The End of the War
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Transcript of The End of the War
The End of the War
Section 5
War in the Pacific
Island Hopping U.S. tries to gain control of the Pacific Attacked islands as they closed in on Japan
Tarawa Gaudalcanal Saipan Iwo Jima Guam Okinawa Philippines
Passed over islands of no strategic importance
A Deadly Routine
American ships would shell the island with an artillery barrage
Marines would come ashore under heavy gunfire
Hand-to-Hand fighting would lead to Americans overcome the fierce Japanese resistance
Navajo Code-Talkers
Used their own language to radio messages from island to island
Japanese were unable to decode/decipher messages
Examples: besh-lo = “iron fish” – submarine Ne-as-jah = “owl” – observation plane
Japanese Military
Bushido – “Way of the Warrior” Emphasized loyalty, honor, and sacrifice Surrendering was dishonorable
Japanese fought to the death or commited suicide rather than surrender
Kamikaze – suicide missions were Japanese pilots deliberately crashed into U.S. ships
Attacking the Home Islands
April 1945 – U.S. prepared to invade Japan Operation Downfall
Bombers continually hit factories and cities Japanese people suffered terribly, yet leaders
still promised victory
Bomb or invade?
Expected casualties Between 250,000 and 1,000,000
Japanese were training civilians to fight back Japanese threatened to execute POW’s if
U.S. invaded Casualties in other parts of Asia expected to
be as high as 250,000 if U.S. waited Prevented Soviets from attacking Japan as
well
Potsdam Declaration
Issued Ultimatum Requested surrender or: Face “the inevitable and complete destruction of
the Japanese armed forces and just as inevitably the utter devastation of the Japanese homeland”
Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma
"I now have come to accept in my mind that in order to end the war, it could not be helped that an atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and that countless numbers of people suffered great tragedy." Mr.Fumio Kyuma, who is from Nagasaki, said the bombing caused great suffering in the city, but he does not resent the U.S. because it prevented the Soviet Union from entering the war with Japan
Opposition
Considered to be immoral War crimes, crimes against humanity, state
terrorism Unnecessary, Japan ready to surrender Hiroshima – August 6, 1945
90,000-140,000 total deaths 1950-1990 – 9% of cancer deaths caused by
radiation
Cont.
Nagasaki – August 9th, 1945 40,000-80,000 deaths Many survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima were in
Nagasaki Approx 400,000 Hibakusha – “explosion-affected
people” Unintended casualties
Allied POWs. Korean and Chinese laborers. Students from Malaya on scholarships. Some 3,200 Japanese American citizens.
Deadliest War in History
Total loss of Human life Approx. 72 million people
http://worldwar2-database.blogspot.com/2010/10/world-war-ii-casualties.html
China – 20 m Germany – 7.2 m Japan – 2.7 m Poland – 5.6 m Soviet Union – 23 m United Kingdom – 450,000 United States – 418,500
Nuremberg Trials
12 Nazi Leaders sentenced to death.
Thousands of other Nazis imprisoned.
Japanese leaders tried and executed as well.