearl Harbor?
The US retaliated with the Doolittle Raid on Japan, marking a strategic shift in warfare by launching a surprise air raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities.
What battle halted Japanese advances and turned the tide of the war?
The Battle of Midway saw the US Navy halt Japanese advances, turning the tide of the war in the Pacific by inflicting significant losses on the Japanese fleet.
What operation led to the Americans reclaiming the Philippines?
The Battle of Leyte in October 1944 marked the beginning of the Americans reclaiming the Philippines, facing fierce resistance from the Japanese navy and kamikaze attacks.
What ultimately led to Japan's surrender in World War II?
Following the successful testing of the atomic bomb, the US deployed "Little Boy" on Hiroshima and "Fatman" on Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.
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Summary
00:00
"Japan Provokes US, Globalizes Second World War"
- Japan provoked the US in the Pacific War, expanding the Second World War globally.
- The US had to transport troops and supplies across thousands of kilometers to regain control of Japanese-occupied Asia.
- The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, marked a significant turning point in the war.
- The Japanese attacked the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, sinking battleships and destroying planes.
- The US aircraft carriers Enterprise and Lexington were spared in the attack, leading to a shift in naval power.
- President Roosevelt declared war on Japan, followed by Germany, escalating the conflict.
- Japan aimed to expand its imperial reach by conquering more land and securing resources.
- The US retaliated with the Doolittle Raid on Japan, marking a strategic shift in warfare.
- The Battle of Midway saw the US Navy halt Japanese advances, turning the tide of the war.
- The US launched Operation Watchtower to drive the Japanese away from Guadalcanal, marking a pivotal moment in the Pacific War.
20:38
WWII Battles: Solomon Islands to Leyte Victory
- The Americans lost almost 7,000 men in the battle for the Solomon Islands, while the Japanese suffered more than double the number of fatalities.
- Admiral Yamamoto, the mastermind behind Pearl Harbor, was targeted for interception by American code breakers who decoded a radio message revealing his flight details.
- The Lockheed P-38 Lightning squadron was tasked with intercepting Yamamoto's plane, launching Operation Vengeance on April 18, 1943.
- Yamamoto was killed in a hail of bullets, eliminating a key Japanese figure from the war.
- Following the Solomon Islands victory, the US focused on the Aleutian Islands, where Japanese soldiers held out, leading to a significant loss of life on both sides.
- The Battle of the Aleutian Islands continued into August 1943, earning the title of the "forgotten battle."
- The US Navy advanced towards the Japanese mainland in 1943, launching Operation Galvanic to conquer the Gilbert Islands with a massive fleet.
- The Battle of Tarawa on November 20, 1943, saw intense fighting with significant casualties on both sides, culminating in the capture of the atoll.
- The conquest of the Gilbert Islands led to a wave of support for US soldiers, with many volunteers joining the war effort, including women as nurses.
- The Battle of Leyte in October 1944 marked the beginning of the Americans reclaiming the Philippines, facing fierce resistance from the Japanese navy and kamikaze attacks.
42:23
Pacific War: Kamikaze, Okinawa, Atomic Bombs, Surrender
- The battle for the island in the Pacific lasted a quarter of a year, with US soldiers facing little resistance upon landing on the Japanese motherland. The Japanese initiated suicide attacks with over 300 planes crashing into American ships, known as the Kamikaze, resulting in significant damage but failing to sink the US carriers.
- The largest battle between American and Japanese troops occurred on Okinawa, lasting three months, with about 12,000 American casualties compared to approximately 75,000 Japanese soldiers who died. Japanese soldiers surrendered in large numbers for the first time, and the battle was named the "Typhoon of Steel" due to the high death toll, including over 120,000 elderly women and children.
- Following the successful testing of the atomic bomb, the US deployed "Little Boy" on Hiroshima and "Fatman" on Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to Japan's surrender. Estimates suggest over 100,000 casualties from the bombings, ultimately resulting in Japan's unconditional surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, marking the end of World War II.
