War with Japan

1
War with Japan
2
Japanese Aggression

• Japanese believed they were the master race in
  Asia
• Began to conquer to secure natural resources
• 1931-32 invaded seized control of Manchuria in
  China
• 300k Chinese killed _at_ Nanking in 6 weeks
• Great war crimes atrocities were committed

3
Problems w/ the U.S.

• Invasion of Manchuria soured relations btwn.
  Japan U.S.
• Japanese economy depended on importation of U.S.
  raw materials
• U.S. banned exports of iron steel
• U.S. issued an embargo on oil
• U.S. insisted Japan end the war w/ China
• Dec. 7, 1941 Surprise Attack on Pearl Harbor,
  Hawaii
• Dec. 8 U.S. declares war
• By Dec. 11th U.S. at war w/ all the Axis nations

4

• Japanese Blitzkrieg
• Embarked upon a campaign to conquer as much of
  Asia as possible
• Including Guam, Hong Kong, the Philippines
• Bombed Alaska Oregon
• Advanced virtually unchecked
• U.S. arrives in the Pacific
• Gen. MacArthur named Supreme Allied Commander,
  Southwest Pacific in March, 1942
• Embarked on an Island Hopping Campaign
  attack, conquer, move on to another
• June, 1944 Allies begin bombing raids of Japan
• Famous battles Iwo Jima, Okinawa (emergence of
  kamikaze pilots)

5
Invasion v. The Bomb

• July 45 Allies issued an ultimatum to accept
  peace and terms Japan refused to agree to an
  unconditional surrender
• Invasion seen as too risky extensive loss of
  life expected (1 million)
• Desire for a quick end to the war since war in
  Europe was now over
• Truman made decision to drop the Atomic Bomb,
  also seen as a way of intimidating the Soviets
• Aug. 6th Hiroshima, no response
• Aug. 9th Nagasaki
• 200,000 died in both cities during attacks. Many
  more will die in the following months due to
  radiation
• Aug. 14th Japanese forces surrendered
• September 2, 1945 Signing the official
  surrender document (V-J Day)
• World War II now officially over

6

• Costs of War
• Total military and civilian dead 60 million,
  USSR suffered the worst casualties (30 mil.)
• Total spent - 4 trillion
• Peace Settlements _at_ Yalta Potsdam
• Loss of territory by all Axis nations
• Germany divided into 4 zones of occupation, and
  later split into 2 countries, East Germany
  dominated by Soviets, West Germany by the U.S.
• Japan became an occupied country by U.S.
• U.S. decided to help rebuild Europe in order to
  alleviate tensions, Marshall Plan (USSR refused
  b/c they didnt want the influence of U.S.)
• War Crimes Trials
• Nuremburg War Crimes Trials German war criminals
  from Nazi regime tried for treatment of 11 mil.
  Holocaust victims
• Japanese War Crimes Trials 720 leaders executed
  for crimes against humanity
• United Nations established to prevent conflicts