World War II: Asia

Beginnings

• When Japan went to war in December 1941, it was already well established on the Asian mainland from Manchuria in the north to Indochina in the south.
• Took control of the Philippines, Borneo, Celebes, Java, Sumatra, Malaya, Thailand (Siam), and Burma, an area rich in such raw materials as oil, rubber, tin, and many other products

Asian Theater

U.S. Naval Victories

• May 1942: Coral Sea June
• 1942: Midway
• Stopped Japanese advance on the sea and protected India

Burma (Myanmar) and China

• 1943-44: British and Chinese forces started to move against Japanese
• Importance was the ability to reach Japanese targets with aircraft

Moving Toward Japan

• 1944-1945: Allies recaptured Luzon in the winter, pushing Japanese toward homeland.
• March 1945: Allies capture Iwo Jima and then Okinawa
• Americans have forward bases for the invasion of Japan
• Japanese withdraw troops from Korea and China to defend homeland.

Atom Bomb and Surrender

• August 6: Bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
• August 9: Bomb dropped on Nagasaki.
• August 10: Japan sued for peace.
• August 14: Japan surrendered unconditionally.