Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Operation Market Garden

Operation Market Garden, fought in the Netherlands and Germany, was an unsuccesful Allied invasion from September 17th to the 25th. The failure of the Allies to get their troops across the Rhine and control the German forces caused a delay in the war and the failure of it ending before Christmas.



Battle of the Bulge

After the successful D-Day invasion of Normandy, World War II seemed to be coming to a close in late 1944. However, the German army launched a counteroffensive attack on December 16th that would test the strength of the Allied forces and become known in infamy as the Battle of the Bulge.





Over 200,000 German troops and nearly 1,000 tanks took part in Hitler's last stand against the Allies.

1944
December 16th

The German Army launch their Ardennes offensive against elements of the American US VIII located between Aachen and Bastogne.


1944
December 16th
Initial progress on the assault is good for the Germans, however, the US 2nd and 99th Divisions hold fast at Elsenborn and Malmedy.

1944
December 16th
Bad weather soon sets in over the Ardennes region, limiting Allied air support to counter the German advances.

 
1944
December 17th
Allied prisoners of war are executed in cold blood by elements of the 6th SS Panzer Army. Some 87 prisoners are killed where they stand on direct orders from German Colonel Joachim Peiper.


1944
December 17th
The town of Stavelot is lost to the invading German Army.

 
1944
December 19th
By this date, two components making up the US 106th Division at the Schnee Eiffel region are surrounded by the Germans.


1944
December 19th
Some 6,000 Allied troops surrender to the encircling German Army at Schnee Eiffel.

 
1944
December 19th
Along the Ardennes line, US forces reform into intense defensive lines and some forces eventually mount counter attacks against the invading Germans.


1944
December 19th
The town of Stavelot is recaptured by the Allies.

 
1944
December 19th
Allied generals agree to commit elements of the Saar Front against the southern flanks of the German advance, this in the area between Bastogne and Echternach.


1944
December 20th
By this date, the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne is completely encircled by the German XLVII Panzer Corps.


1944
December 20th
The US 10th and 19th Armored Divisions are completely encircled by the German advance.

 
1944
December 20th
British General Montgomery is charged with heading up the progress along the north line of defense while American General Bradley is given command of the south.

 
1944
December 22nd
As the German advance continues, supply lines are stretched to the limit and flanks become over exposed prompting German General Rundstedt to ask Hitler to halt the advance - Hitler refuses.


1944
December 23rd
The foul weather over the Ardennes begins to clear.


1944
December 23rd
2,000 Allied air sorties are launched in improving skies against the Germans on the ground.


1944
December 23rd
Supplies are dropped from Allied transport planes to the beleagured forces held up at Bastogne.


1944
December 23rd
Allied ground attack fighters target and destroy German ground vehicles and troop concentrations. Without air support of their own, there is little that the Germans can do in response.

 
1944
December 25th
After achieving 60 miles of territory - the farthest march of the German Ardennes Offensive - the 2nd Panzer Division under Lieutenant-General von Lauchert is stopped by a combined force of British and American armor made up of the British 29th Armored Brigade and the American 2nd Armored Division.

 
1944
December 25th
German losses on Christmas Day include 3,500 infantrymen and 400 vehicles, 81 of these being tanks.

 
1944
December 26th
The American 4th Armored Division makes its way to the beleagured 101st Airborne forces at Bastogne and the situation at the village is stabilized.

 
1944
December 28th
Hitler orders a halt to the advance - but no retreat - leaving his exposed and tired units at the mercy of the replenished Allied forces across the Ardennes Front.

 
1945
January 1st
Weeks of fighting see German forces destroyed, taken prisoner or sent packing as the Allies regroup and respond.

 
1945
February 7th
By this date, all of the German gains of the Ardennes Offensive have been erased.

 
1945
February 7th
The German loss of life is a staggering 82,000 men, matched only by the 77,000 casualties suffered by the American
 
Information courtesy of the staff writer at secondworldwarhistory.com

Iwo Jima

The following is a first hand account of Alvin B. Orsland, who fought at Iwo Jima in the Marine Corps when he was only 19 years old. 


"I’ll never forget a major who was speaking to us midway through our US Marine Corps basic training in California in the summer of 1944 saying. “You might think this is child’s play, but you better be prepared because it won’t be many months and you’ll be over there doing the real thing.” We all laughed at that. A few months later, we found ourselves in “the real thing” on Iwo Jima and the laughing stopped.

I was 18 when I enlisted in the Marines on June 15, 1944, two weeks after graduating from high school. Earlier, a whole group from our football team went to Seattle and saw the movie Tarawa [the Marine Corps documentary on the bloody 1943 invasion]. Oh boy, we were “gung ho.” Three of us joined up and were sent to San Diego for boot camp. The training was fantastic, we just didn’t have enough of it. There was such a hurry to start the men—the boys, really—to the war.

In November, we were sent to Hilo, Hawaii, for more training at Camp Tarawa. Then, on January 7, 1945, we shipped out to the invasion staging area at Saipan. On February 17, we left for Iwo and arrived on D-Day, February 19. The 28th Marine Regiment on our ship was sent in immediately, but we stayed aboard. We were held back as the island couldn’t take three full divisions at once.

The top brass told us it would be “all over in 72 hours.” Sure enough, at D+4 at 10:35 a.m., as I looked anxiously from our ship to the barren, heavily shelled island, we saw Old Glory being raised on the highest point, Mt. Suribachi. “That’s it!” we thought, “We’ve done it! Got those bastards licked!”

Everybody started screaming and whooping it up, thinking the battle was over, just like the brass had promised. A fellow next to me gushed, “Boy, we’re going in and sightsee!” I never saw him again after we landed.

We landed on D+5, February 24, and the beach was a mess of wreckage. There was still a lot of Japanese shelling but it wasn’t accurate. We spent several days on the beach, unloading ammunition and pulling guard duty. Then, some of us were “volunteered” to replace the 5th Marine Division Graves Registration unit whose personnel had nearly all been killed. This was one of the most horrendous things I ever faced. We placed the corpses of dead Marines into body bags and put them into trenches dug by big bulldozers. We would pick up fellows by the arms and, suddenly, you’d be left holding only an arm. We’d try to pick them up by their legs, and you’d be left holding only a leg. It wasn’t much fun.

On March 9, things were so bad at the front that they sent us up to the 5th Marine Division and I joined H Company, 26th Regiment. I spent 30 days on Iwo Jima, 15 of them in combat with H Company. There are so many memorable and moving, sad and horrific experiences that my H Company buddies and I had in that awesome battle. One thing that had a profound effect on me was the unrelenting, nauseating smell of putrid sulfur permeating the island. The sulfur smell was everywhere, a bad omen and constant reminder that this stark place was a waiting graveyard on the road to Hell."


Battle of Leyte Gulf

The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also known as the Second Battle of the Philippine sea, is considered to be the largest naval battle lf World War II, and possibly the largest naval battle in history.

US and Australian armies combined against the Imperial Japanese Navy in the waters near the islands of Leyte and Samar from 23rd-26th of October 1944, with the ultimate goal of isolating Japan from other Asian countries they had occupied.

Notable battles include Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, Battle of Surigao Strait, Battle off Cape Engano, and the Battle off Samar.

The following is a first hand account by Archie Wallace Killough, a Captain aboard the USS Samuel B Roberts in the San Bernardino Straight:

" On October 25, 1944 just after the landing on Leyte Island, my ship the Samuel B. Roberts was in a group of ships consisting of about six aircraft carriers, about eight destroyers and destroyer escorts.

 General Quarters were sounded on this day at 0600 and secured at 0640.  Men who were not on watch were called to the upper deck to watch a force of ships in the distant horizon.  Because of low clouds and mist we were unable to identify them. We believed them to be Jap.  Our belief was confirmed when shells began to fall around us.  It was just five minutes after securing when General Quarters again sounded at 0645.

 The force attacking us was four Jap battleships, eight heavy cruisers, and a large number of destroyers.  Knowing it impossible to encounter such a force we tried to escape with as many ships as possible.  This started a battle that continued for about two and one half-hours.

 Two destroyers and the destroyer escort, Samuel B, Roberts, were given the task of first laying a smoke screen for the fleeing ships and then turn and make an almost suicide torpedo run into the Jap force.  By zigzagging we were able to keep from being hit by enemy torpedoes.  We released our torpedoes making some damage to the enemy.  Finally their shells found their mark.  First, Gun 2 AFT, was hit killing all but three of a crew of twenty-seven.  Gun 42 was shot completely off the ship, killing all of its crew.  Then we were hit severely on the port side amid ships aft.  Lower handling room on Gun 1 was hit.  A shell passed through Chiefs Quarters then upper handling room on Gun 1.  This was my battle station and I was blown against a bulkhead causing injury to my right knee.  My knee gave me considerable pain.  Water was pouring into the lower handling room endangering the crew in the upper handling room.  With the help of another sailor we dogged the hatches between the two compartments.

 Abandon ship was given, as the ship was certain of going down.  I climbed topside and was making for the side when shellfire tore my life belt nearly off.  Reserve belts were kept in Gun 4 so I went there but found none.  Remembering that a small belt had been made for our mascot dog and kept in the forecastle I made for there.  The belt was there; I slipped it over one arm and jumped over portside.

 Water rushing into a large hole in the side of the ship was drawing me towards the hole.  I fought hard and finally pulled way.

 The closest life raft was a considerable distance out.  It was also the one I was assigned to.  I swam for it but was tiring.  Noticing a large wooden block, I made for it.  A shell hit nearby forcing me underwater.  Coming up I again tried to make for the life raft.  A short distance from the raft, there was a terrific explosion.  It felt as though I were being torn apart.  I turned to see the stem of the ship rise straight in the air.  A Jap cruiser pulled towards it and shelled it some more and it soon settled.  The cruiser then came for us.  Just then two Hellcats over strafed the cruiser causing it to turn and run.  A number of our planes then encountered a number of Jap planes, which approached the scene.  I saw one Jap plane go down.

The water all around was heavily covered with oil.  The oil was also all over my body.  My eyes were swelled nearly closed and the pain in my leg was terrible.  Hanging onto the life raft I heard someone yelling.  About one hundred fifty yards out was a radio technician second class suffering from exhaustion and out of his head.  I swam out and brought him to within a few feet of the raft.  Exhausted and in pain I asked for help and two sailors came to our aid.

After spending fifty-two hours in the water we were rescued by PC623.  We were about dead when they picked us up.  One sailor died just as he was to be taken aboard.  Shortly after being taken aboard we were attacked by Jap aircraft but no damage was inflicted.  We were taken to Leyte Island and transferred several times to different ships on our way to New Guinea.  Aboard one ship I hap shrapnel taken from my hand and both legs.  I am mighty thankful to be alive."

Okinawa

The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa from April to June 1945. The 82 day long battle was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific in World War II.

After the imfamous Island Hopping campaign, the allies needed a place strategically positioned to move onto mainland Japan. Okinawa, only 340 miles away from the mainland was used as a base for air operations.



This battle has also been referred to as the "Typhoon of Steel", due to the number of Allied ships, armored vehicles, and kamikaze attacks from the Japanese side.






This battle was not won without great casualties. Japan lost over 100,00 troops and the Allies suffered more than 50,000 casualties. Tens of thousands of civilians on the island were either killed, wounded or committed suicide.

Japan POWs after the battle.


http://www.life.com/gallery/41302/image/3242263/wwii-battle-of-okinawa

Coral Sea



The Battle of Coral Sea lasted from May 7th to 8th in 1942 off of New Guinea. It was the first  naval battle fought with just carrier based planes. The whole battle was fought almost entirely with planes. The modern technology at the time allowed the tactics of World War 2 to be different from World War 1's trench warfare. 


Japan's plan for this battle was called "Operation MO", because the force they used for attack was called Task Force MO. 
Goals of Operation MO:
1. Isolate Australia so that New Guinea could be used as a platform to attack Fiji, New Caledonia, and Samoa.
2. Prevents attack on Port Moresby.
3. Admiral Yamamoto wanted a full attack on U.S. aircraft carriers in the Pacific, because he believed the U.S.  could win the war with them.


The conclusion of the battle was a strategic victory for America, and a tactical loss for Japan. This was the first stoppage of Japanese offensive, and the first time the Japanese had not reached their goals in a World War 2 battle. If the Japanese had won, they could have captured New Guinea. This could have isolated Australia from ally support, and made it more open to Japanese attack. 


After Coral Sea, Japan claimed and informed their public of a Japanese victory. They believe the won the battle because of the great damage they caused to U.S. carriers, especially the USS Lexington. The Lexington was very large and considered to be 25% of U.S. carrier strength.    
 

Erwin Rommel


Erwin Rommel was one of Germany's great military leaders during World War 2. He was nicknamed "The Desert Fox" by the British, because he constantly improved plans and used tricks to defeat enemies.


In 1941, Rommel was appointed by Hitler to be in charge of the German soldiers that were going to be fighting in North Africa. Some of Rommel's greatest achievements were his victories against the British in Gazala in May 1942, and the taking of Tobruk. His greatest defeat was at El Aghelia.


"What difference does it make if you have two tanks to my one, when you spread them out and let me smash them in detail?" - Erwin Rommel to a captured British officer


When Germans were starting to experience losses in North Africa, Rommel refused to follow Hitler’s commands to fight until the last German is killed. He not only respected his men so much that he disobeyed Hitler to save their lives, but he also believed that prisoners of war should be well looked after and not abused. This is an usual belief for a Nazi general to hold during wartime, because they usually lost their morals and became very corrupt.


 “In view of the tenseness of the situation, and the sluggishness of the Italian command, I decided to ignore my orders and to take command at the front with my own hands as soon as possible - at the very latest after the arrival of the first German units.” Erwin Rommel


Rommel was known for his quick thinking, ability to use enemy's confusion to his advantage, and unusual tactics. A great example of this is when he dug 88mm Flak guns in a U-shaped formation in the ground. The Flak guns only appeared slightly over the sand, and then a tent was put around them to make them look like sand dunes. The Flak guns were able to shoot planes in the sky without the enemy pilots knowing where the shots are coming from. He also found blitzkrieg "lightening war" an effective tactic. 

Kamikaze Attacks

“Transcend life and death. When you eliminate all thoughts about life and death, you will be able to totally disregard your earthly life. This will also enable you to concentrate your attention on eradicating the enemy with unwavering determination, meanwhile reinforcing your excellence in flight skills.”

- A paragraph from the Kamikaze pilot's manual, located in their cockpits.

Kamikaze Pilots are arguably the most notorious unit of Japanese war strategies. Meaning "divine wind", these pilots were devastating to the US army in the fact that Kamikazes didn't just accept death, they strove for it as a final sacrifice for the Japanese Army against the US.

But why would one willingly kill themselves in battle?

Kamikaze forces felt honor in defending their country, and would rather die for it than lose. In fact, the Japanese treated prisoners of war as lower than dirt, making Allied soldier's lives a living hell.


“We tried to live with 120 percent intensity, rather than waiting for death. We read and read, trying to understand why we had to die in our early twenties. We felt the clock ticking away towards our death, every sound of the clock shortening our lives.”

Irokawa Daikichi, Kamikaze Diaries: Reflections of Japanese Student Soldiers

 
"I am pleased to have the honour of having been chosen as a member of a Special Attack Force that is on its way into battle, but I cannot help crying when I think of you, Mum. When I reflect on the hopes you had for my future ... I feel so sad that I am going to die without doing anything to bring you joy."

Last letter home from 23 year old Kamikaze pilot Ichizo Hayashi

D-Day

At this time in the war, the Soviets were still itching for a second front to be opened, to distract the Germans from the continuous attack on Russia. Most of the war in Europe at the time was between Russia and Germany, and in the Soviets’ opinion, the war in Italy was moving too slowly – it was time for the U.S. to invade Nazi-occupied France. The first attempt at a U.S. invasion of France occurred in Dieppe, on August 19, 1942. For the Americans, it was a disaster. Called Operation Jubilee, this battle made the United States realize that they could not raid a French town, and were in fact basically instructed on how not to invade France by this experience. Soon, the Allies decided to try being more secretive. In Operation Fortitude, they worked to trick the Germans into spreading out and overestimating American forces. They made fake armies in Scotland and Norway, and completely convinced Hitler of an army led by General Patton, moving toward Calasis in Southeast London. The Germans were sure that the United States was planning a major attack with one of their best generals, so they put a lot of focus on this area. There were also fake armies in Gibraltar and the Balkans, so that Hitler figured America had 92-97 divisions, when they truly had only 35. This put him on the defensive, spreading his forces thin. This operation, an effective use of propaganda, helped the U.S. find a gap in the German line. On June 6th, 1944, the United States invaded Normandy, France in Operation Overload. They brought many supplies – 3.5 million troops, 13000 aircraft, 3500 gliders, 1200 fighter ships, 4204 assault crafts, and 93 destroyers – for this huge amphibious assault. The 101st airborne, led by General Maxwell Taylor, was in charge of securing the Omaha and Utah beaches. The drops in the region were scattered, leading Germans to continue to think the attack was intended for Calasis. The Allied plan was to hit 5 beaches. First, Sword Beach, the key to Normandy. This group also tried to take Caen, and although they failed at this on D-Day, they were successful in securing it in the months afterwards. Next, at Juno Beach, the Canadian 3rd infantry launched the most successful attack on a beach all day. At Gold Beach, at the center of the landings, Miles Dempsey led the British 50th infantry division of the 2nd Army. This was considered to be a great success, although they were unable to reach their goal of taking Bayeux. At Utah Beach, American forces in the 4th cavalry group attacked and captured islands of St. Marcouf, resulting in 2 killed and 17 wounded Americans. Helping this victory was the fact that all of the Americans were dropped 2000 miles South of the landing zone accidentally, keeping them out of harm’s way. There were less than 1% U.S. casualties here, as they were able to surprise Germans with no chance for a counterattack. Finally, at Omaha beach, the American 1st division was able to secure the landing by a hook. It took 6 hours of very intense fighting that did not go well for the Americans, as well as significant casualties on both sides, to end the fighting. The opposition was much stronger than the U.S. had expected, and because of this, they made less progress than they had hoped. They had wanted to push to the interior, but were not successful, resulting in backups on the beach. D-Day was very successful for Americans overall. General Dwight D. Eisenhower's D-Day Speech:
 

Battle of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad is a battle that resulted from Operation Barbarossa, and defeated the German army. It is also known as the turning point of the invasion of the Soviet Union. Prior to the battle, Operation Barbarossa was almost successful.

Some historians believe that the Battle of Stalingrad and Germany's loss could have been avoided. They believe that invading and attempting to take Stalingrad was not in the original plan, and Hitler ordered the taking of Stalingrad out of his personal hatred for Joseph Stalin. This theory could be correct, and the outcome of the war could have been very different if Stalingrad was not invaded. Although, many historians also argue that if Army Groups A and B moving through Russia had left a major city  unconquered, this could have resulted in trouble for Germany.

"You may rest assured that nobody will ever drive us out of Stalingrad." Adolf Hitler


The battle started on July 17,1942 and lasted until that February.General Freidrich Paulus advanced toward Stalingrad with 250,000 men, 500 tanks, 7,000 guns and mortars, and 25,000 horses. His army soon ran out of fuel, because it had to be rationed between them and army A. This made progress very slow and brought Paulus to a halt at Kalach. When supplies finally reached him, Paulus decided to continue moving slowly in order to conserve resources. 






The Red Army attacked the advance party, and stopped Paulus and his troops in Stalingrad. The Red Army fought fiercely for every building. the deeper the Germans advanced into the city, the harsher street fighting became. The German's tanks were no longer effective. At Stalingrad, hand grenades, rifles, pistols, and machine guns proved to be much more useful. This is very different in tactic and weaponry compared to other parts of the war, especially in the Pacific. The Germans used cleverly camouflaged artillery positions and machine-gun nests. The Soviets used sniper detachments deployed in the bombed out buildings in the city.






When the German's controlled 90% of the city, Hitler told Paulus to order a major attack. This was Germany's grave mistake in the invasion of Russia. Hitler had no clue that his soldiers were starving to death and ammunition was scarce when he ordered the attack that cost him the battle. 


The fact that Hitler was the only man who could approve and give military orders was a major flaw in German tactics. All other countries fighting in World War 2 trusted their military generals enough to make major decisions and distribute orders. Hitler did not completely trust anyone but himself when it came to military decisions. All of Hitler's orders had to be followed, and generals who were making major decisions had to run it by him. This hurt the Germans, because Hitler was sometimes oblivious to what was going on in the battle field. Therefore, he did not always make the right military decisions. 

Soft Underbelly


When the Americans entered the war, the Germans already controlled a large portion of Russia. After receiving the biggest invasion in the history of the world, Stalin was asking the Americans to start a counterattack against the Germans, to relieve some of the stress from Russia. Specifically, he wanted a second front opened in occupied France. However, the U.S. did not feel ready for this scale of warfare; with their lack of technology and training, this would practically be a suicide mission. Their plan instead was to try to go to Berlin through Britain, but Churchill, knowing how powerful Nazi Germany was, suggested a path through the North African coast, where France was stationed. The Americans did not know if the people of Vichy France would remain loyal to their allies, or to the Nazis they were now collaborating with, so they did not know how much opposition to expect. On November 8th, 1942, the Allies launched Operation Torch, an invasion of German possessions in North Africa. To do this, U.S. troops landed in Casablanca, and British troops in Iran. The strategy of the operation was to move landing forces inland and then converge on Casablanca. The major tactic used was invading the beach with gunfire to overwhelm the Germans. By forcing the Axis powers out of North Africa, the Allies would be able to gain better naval control of the Mediterranean and prepare to invade Europe and defeat the Nazis. Stalin was resentful of the decision to go to North Africa instead of helping out their allies, the Russians, and this eventually led to the Cold War. The Allies were successful in their Operation Torch. The Afrika Korps (Germans in Africa) surrendered. During the battle, however, the French remained loyal to the Germans in control of their country at the time. As the war in Africa progressed, British began to fight back against many German attacks. After strengthening and reorganizing their armies, the British were able to push the Afrika Korps back to El Aghelia. On November 23rd, 1942 came the turning point of the war in Africa – a British victory at El Alamein. On February 19th and 20th, the U.S. were defeated at the Kasserine Pass, which the Axis powers planned to use as a way to prevent the Allied General Eisenhower from concentrating his forces against the Tunis Surrender Points.

Some of the first African Americans able to get involved in World War Two were the Tuskegee Airmen. They fought against racism and cruelty at the time to fight for their country. The following is a video about these men and their tremendous courage:

Island Hopping

o   U.S. launches a two-pronged attack on mainland Japan

o   Army under MacArthur goes up Solomon Islands towards Philippines (moved through New Guinea)
o   Navy under Chester Nimitz moves up Central Pacific
o   Marines and Navy chose to attack Southern Pacific Islands
o   Major idea is to capture certain key islands until Japanese are within range of American bombers
o   Operation Cartwheel
o   MacArthur pushes across New Guinea
o   Naval forces secure Solomon Islands to the east

o   Tarawa
o   Strategy: US got Gilbert Islands, helps them invade Marshall Islands
o   U.S. lands on heavily defended island
o   Japanese told to kill all the Americans
o   Richmond Kelly “Terrible Turner” – Overall commander
o   Holland “Howlin Mad” Smith – Marine commander
o   Nov 20, 1943 Marines land
o   Tide is down when they land
o   Only Amphtracs can get ashore, U.S. doesn’t have many of these
o   Landing craft stuck on reef
o   Ineffective naval and air bombardment
o   Fanatical Japanese resistance
o   30% American casualties by 1st evening, control 1000 yards of beach
o   Next day
o   Tide is still low
o   Japanese on wreaked landing crafts fire at Marines
o   At noon, tide rise
o   Landing crafts can get in
o   Navy can get closer
o   Artillery and tanks arrive
o   Pill boxes with tanks, fire throwers
o   Airfields useful for B-24 bombers
o   Lean lessons for decreasing American casualties in other battles
o   Need more Amphtracs
o   Landing craft must get closer to avoid difficult and slow wading
o   Underwater demo teams to destroy obstacles are necessary (so landing craft won’t get stuck on reefs)
o   Importance of tanks
o   Know the tides
o   American civilians find out about how war is really going by photos and casualty counts
o   Starts Navy-Marine Corps amphibious team
o   Test of amphibious doctrine
o   For the story of Robert Sherrod at the Bloody Battle of Tarawa, http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/tarawa.htm
o   Extremely bloody battle

o   Operation Flintlock
o   Feb. 1, 1944
o   Invasion of Kwajalein in Marshall Islands
o   4 days
o   U.S. lose 144
o   Japanese 4938 dead
o   206 prisoners
o   US suffer heavy losses, but not as many men when compared to Japanese
o   Roi and Namur captured
o   190 Marines die
o   3472 Japanese die, 51 POW
o   Eniwetok
o   Feb. 17-23, 1944
U.S. 34 killed, 3 MIA
Japan 700 killed, 25 POW
o   Japanese risk many men for their cause, telling soldiers to “kill ten Americans” before being taken down, so that even if battle is not won, serious damage is inflicted on opponents and all victories come at heavy cost
o   US intercept message (with Magic code breaking system) that Yamamoto would be visiting bases in the Solomon Islands
o   April 16, 1943 squad of P-38’s sent to ambush and kill him
o   Japanese lose their best fighter and military strategist
o   New Japanese commander has new plan: A-go
o   Plan is to lure American navy into decisive battle at Caroline Islands
o   Flaw: US has decided to skip the Caroline Islands to go to the Mariana Islands
o   32000 Japanese heavily armed
o   Admiral Nagumo and General Saito
o   Attacked by Navy with bombs and 3 battleships
o   June 15-July 9, 1944
o   20000 Marines under Holland Smith
o   Under heavy fire by Japanese
o   Biggest Banzai charge in the Pacific
o   Rest of Japanese troops are standing by waiting for Americans at the Caroline Islands
o   Great Mariana Turkey Shoot
o   Also called Battle of the Philippine Sea
o   Japanese have mostly young pilots
o   Not experienced; experienced pilots have died in battle
o   June 18-19, 1944
o   Japanese send 3 waves of fighter planes in 2 days
o   Each wave has over half of the planes shot down
o   Japanese also lose 3 aircraft carriers and 2 tankers
o   2 other carriers and 2 cruisers damaged
o   Japanese lose 31,000
o   Nagumo and Saito commit suicide
o   3426 Marine and Army (US) dead
o   U.S. victory
o   Japanese civilians afraid of what American soldiers will do to them (because of unforgiving way of their own soldiers and cultural intolerance of surrender); jump off cliffs of Saipan rather than be captured
o   12,000 civilians die