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U2: C7- Defeat of Japan in WW2 - Coggle Diagram
U2: C7- Defeat of Japan in WW2
Desire for a quick victory for Allies
POWs
British and USA soldiers forced to work as slaves under Japan
Japan's Kempeitai tortured labourers
Fueled determination of Allies to end war quickly to liberate POWs and Japan controlled territories
Kamikaze pilots
Soldiers in Japan that sacrifice themselves to do devastating damage
Allies wanted to end quick to minimize losses from the Kamikaze pilots, who were doing a lot of damage
Overextended Japanese Empire
By 1942, overtook almost whole of SEA
However, meant that Japan's army was spread very thinly
USA used the island hopping strategy to overtake Japan's territories
Military defeats
Solomon Islands
Remove threat on Australia and Southern Pacific Islands
Mariana Islands
Strategic air base, can attack Japan using
heavy bombers
Philippines
Wanted to reclaim it
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Iwo Jima
Strategic airfield to attack Japan using
long range bombers
Devastate Japan economy and industry
Okinawa
Ideal for launching attacks on Mainland Japan
Good Harbor
Huge amount of casualties on both sides, but USA managed to acquire it
Strengths of USA
Economic
Role of Women
Women Ordnance Workers, work as factory workers to produced military goods for war
Other women joined the army as nurses or soldiers
USA largest industrial producer, could switch over to military production quickly
Motivated workers in USA > Slaves in Japan
Military
Battle of the Coral Sea(May 1942)
USA decoded Japan's message
First battle that fleets were never in sight of each other
Damage was equal on both sides, but USA considered it a win
Effect: Japan withdrew plans on attacking Australia and Port Moresby)
Battle of Midway(June 1942)
Turning Point in War
Japan had superior naval strength, but USA had element of surprise
They hid their carriers in open sea, out of sight from first wave of Japanese bombers
Caused Japan to lose 4 aircraft carriers and 3/4 experienced pilots
Effect: Affected Japan's naval and air capabilities for the rest of the war
Doolittle Raid(April 1942)
3 aircraft carriers (that were not destroyed in Pearl Harbor) were deployed, landed in China and risked capture
Had element of surprise, Japan though they were out of reach
Attacked Japan cities like Nagoya, Kobe and Tokyo
Effect: Boosted morale of USA- Japan was not invincible
Use of Atomic Bomb
Little Boy
6 Aug 1945 on Hiroshima
1/3 population killed, 2/3 buildings destroyed
Radioactive rain poisoned both land and people
Fat Man
9 Aug 1945, on Nagasaki
40,000 people died, many affected by long term effects
USA wanted to use atomic bomb to show USSR they could defeat Japan without USSR
End of WW2 in Asia Pacific
14 Aug, announced unconditional surrender