Turning Points in the Pacific and the Defeat of Japan, Essay Example

Half a year after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese continued a series of unmatached victories in the Pacific. In 1942, there was an assault on Port Moresby, New Guinea. When the Japanese forces proceeded to the allied eastern coast of Australia, Americans fought back. With unparalleled air assaults, the Americans succeeded in destroying several of the Japanese ships.

In the battle of Midway, the Japanese forces lost another crucial battle. A large fleet was on its way to attack Americans at Midway, when the American planes surged forth and succeeded in destroying the Japanese fleeting handedly. After this, the United States took on the offensive position in the Pacific.

With an “island hopping” campaign, the Americans went to seize every Japanese island in the Philippines. Some islands were bypassed while others were occupied by American forces. The process was long and arduous with heavy casualties. The Japanese fought with great determination but in the end, they lost each island as Americans progressed.

In 1944, General Douglas MacArthur returned to the Philippines, immediately seizing Manila on February of the following year. On the Asian mainland, the Allies began a campaign of supporting nationalist forces. The Allies supported Chiang Kai-shek and Ho Chi Minh and his Viet Minh. The collective forces were critical in holding up several Japanese troops.

On April 1, 1945, the U.S. arrived at Okinawa and were met with several kamikaze strikes. Truman, Stalin and Churchill met at Potsdam, Germany and warned Japan of dire consequences if they did not agree to unconditional surrender.  The Japanese refused and the destruction at Hiroshima resulted followed shortly by the bombings of Nagasaki. On August 14, 1945, Japan surrendered.

References

“The Korean War was a Strategy of Tension Justifying the Cold War Slaughter of Millions”. (2009). Retrieved on November 13, 2010 from IED.info: http://www.ied.info/articles/fabricating-incidents-to-start-wars/the-korean-war-was-a-strategy-of-tension

Halberstam, D. The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War. New York: The Amateurs, 2007

“Korean War – 1950-1953”. (2010). Retrieved on November 13, 2010 from globalsecurity.org: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/korea.htm