WWII in the Pacific

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, several battles took place between the United States and Japan. In June, a U.S. aircraft carrier sank four Japanese carriers that were sent to attack them. The Americans began attacking Pacific islands as they advanced towards Japan.

One of the bloodiest battles was fought on Iwo Jima.

The Iwo Jima Memorial was established in Washing ton, D.C., after the famous photo taken during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Japanese soldiers fought to their death or launched themselves in suicide attacks rather than surrender. Japanese pilots were sent on missions to sink U.S. ships by flying their aircraft into them. These suicide pilots were called Kamikazes. Over 4,000 Kamikazes died at Okinawa.

The Americans took over 100,000 Japanese lives when they conquered Okinawa. 12,500 Americans died in the attacks.

The United States knew that if they could avoid invading Japan millions of lives could be saved and the war could, at last, come to an end. The first military atomic bomb, called Little Boy, was dropped on Japan on August 6, 1945, to scare the Japanese into asking for peace. The city of Hiroshima was destroyed and 70,000 people were killed. Three days later a second atomic bomb, named Fat Man, was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 80,000 people. On that same day the Russians invaded Manchuria.

Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945. The next day the Japanese

Emperor declared an end to the fighting. August 15 was declared VJ (Victory in Japan) Day. After six long years of fighting, the Second World War had ended.