Alexandra WaddingtonJustin LauTom Ward

Phanno ToeunCody Pugh

Prashant ChaubeSam Einfeld

In the early years of the 20th century, Imperial Japan was looking to expand its influence and industry. To do this they required the necessary resources and raw materials found on the mainland. In 1931 Japanese troops invaded the resource rich region of Manchuria in far Northeastern China. This act generated a negative response from Western nations. On July 7 1937 the Japanese invaded China, igniting the Second Sino-Japanese War. Over the next five years bitter fighting occurred between the Chinese and Japanese. The United States and Allies demanded the Japanese stop aggression immediately. With Britain and France preoccupied with the war in Europe, Japan saw the United States as its only opposition in achieving complete control of Southeast Asia.

On December 7 1941, the Japanese attacked US naval base at Pearl Harbor in hopes of destroying their Pacific fleet and pushing them out of the war. December 8 1941, USA and Allied forces declared war on Japan. The Japanese navy had early successes in 1942, but suffered a brutal defeat at Midway. By 1943 the British slowly began to push Japan out of Southeast Asia and New Guinea, Americans began landings throughout the Pacific and the Japanese navy began to deteriorate. By 1944 the Allies were on a victory streak, winning the naval battles of Leyte Gulf and the Philippine Sea. 1945 saw the total destruction of the Japanese navy and the end of the Pacific war with the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Emperor Hirohito surrendered August 15 1945.

JapanUnited StatesNationalist ChinaBritainAustraliaThailandBurmaPhilippinesNew Guinea

President Franklin D. Roosevelt- US President Emperor Hirohito- Emperor of Japan Gen. Douglas MacArthur-US general in charge of one of

two Pacific attack groups Admiral Nimitz- US Navy admiral in charge of the second

Pacific attack group Gen. Chiang Kai-shek0- Chinese general in charge of

Nationalist Chinese forces Gen. Wavell- British general in charge of Burma operations Admiral Yamamoto- Japanese admiral who planned and

executed the attack on Pearl Harbour

Japanese victories went virtually unopposed in the Pacific until their attack on the US naval base stationed at Pearl Harbour in December 1941.

On the same day they launched simultaneous attacks on Allied forces throughout Southeast Asia.

Japanese seized repeated victory until the Battle of Midway in June 1942

Throughout 1943, Allies gained momentum winning the battles at Vella Gulf and landing at New Guinea

Gilbert & Marshall Islands Campaign The Gilbert and Marshall Island campaign was the first offensive operation from

the United States Navy and Marine Corps in the Pacific theatre. It lasted from November 1943 through February 1944 and was preceded by a raid on Makin Island.

Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign This was another major offensive operation launched by the United Stats against

Japense imperial forces. It lasted from June-November 1944 and was intended to neutralize Japenese bases in the central Pacific, help the Allies retake the Phillipines and provide bases for future strategic bombing campaigns.

Aleutian Islands Campaign The Aleutian Islands Campaign took place in the North Pacific over the Aleutian

Island’s which are part of Alaska. It lasted from June 1942 – August 1943. Two small island’s were controlled by the Japanese and because of the remoteness of the island and the difficult weather and terrain, it took almost a year before the US was able to force them out.

#1 = Attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941#2 = Sinking of the Prince of Wales and Repulse, December 10, 1941

#3= Battle of Java Sea, February 27, 1942#4 = Raids into the Indian Ocean, March 31 - April 9, 1942#5 = Battle of the Coral Sea, May 7-8, 1942#6 = Battle of Midway, June 4, 1942#7 = Battle of the Komandorski Islands, March 26, 1943#8 = Battle of the Phillipine Sea, June 19-20, 194#9 = Battle of Iwo Jima, February 19, 1945- March 26, 1945#10 = Sinking of Yamato, April 7, 1945#11 = Final Destruction, July 24 & 28, 1945

Casualties & LossesChina: 20,900,000USA: 106,207 Philippines: 57,000 Australia: 17,500Soviet Union: 12,031United Kingdom:India Empire: 2, 174, 000