WW2 Pacific - Assessment Flashcards
What other areas were attacked on Dec 7?
The Phillipines, Guam, Hong Kong, Singapore
What happened in the Philippines? Why was this so significant?
Battle of Bataan –> led to Bataan Death March. About 23,000 American military personnel and about 100,000 Filipino soldiers were killed or captured on march as POWs. Showed the cruelty of Japanese.
What was Doolittle’s Raid? Why was it significant? What did it accomplish?
Planes would bomb Tokyo and then land in China and Russia. Main goals were to boost US public/troop morale and show the Japanese they were vulnerable. It was the first time Japanese mainland ever attacked by an enemy.
Significance of the Battle of Coral Sea
Japanese were seeking to expand presence south of New Guinea and eventually use it as a base to attack Australia. First naval battle of WW2 and first carrier to carrier battle in history. Considered a DRAW. US was able to stop Japanese from further expansion.
Significance of Midway
Japan wanted another opportunity to destroy the US carrier fleet. Turning point of the war in the pacific, Japanese carrier is no longer a major threat. Won by luck. Technology made the difference aka better radar and naval code breakers.
Significance of Guadalcanal
first allied offensive (lasted 6 months). both sides suffered heavy losses and committed lots of forces. showed US can rebuild at a much faster rate than Japan.
Significance of Iwo Jima
small rocky mountainous island, Japanese fiercely defended because it was considered ancestral homeland. japanese planned to slow down the US with as much force as possible. first invasion of Jap homelands. they needed to take out jap radar.
Significance of Okinawa
US troops landed unopposed but lured into islands by inner defenses. fierce fighting by Japanese soldiers and citizens. last and bloodiest battle of ww2 in pacific. widespread use of kamikaze attacks- highlights Japanese fighting mentality. foreshadows what future battles would look like.
Why was Midway considered the turning point of the war in the Pacific? How/why did the US win?
Japanese carrier is no longer a major threat. Won by luck. Technology made the difference aka better radar and naval code breakers.
island hopping
Picking and choosing which Island will be attacked. They skipped over larger more defended islands and blockaded them. The purpose was to capture smaller/less defended islands in order to fortify and build airfields to launch bombers and retake territory.
Gen Douglass MacArthur
Adm Chester Nimitz
He played a major role in the naval history of World War II as Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet, and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas, commanding Allied air, land, and sea forces during World War II.
In what ways was an average Japanese soldier different from an American soldier?
Japan ‘s military leadership and people believed in the racial superiority of their nation and culture. Kamikaze attacks and “no surrender”.
Firebombing of Tokyo
started a massive fire in Tokyo. worst death toll of any single day event in WW2.
Operation Downfall
US military’s planned invasion of Japan
