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The Pacific War was the part of World War II—and preceding conflicts—that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, between July 7, 1937 and August 14, 1945. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1183 - Taira no Munemori and the Taira clan take the young Emperor Antoku and the three sacred treasures Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The most decisive actions took place after the Empire of Japan attacked various countries, who together came to be known as the Allies (or Allied powers), on or after December 7, 1941, including an attack on Pearl Harbor. The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis powers during the Second World War. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The attack on Pearl Harbor (or Hawaii Operation, as it was called by the Imperial General Headquarters) was a surprise Military strike conducted by
Name
In western countries during the war, it was not usually distinguished from World War II in general, or it was known simply as the War with Japan. In the US, the term Pacific Theater was widely used, although technically this did not cover the China or Southeast Asia theaters. The Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO was the World War II military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it a geographic scope
During the war, Japanese sources used the name Greater East Asia War (大東亜戦争 Dai Tō-A Sensō?). This name was chosen by a cabinet decision on December 10, 1941, to refer to both the war with the western Allies and the ongoing war in China. A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of Government, typically representing the executive branch. Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Second Sino-Japanese War ( July 7, 1937 to September 9, 1945) was a major war fought between the Republic of China and the The name was released to the public two days later, on December 12, with an explanation that it involved Asian nations achieving independence from the western powers through the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere ( Kyūjitai: 大東亞共榮圈 Shinjitai: ja 大東亜共栄圏 Dai-tō-a Kyōeiken) was a concept Japanese officials distinguished between what they called the Holy War (聖戦 Seisen?) in China, and the Greater East Asia War in the Pacific.
After the war, during the occupation of Japan, these terms were prohibited in official documents, although informal usage continued. At the end of World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, led by the United States with contributions also from Australia, British In Japan, after 1945, the war became known as Pacific War (太平洋戦争 Taiheiyō Sensō?). This latter term has been in use since that time. Fifteen Year War (十五年戦争 Jūgonen Sensō?) is also used, referring to the period from the Mukden Incident of 1931 until 1945. On September 18, 1931, near Mukden (now Shenyang) in southern Manchuria, a section of railroad owned by Japan 's South Manchuria
Participants
The Axis states which assisted Japan included the authoritarian government of Thailand, which joined the Japanese side in 1942, and sent forces to invade and occupy northeastern Burma. The Axis powers also known as the Axis alliance Axis nations Axis countries or sometimes just the Axis were those Countries The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Phayap Army (Phayap Thai for northwest was the Thai force that invaded the Shan States on May 10, 1942, during the Burma Campaign The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United The Japanese puppet states of Manchukuo (parts of Manchuria and Inner Mongolia) and the Wang Jingwei Government (which controlled the coastal regions of China). A puppet state is a State that is nominally independent but in reality under the control of another power Manchukuo (ja [[wikt満州国 満州国]] Manshūkoku lit "State of Manchuria " was a Puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast Inner Mongolia ( Mongolian:, Öbür mongɣul; occasionally romanized to Nei Mongol is the Mongol The Wang Jingwei Government was a Government under the leadership of Wang Jingwei in the Republic of China, set up by the Empire of Japan Japan enlisted many soldiers from its colonies of Korea and Formosa (later known as Taiwan). This article is about a type of political territory For other uses see Colony (disambiguation. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. To a small extent, some Vichy French, Indian National Army, and Burmese National Army forces were active in the area. Vichy France, or the Vichy regime are the common terms used to describe the government of France from July 1940 to August 1944 The Indian National Army ( INA) or Azad Hind Fauj ( Hindi: आज़ाद हिन्द फ़ौज was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists The Burma National Army served as the armed forces of the Burmese government created by the Japanese during World War II and fought in the Burma Campaign To an even smaller extent, German and Italian naval forces (mainly armed merchantmen and submarines) also operated in the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers The Kingdom of Italy ( Italian: Regno d'Italia) was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom Armed Merchantmen has come to mean merchant ships equipped with guns usually for defensive purposes either by design or after the fact A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface
The major Allied participants were the United States (including forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines), China, the United Kingdom, (including the forces of British India), Australia, The Netherlands (as possessor of the Dutch East Indies), and New Zealand. The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis powers during the Second World War. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Commonwealth of the Philippines was the political designation of the Philippines from 1935 to 1946 when the country was a commonwealth with the United China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands See http//enwikipediaorg/wiki/WikipediaFootnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the tags and the template below New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Canada, Mexico, Free France and many other countries also took part, especially forces from other British colonies. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The Free French Forces (Forces Françaises Libres FFL) were French fighters in World War II who decided to continue fighting against Axis forces The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories that are under the Sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but which do not form part of the United Kingdom
The Soviet Union fought two short, undeclared border conflicts with Japan in 1938 and 1939, then remained neutral until August 1945, when it joined the Allies and invaded Manchuria in an operation known as Operation August Storm. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991
Theatres
Between 1942 and 1945, there were four main areas of conflict in the Pacific War: China, the Central Pacific, South East Asia and the South West Pacific. In Warfare a theater or theatre is defined as a specific geographical area of conduct of armed conflict bordered by areas where no combat is taking place The Second Sino-Japanese War ( July 7, 1937 to September 9, 1945) was a major war fought between the Republic of China and the The Pacific Ocean theater was one of four major naval theatres of war of the Second World War that pitted forces of the Japan against those of the United The South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was the name given to the campaigns of the Pacific War in India, Thailand, The South West Pacific was one of two theatres of World War II in the Pacific region between 1942 and 1945.
U. S. sources refer to two theaters within the Pacific War: the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) and the China Burma India Theater (CBI). The Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO was the World War II military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it a geographic scope China Burma India Theater (CBI (later IBT or India-Burma theater was the name used by the United States Army for its forces operating in conjuction with Allied air However these were not operational commands. In the PTO, the Allies divided operational control of their forces between two supreme commands, known as Pacific Ocean Areas and Southwest Pacific Area. Pacific Ocean Areas was the major Allied military command in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. South West Pacific Area (SWPA was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. [3]
In 1945, for a brief period just before the Japanese surrender, the Soviet Union and its Mongolian ally engaged Japanese forces in Manchuria and northeast China. The surrender of Japan in August 1945 brought World War II to a close The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Mongolia (mɒŋˈɡoʊliə, literally Mongol country/nation,) is a Landlocked Country in East Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast
Conflict between China and Japan
Background
The roots of the war began in the late 19th century with China in political chaos and Japan rapidly modernising. The written history of Japan begins with brief references in the 1st century AD Twenty-Four Histories, a collection of Chinese historical texts Over the course of the late 19th century and early 20th century, Japan intervened and finally annexed Korea and expanded its political and economic influence into China, particularly Manchuria. Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast This expansion of power was aided because by the 1910s, China had fragmented into warlordism with only a weak and ineffective central government. The Warlord era is the period in the History of the Republic of China, from 1916 to the late-1930s when the country was divided among military cliques, a division
However, the situation of a weak China unable to resist Japanese demands appeared to be changing toward the end of the 1920s. In 1927, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and the National Revolutionary Army of the Kuomintang (KMT) led the Northern Expedition. Chiang Kai-shek ( POJ: Chiúⁿ Kài-se̍k Jyutping: zoeng2gaai3sek6 GCB ( October 31, 1887 &ndash The National Revolutionary Army ( NRA) ( sometimes shortened to 國軍 or National Army) was the National Army The Northern Expedition ( was a military campaign led by the Kuomintang (KMT from 1926 to 1928. Chiang was able to defeat the warlords in southern and central China, and was in the process of securing the nominal allegiance of the warlords in northern China. Fearing that Zhang Xueliang, the warlord controlling Manchuria, was about to declare his allegiance to Chiang, the Japanese staged the Mukden Incident in 1931 and set up the puppet state of Manchukuo. Zhang Xueliang or Chang Hsüeh-liang ( English occasionally Peter Hsueh Liang Chang) ( 3 June 1901 (according to other accounts in On September 18, 1931, near Mukden (now Shenyang) in southern Manchuria, a section of railroad owned by Japan 's South Manchuria The nominal Emperor of this puppet state was better known as Henry Pu Yi of the defunct Qing Dynasty. Puyi ( ( February 7, 1906 &ndash October 17, 1967) of the Manchu Aisin-Gioro ruling family was the last Emperor Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China
Japan's imperialist goals in China were to maintain a secure supply of natural resources and to have puppet governments in China that would not act against Japanese interests. Natural resources are naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified ( natural) form Although Japanese actions would not have seemed out of place among European colonial powers in the 19th century, by 1930, notions of Wilsonian self-determination meant military force in support of colonialism was no longer seen as appropriate behavior by the international community. The Fourteen Points were listed in a speech delivered by President Woodrow Wilson of the United States to a joint session of the United See Colony and Colonization for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism
Hence Japanese actions in Manchuria were roundly criticized and led to Japan's withdrawal from the League of Nations. The League of Nations was an International organization founded as a result of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919–1920 During the 1930s, China and Japan reached a stalemate with Chiang focusing his efforts at eliminating the Communist Party of China, whom he considered to be a more fundamental danger than the Japanese. The Communist Party of China ( CPC) ( also known as the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP) is the founding and ruling political party of the The influence of Chinese nationalism on opinion both in the political elite and the general population rendered this strategy increasingly untenable. Chinese nationalism ( sometimes synonymous with Chinese Patriotism ( lit
Though they had at first cooperated in the Northern Expedition, during the period of 1930–34, the nationalist KMT and the Chinese Communist Party entered into direct conflict. [4] The Japanese capitalized on the infighting between Chinese factions to make greater inroads, forcing a landing at Shanghai in 1932. The January 28 Incident ( January 28 – March 3 1932) was a short war between the armies of the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan [5]
Meanwhile, in Japan, a policy of assassination by secret societies and the effects of the Great Depression had caused the civilian government to lose control of the military. Civilian control of the military is a doctrine in military and Political science that places ultimate responsibility for a country's In addition, the military high command had limited control over the field armies who acted in their own interest, often in contradiction to the overall national interest, but in keeping with Hirohito's wishes. An army (from Latin Armata "act of arming" via Old French armée) in the broadest sense is the land-based Armed forces also known as, (April 29 1901 – January 7 1989 was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order reigning from December 25 1926 until his death [6] Pan-Asianism was also used as a justification for expansion. Pan-Asianism is an ideology that Asian countries and peoples share similar values and similar histories and should be united politically or culturally This is perhaps best summarized by the "Amo Doctrine" of 1934, issued by Eiji Amo, head of information department of the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Known as the "Monroe Doctrine of Asia," it announced Japan's intention for European countries to adopt a "hands off" policy in China, thereby negating the Open Door Policy. The Monroe Doctrine is a US doctrine which on December 2 1823 stated that European powers were no longer to colonize or interfere with The Open Door Policy is a concept in foreign affairs As a theory the Open Door Policy originates with British commercial practice as was reflected in treaties concluded with It stated that Japan was to be the sole leader in security in East Asia, including the task of defeating communism. Economics was also a very important factor leading to the invasion of China. During the Depression, Japanese exports to American and European markets were severely curtailed, and Japan turned to completely dominating China politically and economically to provide a stable market. In the period leading up to full-scale war in 1937, Japan used force in localised conflicts to threaten China unless the latter reduced its protective tariff and suppressed anti-Japanese activities and boycotts. For other uses of this word see Tariff (disambiguation. A tariff is a tax imposed on goods when they are moved across a political boundary A boycott is a form of Consumer activism involving the act of voluntarily abstaining from using buying or dealing with someone or some other organization as an expression of
Second Sino-Japanese War
In 1936, Chiang was kidnapped by Zhang Xueliang. The Second Sino-Japanese War ( July 7, 1937 to September 9, 1945) was a major war fought between the Republic of China and the The Xi'an Incident of December 1936 ( is an important episode of Chinese modern history, taking place in the city of Xi'an during the Chinese Civil War Zhang Xueliang or Chang Hsüeh-liang ( English occasionally Peter Hsueh Liang Chang) ( 3 June 1901 (according to other accounts in As a condition of his release, Chiang agreed to form a united front with the communists and fight the Japanese. Soon after, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident took place on July 7, 1937, which succeeded in provoking a war between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. The Marco Polo Bridge Incident ( 盧溝橋事變; also known as 七七事變 七七盧溝橋事變 or the Lugouqiao Incident) was a Battle between Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Though the Nationalist and Communist Chinese would cooperate in military campaigns against Japan and sought to create a united national front, Mao Zedong refused Chiang's wish to directly control his forces, and the aim of the Communists remained social revolution. Mao Zedong ( 26 December 1893 – 9 September 1976) was a Chinese Military and political leader who led In 1939, the Chinese Communist Red Army consisted of 500,000 troops independent of the KMT. [7]
In addition, throughout the 1930s Japan succeeded in alienating public opinion in the West, particularly the United States and Britain. During the early 1930s, public opinion in the United States had been neutral. However, news reports of the Panay incident caused American public opinion to swing against Japan. The Panay incident was a Japanese attack on the United States Navy Gunboat ''Panay'' while she was anchored in the Yangtze River
In 1939 Japanese forces tried to push into the Soviet Far East from Manchuria. Russian Far East (Да́льний Восто́к Росси́и ˈdalʲnʲɪj vʌˈstok rʌˈsʲiɪ is a term that refers to the Russian part of the Far East, i They were soundly defeated in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol by a mixed Soviet and Mongolian force led by Georgy Zhukov. The Battle of Khalkhyn Gol (бои на реке Халхин-Гол Халхын голын байлдаан Japanese ノモンハン事件 Nomonhan jiken --i This stopped Japanese expansion to the north, and Japan and the Soviet Union kept an uneasy peace until 1945.
In September 1940, Japan attempted to cut Chinese links with other countries by obtaining approval for bases in French Indochina, which was controlled at the time by Vichy France. First French interventions See also France-Vietnam relations France-Vietnam relations started as early as the 17th century with the mission of the Jesuit Vichy France, or the Vichy regime are the common terms used to describe the government of France from July 1940 to August 1944 Japanese forces broke the terms of their agreement with the Vichy administration and fighting broke out, ending in a Japanese victory. The, also known as the Vietnam Expedition, was an attempt by the Empire of Japan, during the Second Sino-Japanese War to blockade China and prevent On September 27, Japan signed a military alliance with Germany and Italy.
By 1941, the conflict had become a stalemate. Although Japan had occupied much of north and central China, the Kuomintang had retreated to the interior with a provisional capital set up at Chungking while the Chinese communists remained in control of base areas in Shaanxi. Chongqing ( Postal map spelling: Chungking; Wade-Giles: Ch'ung-ch'ing) is the largest and most populous of the People's Republic of China ( Postal map spelling: Shensi) is a north-central province of the People's Republic of China, and includes portions of the Loess In addition, Japanese control of north and central China was somewhat tenuous, in that Japan was usually able to control railroads and the major cities ("points and lines"), but did not have a major military or administrative presence in the vast Chinese countryside. The Japanese found its aggression against the retreating and regrouping Chinese army was stalled by the mountainous terrain in southwestern China while the Communists organised widespread guerrilla and saboteur activities in eastern and central China behind the Japanese front line. Guerrilla warfare is the unconventional warfare and combat with which a small group of combatants use mobile tactics (ambushes raids etc
Japan sponsored several puppet governments, one of which was headed by Wang Jingwei. A puppet state is a State that is nominally independent but in reality under the control of another power Wang Jingwei ( Traditional Chinese: 汪精衛 Simplified Chinese: 汪精卫 Pinyin: Wāng Jīngwèi Wade-Giles: Wang Ching-wei ( However, its policies of brutality toward the Chinese population, of not yielding any real power to the governments, and of supporting several rival governments failed to make any of them a popular alternative to Chiang's government. Japan was also unwilling to negotiate directly with Chiang, nor was it willing to attempt to create splits in the Chinese united front.
Tensions between Japan and the western powers
In an effort to discourage Japanese militarism, western powers including Australia, the United States, Britain, and the Dutch government in exile, which controlled the petroleum-rich Netherlands East Indies, stopped selling iron ore, steel and oil to Japan, denying it the raw materials needed to continue its activities in China and French Indochina. The Dutch government in exile was the government of The Netherlands, headed by Queen Wilhelmina, that evacuated to London after the German invasion Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit See http//enwikipediaorg/wiki/WikipediaFootnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the tags and the template below In Japan, the government and nationalists viewed these embargos as acts of aggression; imported oil made up about 80% of domestic consumption, without which Japan's economy, let alone its military, would grind to a halt. Japanese nationalism refers to the Japanese version of Nationalism, and encompasses a broad range of ideas and sentiments entertained by the Japanese people In international Commerce and politics, an embargo is the prohibition of commerce The Japanese media, influenced by military propagandists,[8] began to refer to the embargos as the "ABCD ("American-British-Chinese-Dutch") encirclement" or "ABCD line". Encirclement is a military term for the situation when a force or target is isolated and surrounded by enemy forces
Faced with a choice between economic collapse and withdrawal from its recent conquests (with its attendant loss of face), the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters began planning for a war with the western powers in April or May 1941. The as part of the Supreme War Council was established in 1893 to coordinate efforts between the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy during wartime
The key objective was for the Southern Expeditionary Army Group to seize economic resources under the control of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, most notably those in Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies, known as the "Southern Plan". The was a Army group of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula that were colonized by the British from the 18th and the 19th until the 20th century It was also decided—because of the close relationship between the UK and United States, and the (mistaken)[9] belief the US would inevitably become involved[10]—Japan would also require an "eastern plan".
The eastern plan required
- initial attacks on the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, with carrier-based aircraft of the Combined Fleet, and
- following this attack with
- seizure of the Philippines, and
- cutting the U. Pearl Harbor is a Harbor on the Island of O{{okina}}ahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with For Combined Fleet, please see that article For Carrier Striking Task Force, please see that article The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP S. lines of communication by seizing Guam and Wake. Guam ( Chamorro: cha Guåhån) officially the Territory of Guam, is an island in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized unincorporated Wake Island (also known as Wake Atoll) is a Coral atoll having a Coastline of 12 miles (19 kilometers in the North Pacific Ocean
The southern plans called for:
- attacking Malaya and Hong Kong, and
- following with attacks against
- the Bismarck Archipelago,
- Java, and
- Sumatra. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders The Bismarck Archipelago is a group of islands off the northeastern coast of New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean and part of Papua New Guinea. Java (Jawa is an Island of Indonesia and the site of its Capital city Jakarta. Sumatra (also spelled Sumatera) is the sixth largest island in the world (approximately 470000 km² and is the largest island entirely in Indonesia (two
- isolating Australia and New Zealand
Following completion of these objectives, the strategy would turn defensive, primarily holding their newly acquired territory while hoping for a negotiated peace. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island
By November these plans were essentially complete, and were modified only slightly over the next month. Japanese military planners' expectation of success rested on the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union being unable to effectively respond to a Japanese attack because of the threat posed to each by Germany; the Soviet Union was even seen as unlikely to commence hostilities. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers
There is no evidence the Japanese planned to defeat the United States; the alternative would be negotiating for peace after their initial victories. In fact, the Imperial GHQ noted, should acceptable negotiations be reached with the Americans, the attacks were to be canceled—even if the order to attack had already been given.
They also planned, should the U. S. transfer its Pacific Fleet to the Philippines, to intercept and attack this fleet en route with the Combined Fleet, in keeping with all Japanese Navy prewar planning and doctrine.
Should the United States or Britain attack first, the plans further stipulated the military were to hold their positions and wait for orders from GHQ. The planners noted attacking the Philippines and Malaya still had possibilities of success, even in the worst case of a combined preemptive attack including Soviet forces.
German and Italian involvement
Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy both had limited involvement in the Pacific War. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers The Kingdom of Italy ( Italian: Regno d'Italia) was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom The German Navy (Kriegsmarine) and the Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina) operated submarines and raiding ships in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Kriegsmarine (English "War navy" was the name of the German Navy between 1935 and 1945 during the Nazi regime superseding the The Regia Marina ( Italian Royal Navy) dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification. A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability Armed Merchantmen has come to mean merchant ships equipped with guns usually for defensive purposes either by design or after the fact Both navies had access to "concession territory" naval bases in China. In International law, a concession is a territory within a Country that is administered by another entity than the State which holds Sovereignty China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent declarations of war, both navies had access to Japanese naval facilities. The attack on Pearl Harbor (or Hawaii Operation, as it was called by the Imperial General Headquarters) was a surprise Military strike conducted by
Japan attacks the Western Powers
| “ | I shall run wild considerably for the first six months or a year, but I have utterly no confidence for the second and third years. [11] | ” |
On December 8, 1941, Japanese forces attacked the British crown colony of Hong Kong, the Dutch East Indies, and the US-controlled Commonwealth of the Philippines. Fleet Admiral ( 4 April 1884 – 18 April 1943) was the Commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet during World War II a Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories that are under the Sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but which do not form part of the United Kingdom See http//enwikipediaorg/wiki/WikipediaFootnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the tags and the template below The Commonwealth of the Philippines was the political designation of the Philippines from 1935 to 1946 when the country was a commonwealth with the United Japan also used its bases in French Indochina to invade Thailand, then using the gained Thai territory to launch an assault against Malaya. The Japanese Invasion of Thailand occurred on December 8, 1941. The Battle of Malaya was a campaign fought by Allied and Japanese forces in Malaya, from December 8 1941 to January 31
Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7, Japan (December 8 in the Eastern Hemisphere) launched a carrier-based air attack on Pearl Harbor, knocking eight American battleships out of action. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Eastern Hemisphere, also Eastern hemisphere or eastern hemisphere, is a geographical term for the half of the Earth that is east of the An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with The attack on Pearl Harbor (or Hawaii Operation, as it was called by the Imperial General Headquarters) was a surprise Military strike conducted by The Japanese had gambled that the United States, when faced with such a sudden and massive defeat, would agree to a negotiated settlement and allow Japan free rein in China. This gamble did not pay off. American losses were less serious than initially thought: the American aircraft carriers, far more important than battleships, were out to sea, and vital naval infrastructure (fuel oil tanks and the shipyard), submarines and signals intelligence units were unscathed. An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with Fuel oil is a fraction obtained from Petroleum Distillation, either as a distillate or a residue A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability OP-20-G or "Office of Chief Of Naval Operations ( OP NAV 20 th Division of the Office of Naval Communications G Section / Communications Security" Japan's fallback strategy, relying on a war of attrition to make the US come to terms, was beyond the IJN's capabilities. This article is about the military strategy For the Israeli-Egyptian conflict see War of Attrition, for the game theoretical model see War of attrition (game [12]
When the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred, the United States was not at war anywhere in the world. The America First Committee, 800,000 members strong, had vehemently opposed any American intervention in the foreign conflict, even as America provided military aid to Britain and the Soviet Union, through the Lend-Lease program. The America First Committee was the foremost non-interventionist Pressure group against the American entry into the Second World War. Lend-Lease (Public Law 77-11 was the name of the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Opposition to war in the United States vanished after the attack. Four days after Pearl Harbor, in a massive strategic blunder, Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy declared war on the United States, drawing America into a two-theater war. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers The Kingdom of Italy ( Italian: Regno d'Italia) was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
Japanese offensives, 1941–42
| “ | I praise the Army for cutting down like weeds large numbers of the enemy. . . | ” |
British, Australian and Dutch forces, already drained of personnel and matériel by two years of war with Germany, and heavily committed in the Middle East, North Africa and elsewhere, were unable to provide much more than token resistance to the battle-hardened Japanese. Materiel (from the French "matériel" for equipment or hardware related to the word Material) is a term used in English to refer to the The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan The Allies suffered many disastrous defeats in the first six months of the war. Two major British warships, HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales were sunk by a Japanese air attack off Malaya on December 10, 1941. Service in World War I Repulse first saw action on 17 November 1917 at the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight. Naming The Admiralty ordered construction of two new ''King George V''-class Battleships on 29 July 1936 (the other became HMS ''King George V'') The Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse was a World War II naval engagement which illustrated the effectiveness of aerial attacks Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Thailand, with its territory already serving as a springboard for the Malayan campaign, surrendered within 24 hours of the Japanese invasion. The Japanese Invasion of Thailand occurred on December 8, 1941. The government of Thailand formally allied itself with Japan on December 21. Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian
Hong Kong fell on December 25, and U. Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian S. bases on Guam and Wake Island were lost at around the same time. The Battle of Guam (1941, was an engagement during the Pacific War in World War II, and took place on December 8 1941 on Guam The Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on December 23, 1941, with the surrender of the American
Following the January 1, 1942 Declaration by United Nations (the first official use of the term United Nations), the Allied governments appointed the British General Sir Archibald Wavell to the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command (ABDACOM), a supreme command for Allied forces in South East Asia. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Declaration by United Nations was a World War II document agreed to on January 1 1942 during the Arcadia Conference by 26 governments several Field Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell 1st Earl Wavell GCB, GCSI, GCIE, CMG, MC, PC (5 May 1883 – 24 May The American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA Command, code name ABDACOM, was a short-lived supreme command for all Allied forces in South East Asia, in This gave Wavell nominal control of a huge force, albeit thinly-spread over an area from Burma to the Philippines to northern Australia. Other areas, including India, Hawaii and the rest of Australia remained under separate local commands. On January 15, Wavell moved to Bandung in Java to assume control of ABDA Command (ABDACOM). Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign Bandung (bʌndʊŋ is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's fourth largest city Java (Jawa is an Island of Indonesia and the site of its Capital city Jakarta.
In January, Japan invaded Burma, the Dutch East Indies, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and they captured Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Rabaul. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. See http//enwikipediaorg/wiki/WikipediaFootnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the tags and the template below New Guinea, located just north of Australia, is the world's second largest island, having become separated from the Australian mainland when the area now known The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands The City of Manila Kuala Lumpur (ˈkwɑːləlʊmˈpʊər Malay /kwɑlɑlʊmpʊ/ and locally /kwɑləlʊmpɔ/ or even /kɔlɔmpɔ/ or often abbreviated as K Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province Papua New Guinea. After being driven out of Malaya, Allied forces in Singapore attempted to resist the Japanese during the battle of Singapore but surrendered to the Japanese on February 15, 1942; about 130,000 Indian, British, Australian and Dutch personnel became prisoners of war. The Battle of Singapore was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II when the Empire of Japan invaded the Allied stronghold Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [14] The pace of conquest was rapid: Bali and Timor also fell in February. Bali is an Indonesian Island located at, the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to Timor is an Island at the south end of the Malay Archipelago, north of the Timor Sea. The rapid collapse of Allied resistance had left the "ABDA area" split in two. Wavell resigned from ABDACOM on February 25, handing control of the ABDA Area to local commanders and returning to the post of Commander-in-Chief, India. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor The British Commander-in-Chief in India (or Commander-in-Chief of India) was the chief military commander for the British administration
Meanwhile, Japanese aircraft had all but eliminated Allied air power in South-East Asia and were making attacks on northern Australia, beginning with a psychologically devastating (but militarily insignificant) attack on the city of Darwin on February 19, which killed at least 243 people. Between February 1942 and November 1943, during the Pacific War, the Australian mainland domestic airspace offshore islands and coastal shipping were The Japanese air raids on Darwin, Australia, on 19 February 1942 were the largest attacks ever mounted by a foreign power against Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum
At the battle of the Java Sea in late February and early March, the Japanese Navy inflicted a resounding defeat on the main ABDA naval force, under Admiral Karel Doorman. The Battle of the Java Sea was a major Naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. For Combined Fleet, please see that article For Carrier Striking Task Force, please see that article Karel Willem Frederik Marie Doorman ( April 23, 1889, Utrecht &ndash February 28, 1942, Java Sea) was a Schout-bij-nacht The Netherlands East Indies campaign subsequently ended with the surrender of Allied forces on Java. The Netherlands East Indies campaign of 1941 - 42 was the short-lived defence of the Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia by Allied forces against
In March and April, a raid into the Indian Ocean by a powerful Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier force resulted in a wave of major air raids against Ceylon and the sinking of a British aircraft carrier, HMS Hermes as well as other Allied ships and driving the British fleet out of the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean raid was a naval sortie by the Fast Carrier Strike Force of the Imperial Japanese Navy from 31 March to 10 April 1942 Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island This paved the way for a Japanese assault on Burma and India.
The British, under intense pressure, made a fighting retreat from Rangoon to the Indo-Burmese border. Yangon (also known as Rangoon) is the largest city and a former capital of Burma. This cut the Burma Road which was the western Allies' supply line to the Chinese Nationalists. The Burma Road is a Road linking Burma (also called Myanmar with China. Cooperation between the Chinese Nationalists and the Communists had waned from its zenith at the Battle of Wuhan, and the relationship between the two had gone sour as both attempted to expand their area of operations in occupied territories. The Battle of Wuhan ( popularly known to Chinese as the Defense of Wuhan ( and to the Japanese as the Invasion of Wuhan ( Japanese Most of the Nationalist guerrilla areas were eventually overtaken by the Communists. On the other hand, some Nationalist units were deployed to blockade the Communists and not the Japanese. Furthermore, many of the forces of the Chinese Nationalists were warlords allied to Chiang Kai-Shek, but not directly under his command. "Of the 1,200,000 troops under Chiang's control, only 650,000 were directly controlled by his generals, and another 550,000 controlled by warlords who claimed loyalty to his government; the strongest force was the Szechuan army of 320,000 men. The defeat of this army would do much to end Chiang's power. "[15] The Japanese used these divisions to press ahead in their offenses.
Filipino and U. S. forces put up a fierce resistance in the Philippines until May 8, 1942, when more than 80,000 soldiers were ordered to surrender. Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. By this time, General Douglas MacArthur, who had been appointed Supreme Allied Commander South West Pacific, had retreated to the safer confines of Australia. General MacArthur redirects here for other meanings see General MacArthur (disambiguation. The U. S. Navy, under Admiral Chester Nimitz, had responsibility for the rest of the Pacific Ocean. Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz, USN, GCB ( February 24, 1885 &ndash February 20, 1966) held the dual command This divided command had unfortunate consequences for the commerce war,[16] and consequently, the war itself. A convoy is a group of Vehicles (of any type but usually motor vehicles or ships traveling together for mutual support
Allies re-group
| “ | For every advance that the Japanese have made since they started their frenzied career of conquest, they have had to pay a very heavy toll in warships, in transports, in planes, and in men. They are feeling the effects of those losses. [17] | ” |
— Franklin D. Roosevelt, 28 April 1942 |
In early 1942, the governments of smaller powers began to push for an inter-governmental Asia-Pacific war council, based in Washington D.C.. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D A council was established in London, with a subsidiary body in Washington. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. However the smaller powers continued to push for a U. S. -based body. The Pacific War Council was formed in Washington on April 1, 1942, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, his key advisor Harry Hopkins, and representatives from Britain, China, Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Canada. The Pacific War Council was an inter-governmental body established in 1942 and intended to control the Allied war effort in the Pacific and Asian campaigns Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This article is about the politician for the British tank named for him see Light Tank Mk VIII Harry Lloyd Hopkins ( August 17 1890 New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Representatives from India and the Philippines were later added. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British The council never had any direct operational control, and any decisions it made were referred to the U. S. -British Combined Chiefs of Staff, which was also in Washington. The Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS was the supreme military command for the Western Allies during World War II.
Allied resistance, at first symbolic, gradually began to stiffen. Australian and Dutch forces led civilians in a prolonged guerilla campaign in Portuguese Timor. The Battle of Timor (1942–43 occurred on the island of Timor, in the Pacific theatre of World War II. The Doolittle Raid did minimal damage but was a huge morale booster for the Allies, especially the United States, and it caused repercussions throughout the Japanese military because they were sworn to protect the Japanese emperor and homeland but did not intercept, down, or damage a single bomber[4]. The Doolittle Raid, 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese home island of Honshū The of Japan is the country's Monarch. He is the head of the Japanese Imperial Family.
Coral Sea and Midway: the turning point
By mid-1942, the Japanese Combined Fleet found itself holding a vast area, even though it lacked the aircraft carriers, aircraft, and aircrew to defend it, and the freighters, tankers, and destroyers necessary to sustain it. For Combined Fleet, please see that article For Carrier Striking Task Force, please see that article Moreover, Fleet doctrine was inadequate to execute the proposed "barrier" defence. [18] Instead, they decided on additional attacks in both the south and central Pacific. While Yamamoto had used the element of surprise at Pearl Harbor, Allied codebreakers now turned the tables. They discovered an attack against Port Moresby, New Guinea, was imminent with intent to invade and conquer all of New Guinea. ||-||-||-||-||-||} Port Moresby (ˌpɔrt ˈmɔrzbi or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, population 255000 (2000 is the Capital and largest city of Papua If Port Moresby fell, it would give Japan control of the seas to the immediate north of Australia. Nimitz rushed the carrier USS Lexington, under Admiral Fletcher, to join USS Yorktown and a U. Construction The Lexington is named after the battle of Lexington that took place in Lexington Massachusetts in 1775 Frank Jack Fletcher (April 29 1885 &ndash April 25 1973 was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. Early career Yorktown was laid down on 21 May 1934 at Newport News Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co S. -Australian task force, with orders to contest the Japanese advance. The resulting Battle of Coral Sea was the first naval battle in which ships involved never sighted each other and aircraft were solely used to attack opposing forces. The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from May 4 – May 8, 1942, with most of the action occurring on May 7 and May 8, was Although Lexington was sunk and Yorktown seriously damaged, the Japanese lost the aircraft carrier Shōhō, suffered extensive damage to Shōkaku, took heavy losses to the air wing of Zuikaku (both missed the operation against Midway the following month), and saw the Moresby invasion force turn back. was a after Kan'ei and before Keian. This period spanned the years from 1644 through 1648. Design Shōkaku was laid down at Yokosuka Dockyard on December 12, 1937, launched on June 1, 1939, and commissioned WWII Service In 1941 Zuikaku, under the command of Captain Yokokawa Ichibei and her sister ship ''Shōkaku'' made up Carrier Division Five Even though losses were almost even, the Japanese attack on Port Moresby was thwarted and their invasion forces turned back, yielding a strategic victory for the Allies.
Destruction of U. S. carriers was Yamamoto's main objective, and he planned an operation to lure them to battle. After Coral Sea, he had four fleet carriers operational — Sōryū, Kaga, Akagi and Hiryū — and believed Nimitz had a maximum of two: Enterprise and/or Hornet. Combat history From 21 December to 23 December 1941 Sōryū launched air strikes against Wake Island. Commanding Officers Chief Equipping Officer - Capt Seizaburo Kobayashi - 10 March 1927 - 1 December 1927 Chief Equipping Officer - Capt Description Akagi was laid down as an ''Amagi'' class Battlecruiser at Kure Japan. This article is about the Japanese carrier for the videogame and manga character see Strider Hiryu. Initial operations Enterprise was launched on 3 October 1936 at Newport News Shipbuilding, sponsored by Lulie Swanson wife of Secretary of the Doolittle Raid April 1942 See also Doolittle Raid Hornet arrived at Alameda California 20 March 1942. Saratoga was out of action, undergoing repair after a torpedo attack, and Yorktown sailed after three days' work to repair her flight deck and make essential repairs, with civilian work crews still aboard. Pre-War Years 1928 – 1940 Saratoga, the first fast carrier in the Navy quickly proved the value of her type The flight deck of an Aircraft carrier is the surface from which its Aircraft take off and land essentially a miniature airfield at sea
A large Japanese force was sent north to attack the Aleutian Islands, off Alaska. The Aleutian Islands campaign was a struggle over the Aleutian Islands, part of Alaska, in the Pacific campaign of World War II. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent The next stage of Yamamoto's plan called for the capture of Midway Atoll, which would give him an opportunity to destroy Nimitz's remaining carriers; afterward, it would be turned into a major Japanese airbase, giving them control of the central Pacific. Midway Atoll (or Midway Island or Midway Islands; Hawaiian: Pihemanu Kauihelani) is a 2 In May, Allied codebreakers discovered his intentions. Nagumo was again in tactical command but was focused on the invasion of Midway; Yamamoto's complex plan had no provision for intervention by Nimitz before the Japanese expected him. Planned surveillance of the U. S. fleet by long range seaplane did not happen (as a result of an abortive identical operation in March), so U. S. carriers were able to proceed to a flanking position on the approaching Japanese fleet without being detected. In Military tactics, a flanking maneuver, also called a flank attack, is an attack on the sides of an opposing force Nagumo had 272 planes operating from his four carriers, the U. S. 348 (of which 115 were land-based).
As anticipated by U. S. commanders, the Japanese fleet arrived off Midway on June 4 and was spotted by PBY patrol aircraft[5]. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Nagumo executed a first strike against Midway, while Fletcher launched his aircraft, bound for Nagumo's carriers. At 09:20 the first U. S carrier aircraft arrived, TBD Devastator torpedo bombers from Hornet', and their attacks were poorly coordinated and ineffectual;[19] they failed to score a single hit, and Zero fighters shot down all 15. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Types The torpedo bomber first appeared during the later years of World War I. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout At 09:35, 15 TBDs from Enterprise skimmed in over the water; 14 were shot down by Zeroes. Fletcher's attacks had been disorganized, yet succeeded in distracting Nagumo's defensive fighters. When U. S. dive bombers arrived, the Zeros could not offer any protection. In addition, Nagumo's four carriers had drifted out of formation, reducing the concentration of their anti-aircraft fire. His most-criticized error was twice changing his arming orders: he first held aircraft for shipping attack as a hedge against discovery of U. S. carriers, changed this based on reports an additional strike was needed against Midway, then again after sighting the Yorktown, wasting time and leaving his hangar decks crowded with refueling and rearming aircraft, and ordnance stowed outside the magazines. Yamamoto's dispositions, which left Nagumo with inadequate reconnaissance to detect (and therefore attack) Fletcher before he launched, are often ignored. [20]
When SBD Dauntlesses from Enterprise and Yorktown appeared at an altitude of 10,000 feet (3,000 m), the Zeroes at sea level were unable to respond before the bombers pushed over. They scored a small number of significant hits; Sōryū, Kaga, and Akagi all caught fire. Hiryū survived this wave of attacks and launched an attack against the American carriers which caused severe damage to Yorktown (which was later finished off by a Japanese submarine). A second attack from the U. S. carriers a few hours later found and destroyed Hiryū. Yamamoto had four additional small carriers, assigned to his scattered surface forces, all too slow to keep up with the Kido Butai and therefore never in action. Yamamoto's enormous superiority in gun power was irrelevant as the U. S. had air superiority at Midway and could refuse a surface gunfight (and, by remarkable good fortune, Spruance moved to avoid, based on a faulty submarine report[21]); Yamamoto's flawed dispositions had made closing to engage after dark on June 4 impossible. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. [22] Midway was a decisive victory for the U. S. Navy and the high point in Japanese aspirations in the Pacific.
New Guinea and the Solomons
Japanese land forces continued to advance in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea. The New Guinea campaign ( 1942 – 45) was one of the major Military campaigns of World War II. The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War of World War II. The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands New Guinea, located just north of Australia, is the world's second largest island, having become separated from the Australian mainland when the area now known From July 1942, a few Australian reserve battalions, many of them very young and untrained, fought a stubborn rearguard action in New Guinea, against a Japanese advance along the Kokoda Track, towards Port Moresby, over the rugged Owen Stanley Ranges. Army Reserve is a collective name for the reserve units of the Australian Army. A battalion is a Military unit of around 500-1500 men usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel This article concerns the World War II military campaign For more general information see the Kokoda Track article Owen Stanley Range is the south-eastern part of the central mountain-chain in Papua New Guinea. The militia, worn out and severely depleted by casualties, were relieved in late August by regular troops from the Second Australian Imperial Force, returning from action in the Mediterranean theatre. The Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF was the name given to the Volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. The African Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre of World War II encompasses naval land and air campaigns between Allied and Axis forces
In early September 1942, Japanese marines attacked a strategic Royal Australian Air Force base at Milne Bay, near the eastern tip of New Guinea. The Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF (海軍陸戦隊 Kaigun Rikusentai) were the marine troops of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN and were The Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The Battle of Milne Bay ( Operation RE) was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. They were beaten back by the Australian Army, which inflicted the first outright defeat on Japanese land forces since 1939. The Australian Army is Australia's military land force It is part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF along with the Royal Australian Navy and the
Guadalcanal
At the same time as major battles raged in New Guinea, Allied forces identified a Japanese airfield under construction at Guadalcanal. The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal, was fought between August 7, 1942, and February 9, 1943, in the In August, 16,000 Allied infantry — primarily US Marines — made an amphibious landing, to capture the airfield.
Japanese and Allied forces occupied various parts of the island. Over the following six months, both sides fed resources into an escalating battle of attrition on the island, at sea, and in the sky. Most of the Japanese aircraft in the South Pacific were drafted into the Japanese defence of Guadalcanal, facing Allied air forces based at Henderson Field. Cactus Air Force refers to the ensemble allied air power assigned to the island of Guadalcanal from August 1942 until December 1942 during the early stages of the Guadalcanal Honiara International Airport, formerly known as Henderson Field, is an Airport located on Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands. Japanese ground forces launched attacks on US positions around Henderson Field, suffering high casualties. These offensives were resupplied by Japanese convoys known to the Allies as the "Tokyo Express", which often faced night battles with the Allied navies, and expended destroyers IJN could ill-afford to lose. The Tokyo Express was the name given by Allied forces to the use of Imperial Japanese Navy ships at night to deliver personnel supplies and equipment to Japanese In naval terminology a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance Warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, Convoy Later fleet battles involving heavier ships and even daytime carrier battles resulted in a stretch of water near Guadalcanal becoming known as "Ironbottom Sound", from the severe losses to both sides. " Ironbottom Sound " is the name given by Allied sailors to Savo Sound the stretch of water between Guadalcanal, Savo Island, and Florida However, only the US Navy could quickly replace and repair its losses. The Allies were victorious on Guadalcanal in February 1943.
Allied advances in New Guinea and the Solomons
By late 1942, the Japanese were also retreating along the Kokoda Track in the highlands of New Guinea. Australian and U. S. counteroffensives culminated in the capture of the key Japanese beachhead in eastern New Guinea, the Buna-Gona area, in early 1943. The Battle of Buna–Gona was a battle in the New Guinea campaign, a major part of the Pacific campaign of World War II.
In June 1943, the Allies launched Operation Cartwheel, which defined their offensive strategy in the South Pacific. Operation Cartwheel (1943–1944 was the major Military strategy for the Allies in the Pacific theater of World War II. The operation was aimed at isolating the major Japanese forward base, at Rabaul, and cutting its supply and communication lines. Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province Papua New Guinea. This prepared the way for Nimitz's island-hopping campaign towards Japan. Island hopping is a term that has several different definitions as it is applied in various fields
Stalemate in China and South-East Asia
British Commonwealth forces were also counter-attacking in Burma, albeit with limited success. The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United
In August 1943, the western Allies formed a new South East Asia Command (SEAC) to take over strategic responsibilities for Burma and India from the British India Command, under Wavell. South East Asia Command (SEAC was the body set up to be in overall charge of Allied operations in the South-East Asian Theatre during World War II. The British India Command the name given to the general staff of the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C India. In October 1943, Winston Churchill appointed Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten as Supreme Allied Commander, SEAC. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC, PC (Can ( 30 November 1874 Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, General William Slim was commander of Commonwealth land forces and directed the Burma Campaign. Field Marshal William Joseph "Bill" Slim 1st Viscount Slim, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, KStJ General Joseph Stilwell commanded U.S. forces in the CBI Theater, directed aid to China and assisted in the coordination of Chinese operations. General Joseph Warren Stilwell ( March 19, 1883 – October 12, 1946) was a United States Army four-star General China Burma India Theater (CBI (later IBT or India-Burma theater was the name used by the United States Army for its forces operating in conjuction with Allied air
On November 22, 1943, U. Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and ROC leader Chiang Kai-Shek met in Cairo, Egypt, to discuss a strategy to defeat Japan. Cairo () which means "the Vanquisher" or "the Triumphant" is the capital and largest city of Egypt. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. The meeting was also known as Cairo Conference and concluded with the Cairo Declaration. The Cairo Conference (codenamed "SEXTANT" of November 22 - 26 November 1943 held in Cairo, Egypt, addressed the Allied The Cairo Declaration was a result from Cairo Conference at Cairo, Egypt, on November 27, 1943.
Allied offensives, 1943–44
Midway proved to be the last great naval battle for two years. The United States used the ensuing period to turn her vast industrial potential into actual ships, planes, and trained aircrew. At the same time, Japan, lacking an adequate industrial base or technological strategy, a good aircrew training program, and adequate naval resources and doctrine for commerce defense, fell further and further behind. A convoy is a group of Vehicles (of any type but usually motor vehicles or ships traveling together for mutual support In strategic terms the Allies began a long movement across the Pacific, seizing one island base after another. Not every Japanese stronghold had to be captured; some, like Truk, Rabaul, and Formosa, were neutralized by air attack and bypassed. The goal was to get close to Japan herself, then launch massive strategic air attacks, improve the submarine blockade, and finally (only if necessary) execute an invasion.
In November 1943, U. S. Marines sustained high casualties when they overwhelmed the 4,500-strong garrison at Tarawa. This helped the Allies to improve the techniques of amphibious landings, learning from their mistakes and implementing changes such as thorough pre-emptive bombings and bombardment, more careful planning regarding tides and landing craft schedules, and better overall coordination.
The U. S. Navy did not seek out the Japanese fleet for a decisive battle, as Mahanian doctrine would suggest (and as Japan hoped); the Allied advance could only be stopped by a Japanese naval attack, which oil shortages (induced by submarine attack) made impossible. Alfred Thayer Mahan (September 27 1840–December 1 1914 was a United States Navy Flag officer, geostrategist, and educator [23]
Submarine warfare
US submarines, as well as some British and Dutch vessels, operating from bases at Cavite, in the Philippines (1941-42) Fremantle and Brisbane in Australia; Pearl Harbor; Trincomalee, Ceylon; Midway; and later Guam, played a major role in defeating Japan. Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the Calabarzon region in Luzon, Fremantle (commonly known as Freo is a Port City in Western Australia, located southwest of Perth, the state capital at the mouth of Brisbane ( is the state capital of Queensland. Brisbane is the third most populous city in Australia and the most populous city of Queensland For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Trincomalee (திருகோணமலை Tirukōṇamalai තිරිකුණාමළය Tirikūṇamaḷaya is a district a bay and a port city on the northeast coast of Guam ( Chamorro: cha Guåhån) officially the Territory of Guam, is an island in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized unincorporated This was the case even though submarines made up a small proportion of the Allied navies — less than two percent in the case of the US Navy. [24] Submarines strangled Japan by sinking its merchant fleet, intercepting many troop transports, and cutting off nearly all the oil imports essential to weapons production and military operations. By early 1945 the oil tanks were dry. The Japanese military claimed its defenses sank 468 Allied subs. [25] Only 42 US submarines were sunk in the Pacific, with 10 others going down in accidents, the Atlantic Ocean, or as the result of friendly fire. Friendly fire or non-hostile fire, a term originally adopted by the United States military, refers to fire from one's own side or allied forces as [26]
US submarines accounted for 56% of the Japanese merchantmen sunk; most of the rest were destroyed by mines or aircraft. [27] US submariners also claimed 28% of Japanese warships destroyed. [28] Furthermore, they played important reconnaissance roles, as at the battles of the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf (and, coincidentally, at Midway), when they gave accurate and timely warning of the approach of the Japanese fleet. Submarines also rescued hundreds of downed fliers.
The Allied submarines did not adopt a defensive posture and wait for the enemy to attack. Within hours of Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt ordered a new doctrine into effect: unrestricted submarine warfare against Japan. Naval warfare is divided into three operational areas Surface warfare, Air warfare and underwater warfare. This meant sinking any warship, commercial vessel, or passenger ship in Axis controlled waters, without warning and without help to survivors. [29] Allied submarine bases were well-protected by surface fleets and aircraft.
While Japan had a large number of submarines, they did not make a significant impact on the war. In 1942, the Japanese fleet subs performed well, knocking out or damaging many Allied warships. However, Imperial Japanese Navy (and pre-war US) doctrine stipulated naval campaigns are won only by fleet battles, not guerre de course (commerce raiding). Doctrine (Latin doctrina) is a codification of beliefs or "a body of teachings quot or "instructions" taught principles or positions as the Commerce raiding is to destroy the logistics (supplies of an enemy on the open sea rather than engaging the combatants themselves or enforcing a Blockade against them So, while the US had an unusually long supply line between its west coast and frontline areas, and was vulnerable to submarine attack, Japan's submarines were instead primarily used for long range reconnaissance and only occasionally attacked US supply lines. The Japanese submarine offensive against Australia in 1942 and 1943 also achieved little. Although Australia was remote from the main battlefronts there was considerable Axis naval activity in Australian waters during World War II. [30] As the war turned against Japan, IJN submarines were increasingly used to resupply strongholds which had been cut off, such as Truk and Rabaul. Chuuk &mdash formerly Truk, Ruk, Hogoleu, Torres, Ugulat, and Lugulus &mdash is an island group in the south western Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province Papua New Guinea. In addition, Japan honored its neutrality treaty with the Soviet Union and ignored US freighters shipping millions of tons of war supplies from San Francisco to Vladivostok. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Vladivostok ( is Russia 's largest port city on the Pacific Ocean and the administrative center of Primorsky Krai. [31]
The US Navy, by contrast, relied on commerce raiding from the outset. However, the problem of Allied forces surrounded in the Philippines, during the early part of 1942, led to diversion of boats to "guerrilla submarine" missions. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP As well, basing in Australia placed boats under Japanese aerial threat while en route to patrol areas, inhibiting effectiveness, and Nimitz relied on submarines for close surveillance of enemy bases. Furthermore, the standard issue Mark 14 torpedo and its Mark VI exploder were both defective, problems not corrected until September 1943. The Mark 14 torpedo was the United States Navy 's standard submarine-launched anti-ship Torpedo of World War II. Worst of all, before the war, an uninformed US Customs officer had seized a copy of the Japanese merchant marine code (called the "maru code" in the USN), not knowing Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) had broken it;[32] The Japanese government promptly changed it, and the new code was not broken again until 1943. Until March 2003 the United States Customs Service was the portion of the U During World War II the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN used many Codes and Ciphers, some more effective than others The Office of Naval Intelligence ( ONI) was established in the United States Navy in 1882
Thus, it was not until 1944 the US Navy began to use its 150 submarines to maximum effect: effective shipboard radar was installed, commanders lacking in aggression were replaced, and faults in torpedoes were fixed. Japanese commerce protection was "shiftless beyond description,"[33] and convoys were poorly organised and defended compared to Allied ones, a product of flawed IJN doctrine and training — errors concealed by American faults as much as Japanese overconfidence. The number of U. S. submarines patrols (and sinkings) rose steeply: 350 patrols (180 ships sunk) in 1942, 350 (335) in 1943, and 520 (603) in 1944. [34] By 1945, sinkings had decreased because so few targets dared to move on the high seas. In all, Allied submarines destroyed 1,200 merchant ships for about five million tons of shipping. Most were small cargo carriers, but 124 were tankers bringing desperately needed oil from the East Indies. Another 320 were passenger ships and troop transports. At critical stages of the Guadalcanal, Saipan, and Leyte campaigns, thousands of Japanese troops were killed or diverted before they arrived where they were needed. Over 200 warships were sunk, ranging from many auxiliaries and destroyers to one battleship and no fewer than eight carriers. Underwater warfare was especially dangerous; of the 16,000 Americans who went out on patrol, 3,500 (22%) never returned, the highest casualty rate of any American force in World War II. [35] The Japanese losses, 130 submarines in all,[36] were even higher.
A single German submarine, U-862, operated in the Pacific Ocean during the war, patrolling off the Australian east coast and New Zealand in December 1944 and January 1945. It sank one ship in the Pacific before it was recalled to Batavia. Jakarta (also DKI Jakarta) is the Capital and largest city of Indonesia. [37]
Japanese Naval and Merchant Marine losses 1941-1945 can be found here at [38] US Submarine claims of sunk/damaged ships 1941-1945 can be found here at [39]
Japanese counteroffensives in China, 1944
In mid-1944, Japan launched a massive invasion across China, under the code name Operation Ichigo. Operation Ichi-Go was a campaign of a series of major battles between the Imperial Japanese Army forces and the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of Operation Ichi-Go was a campaign of a series of major battles between the Imperial Japanese Army forces and the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of These attacks, the biggest in several years, gained much ground for Japan before they were stopped in Guangxi. Guangxi (or Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region;) is a Zhuang autonomous region of the People's Republic of China.
The beginning of the end in the Pacific, 1944
Saipan and Philippine Sea:
On June 15, 1944, 535 ships began landing 128,000 U. The Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands from The Battle of the Philippine Sea (aka "The Marianas Turkey Shoot" was a decisive naval battle of World War II, and the largest aircraft carrier battle in history Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. S. Army and Marine personnel on the island of Saipan. Saipan (saɪˈpæn /saɪˈpɑn/ or /ˈsaɪpæn/ in English is the largest Island and Capital of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern The Allied objective was the creation of airfields within B-29 range of Tokyo. The ability to plan and execute such a complex operation in the space of 90 days was indicative of Allied logistical superiority.
It was imperative for Japanese commanders to hold Saipan. The only way to do this was to destroy the U.S. Fifth Fleet, which had 15 fleet carriers and 956 planes, 28 battleships and cruisers , and 69 destroyers. The Fifth Fleet of the United States Navy is responsible for naval forces in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and coast off East Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa attacked with nine-tenths of Japan's fighting fleet, which included nine carriers with 473 planes, 18 battleships and cruisers , and 28 destroyers. was an Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Ozawa's pilots were outnumbered 2-1 and their aircraft were becoming obsolete. The Japanese had substantial anitiaircraft defenses but lacked proximity fuzes or good radar. Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging hostile military Aircraft in defence of ground objectives, ground or naval forces A proximity fuze (also called a VT fuze for "variable time" is a fuze that is designed to detonate an explosive device automatically when the distance Radar is a system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range altitude direction or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as Aircraft, ships With the odds against him, Ozawa devised an appropriate strategy. His planes had greater range because they were not weighed down with protective armor; they could attack at about 480 km (300 mi) , and could search a radius of 900 km (560 mi). U. S. Navy Hellcat fighters could only attack within 200 miles (320 km) and only search within a 325-mile (523 km) radius. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Ozawa planned to use this advantage by positioning his fleet 300 miles (480 km) out. The Japanese planes would hit the U. S. carriers, land at Guam to refuel, then hit the enemy again, when returning to their carriers. Ozawa also counted on about 500 land-based planes at Guam and other islands.
Admiral Raymond A. Spruance was in overall command of the Fifth Fleet. Raymond Ames Spruance ( July 03, 1886 - December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy Admiral in World War II. The Japanese plan would have failed if the much larger U. S. fleet had closed on Ozawa and attacked aggressively; Ozawa had the correct insight that the unaggressive Spruance would not attack. U. S. Admiral Marc Mitscher, in tactical command of Task Force 58, with its 15 carriers, was aggressive but Spruance vetoed Mitscher's plan to hunt down Ozawa because Spruance's orders made protecting the landings on Saipan his first priority. Admiral Marc Andrew "Pete" Mitscher ( 26 January 1887 – 3 February 1947) was a Vice-admiral in the United This has led to postwar criticism of Spruance for lack of aggressiveness.
The forces converged in the largest sea battle of World War II up to that point. Over the previous month American destroyers had destroyed 17 of 25 submarines out of Ozawa's screening force. Repeated U. S. raids destroyed the Japanese land-based planes. Ozawa's main attack lacked coordination, with the Japanese planes arriving at their targets in a staggered sequence. Following a directive from Nimitz, the U. S. carriers all had combat information centers, which interpreted the flow of radar data and radioed interception orders to the Hellcats. The result was later dubbed the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. The few attackers to reach the U. S. fleet encountered massive AA fire with proximity fuzes. Only one American warship was slightly damaged.
On the second day U. S. reconnaissance planes finally located Ozawa's fleet, 275 miles (443 km) away and submarines sank two Japanese carriers. Mitscher launched 230 torpedo planes and dive bombers. He then discovered that the enemy was actually another 60 miles (97 km) further off, out of aircraft range. Mitscher decided that this chance to destroy the Japanese fleet was worth the risk of aircraft losses. Overall, the U. S. lost 130 planes and 76 aircrew. However, Japan lost 450 planes, three carriers, and 445 aircrew. The Imperial Japanese Navy's carrier force was effectively destroyed.
Leyte Gulf 1944
The Battle of Leyte Gulf was arguably the largest naval battle in history. The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the "Battle for Leyte Gulf" the "Battles for Leyte Gulf" and formerly as the "Second Battle of the Philippine The title of "largest Naval battle in history" may be conferred according to criteria which might include the numbers of personnel and/or vessels involved in the battle It was a series of four distinct engagements fought off the Philippine island of Leyte from October 23 to October 26, 1944. Leyte (ˈleɪti in English is an Island in the Visayas group of the Philippines. Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Leyte Gulf featured the largest battleships ever built, it was the last time in history that battleships engaged each other, and was also notable as the first time that kamikaze aircraft were used. A battleship is a large heavily armored Warship with a main battery consisting of the largest Calibre of Guns Battleships were ( is a word of Japanese origin which in English usually refers to the Suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied victory in the Philippine Sea established Allied air and sea superiority in the western Pacific. Nimitz favored blockading the Philippines and landing on Formosa. This would give the Allies control of the sea routes to Japan from southern Asia, cutting off substantial Japanese garrisons. MacArthur favoured an invasion of the Philippines, which also lay across the supply lines to Japan. Roosevelt adjudicated in favor of the Philippines. Meanwhile, Japanese Combined Fleet Chief Toyoda Soemu prepared four plans to cover all Allied offensive scenarios. was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II. On October 12, Nimitz launched a carrier raid against Formosa to make sure that planes based there could not intervene in the landings on Leyte. Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Soemu put Plan Sho-2 into effect, launching a series of air attacks against the U. S. carriers. However the Japanese lost 600 planes in three days, leaving them without air cover.
Sho-1 called for V. Adm. Jisaburo Ozawa's force to use an apparently vulnerable carrier force to lure the U.S. 3rd Fleet away from Leyte and remove air cover from the Allied landing forces, which would then be attacked from the west by three Japanese forces: V. Vice Admiral is a naval rank equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority was an Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The Third Fleet is one of six numbered fleets in the United States Navy. Adm. Takeo Kurita's force would enter Leyte Gulf and attack the landing forces; R. Adm. Shoji Nishimura's force and V. Vice Admiral was a vice-admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Leyte Gulf is the body of water immediately east of the Island of Leyte in the Philippines, adjoining the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Rear admiral is a Naval Commissioned officer rank above that of a Commodore and Captain, and below that of a Vice Admiral. was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Adm. Kiyohide Shima's force would act as mobile strike forces. was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The plan was likely to result in the destruction of one or more of the Japanese forces, but Toyoda justified it by saying that there would be no sense in saving the fleet and losing the Philippines.
Kurita's "Center Force" consisted of five battleships, 12 cruisers and 13 destroyers. It included the two largest battleships ever built: Yamato and Musashi. Construction The Yamato class was built after the Japanese withdrew from the Washington Naval Treaty at the Second London Conference of 1936 History In June 1937 executives from the Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipyard including Director Kensuke Watanabe and yard engineer Kumao Baba were ordered to begin As they passed Palawan Island after midnight on October 23, the force was spotted, and U. Palawan is an Island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - S. submarines sank two cruisers. On October 24, as Kurita's force entered the Sibuyan Sea, USS Intrepid and USS Cabot launched 260 planes, which scored hits on several ships. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat The Sibuyan Sea is a small sea in the Philippines that separates the Visayas from the northern Philippine island of Luzon. Launch and commissioning The USS Intrepid was launched on April 26, 1943 by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co A second wave of planes scored many direct hits on Musashi. A third wave, from USS Enterprise and USS Franklin hit Musashi with 11 bombs and eight torpedoes. Initial operations Enterprise was launched on 3 October 1936 at Newport News Shipbuilding, sponsored by Lulie Swanson wife of Secretary of the Launch and commissioning initial cruise She was laid down on 7 December 1942 and launched by Newport News Shipbuilding Kurita retreated but in the evening turned around to head for San Bernardino Strait. Musashi sank at about 19:30.
Meanwhile, V. Adm. Onishi Takijiro had directed his First Air Fleet, 80 land-based planes, against U. was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II, who came to be known as the father of the Kamikaze. S. carriers, whose planes were attacking airfields on Luzon. USS Princeton was hit by an armour-piercing bomb and suffered a major explosion which killed 200 crew and 80 on a cruiser which was alongside. Construction and deployment She was laid down as Tallahassee (CL-61 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden New Jersey, 2 June Princeton sank, and the cruiser was forced to retire.
Nishimura's force consisted of two battleships, one cruiser and four destroyers. Because they were observing radio silence, Nishimura was unable to synchronise with Shima and Kurita. Nishimura and Shima had failed to even coordinate their plans before the attacks — they were long time rivals and neither wished to have anything to do with the other. When he entered the narrow Surigao Strait at about 02:00, Shima was 22 miles (40 km) behind him, and Kurita was still in the Sibuyan Sea, several hours from the beaches at Leyte. Surigao Strait is a Body of water in the Philippines located between the Islands of Mindanao and Leyte. As they passed Panaon Island, Nishimura's force ran into a trap set for them by the U. Panaon Island is a small island in the Philippines, in the province of Southern Leyte. S. -Australian 7th Fleet Support Force. The Seventh Fleet is the United States Navy's permanent forward projection force based in Yokosuka, Japan, with units positioned near South Korea R. Adm. Jesse Oldendorf had six battleships, four heavy cruisers, four light cruisers, 29 destroyers and 39 PT boats. Jesse Bartlett "Oley" Oldendorf ( 16 February 1887 - 27 April 1974) was an Admiral in the United States Navy, The heavy cruiser was a type of Cruiser, a naval Warship designed for long range high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 8in in calibre A light cruiser is a Warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light Armoured cruiser " describing a small ship that carried armour in the same way PT Boats were a variety of motor Torpedo boat ( Hull classification symbol "PT" for "Patrol Torpedo" a small fast vessel used by the To pass the strait and reach the landings, Nishimura had to run the gauntlet. At about 03:00 the Japanese battleship Fuso and three destroyers were hit by torpedoes and Fuso broke in two. Ship history Fusō took part in no major action during World War I, as the majority of the Japanese Navy was engaged in escort duties and various other At 03:50 the U. S. battleships opened fire. Radar fire control meant they could hit targets from a much greater distance than the Japanese. The battleship Yamashiro, a cruiser and a destroyer were crippled by 16-inch (406mm) shells; Yamashiro sank at 04:19. Commanding Officers Capt Suketomo Nakajima - 31 March 1917 - 1 December 1917 Capt Only one of Nishimura's force of seven ships survived the engagement. At 04:25 Shima's force of two cruisers and eight destroyers reached the battle. Seeing Fuso and believing her to be the wrecks of two battleships, Shima ordered a retreat.
Ozawa's "Northern Force" had four aircraft carriers, two obsolete battleships partly converted to carriers, three cruisers and nine destroyers. The carriers had only 108 planes. The force was not spotted by the Allies until 16:40 on October 24. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat At 20:00 Soemu ordered all remaining Japanese forces to attack. Halsey saw an opportunity to destroy the remnants of the Japanese carrier force. The U. S. Third Fleet was formidable — nine large carriers, eight light carriers, six battleships, 17 cruisers, 63 destroyers and 1,000 planes — and completely outgunned Ozawa's force. Halsey's ships set out in pursuit of Ozawa just after midnight. U. S. commanders ignored reports that Kurita had turned back towards San Bernardino Strait. They had taken the bait set by Ozawa. On the morning of October 25, Ozawa launched 75 planes. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Most were shot down by U. S. fighter patrols. By 08:00 U. S. fighters had destroyed the screen of Japanese fighters and were hitting ships. By evening, they had sunk the carriers Zuikaku, Zuiho, and Chiyoda, and a destroyer. WWII Service In 1941 Zuikaku, under the command of Captain Yokokawa Ichibei and her sister ship ''Shōkaku'' made up Carrier Division Five History January 1941 Commissioned into the Japanese fleet and assigned to Carrier Division 3 with the ''Hōshō'' December 1941 Participates Commanding Officers As CVS Chief Equipping Officer - Capt Seiji Mizui - 20 November 1937 - 15 December 1938 Capt The fourth carrier, Chitose and a cruiser were disabled and later sank. Conversion As the Japanese became aware of the importance of carrier aviation the Chitose was converted to a light carrier at Sasebo Navy Yard commencing 26
Kurita passed through San Bernardino Strait at 03:00 on 25 October and headed along the coast of Samar. The San Bernardino Strait is a Strait in the Philippines. It separates the Bicol Peninsula of Luzon island from the island of Samar Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Samar is also a female singer from the United Arab Emirates. Samar is an Island in the Visayas, which is in the The only thing standing in his path was three groups (Taffy 1, 2 and 3) of the Seventh Fleet, commanded by Admiral Thomas Kinkaid. Thomas Cassin Kinkaid ( 3 April 1888 &ndash 17 November 1972) was an Admiral of the United States Navy during World Each group had six escort carriers, with a total of more than 500 planes, and seven or eight destroyers or destroyer escorts (DE). The escort aircraft carrier or escort carrier (popularly known as the jeep carrier) was a small Aircraft carrier utilized by the Royal Navy A Destroyer Escort (DE is the classification for a small relatively slow Warship (when compared to first-rate Naval fleet vessels designed to be used to escort Kinkaid still believed that Lee's force was guarding the north, so the Japanese had the element of surprise when they attacked Taffy 3 at 06:45. Kurita mistook the Taffy carriers for large fleet carriers and thought he had the whole Third Fleet in his sights. Since escort carriers stood little chance against a battleship, Adm. Clifton Sprague directed the carriers of Taffy 3 to turn and flee eastward, hoping that bad visibility would reduce the accuracy of Japanese gunfire, and used his destroyers in to divert the Japanese battleships. Vice Admiral Clifton Albert Frederick ("Ziggy" Sprague ( January 8, 1896 &ndash April 11, 1955) was a World War II -era The destroyers made harassing torpedo attacks against the Japanese. For ten minutes Yamato was caught up in evasive action. Two U. S. destroyers and a DE were sunk, but they had bought enough time for the Taffy groups to launch planes. Taffy 3 turned and fled south, with shells scoring hits on some of its carriers and sinking one of them. The superior speed of the Japanese force allowed it to draw closer and fire on the other two Taffy groups. However, at 09:20 Kurita suddenly turned and retreated north. Signals had disabused him of the notion that he was attacking the Third Fleet, and the longer Kurita continued to engage, the greater the risk of major air strikes. Destroyer attacks had broken the Japanese formations, shattering tactical control, and two of Kurita's heavy cruisers had been sunk. The Japanese retreated through the San Bernardino Strait, under continuous air attack. The Battle of Leyte Gulf was over.
The battle secured the beachheads of the U.S. Sixth Army on Leyte against attack from the sea, broke the back of Japanese naval power and opened the way for an advance to the Ryukyu Islands in 1945. The Sixth United States Army was a Field army of the United States Army The Ryukyu Islands, in Japanese called the (literally Southwest Islands are a chain of Japanese islands in the western Pacific Ocean at the eastern limit The only significant Japanese naval operation afterwards was the disastrous Operation Ten-Go, in April 1945. Ten-gō sakusen ( Kyūjitai: ja 天號作戰 Shinjitai: ja 天号作戦 "Operation Heaven One" also known as Ten-ichi-go and Operation Kurita's force had begun the battle with five battleships; when he returned to Japan, only Yamato was combat-worthy. Nishimura's sunken Yamashiro was the last battleship to engage another in combat.
Philippines, 1944–45
On October 20, 1944, the U.S. Sixth Army, supported by naval and air bombardment, landed on the favorable eastern shore of Leyte, north of Mindanao. The Philippines campaign of 1944–45 was the Allied campaign to defeat Japanese forces occupying The Philippines, during World War II. Events 1740 - Maria Theresa takes the throne of Austria. France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Sixth United States Army was a Field army of the United States Army Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost Island in the Philippines. The U. S. Sixth Army continued its advance from the east, as the Japanese rushed reinforcements to the Ormoc Bay area on the western side of the island. Ormoc Bay is a bay on the Island of Leyte in the Philippines. While the Sixth Army was reinforced successfully, the U.S. Fifth Air Force was able to devastate the Japanese attempts to resupply. Fifth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force, part of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF In torrential rains and over difficult terrain, the advance continued across Leyte and the neighboring island of Samar to the north. On December 7, U. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways S. Army units landed at Ormoc Bay and, after a major land and air battle, cut off the Japanese ability to reinforce and supply Leyte. Although fierce fighting continued on Leyte for months, the U. S. Army was in control.
On December 15, 1944, landings against minimal resistance were made on the southern beaches of the island of Mindoro, a key location in the planned Lingayen Gulf operations, in support of major landings scheduled on Luzon. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. For the unincorporated community of Mindoro Wisconsin in the United States of America see Mindoro Wisconsin. The Lingayen Gulf is an extension of the South China Sea on Luzon in the Philippines stretching. Luzon is the largest and most economically and politically important Island in the Philippines and one of the three island groups in the country with Visayas On January 9, 1945, on the south shore of Lingayen Gulf on the western coast of Luzon, General Krueger's Sixth Army landed his first units. Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Walter Krueger ( 26 January 1881 - 20 August 1967) was a German - American Soldier and General in the Almost 175,000 men followed across the twenty-mile (32 km) beachhead within a few days. With heavy air support, Army units pushed inland, taking Clark Field, 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Manila, in the last week of January. Clark Air Base is a former United States Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles west of Angeles City, about 40 miles The City of Manila
Two more major landings followed, one to cut off the Bataan Peninsula, and another, that included a parachute drop, south of Manila. The Bataan Peninsula is a rocky extension of the Zambales Mountains, on Luzon in the Philippines. Pincers closed on the city and, on February 3, 1945, elements of the 1st Cavalry Division pushed into the northern outskirts of Manila and the 8th Cavalry passed through the northern suburbs and into the city itself. Events 1112 - Ramon Berenguer III of Barcelona and Douce I of Provence marry uniting the fortunes of those two states Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The 1st Cavalry Division ( "First Team") is a rapidly deployable heavy Armored division of the United States Army with base of operations
As the advance on Manila continued from the north and the south, the Bataan Peninsula was rapidly secured. On February 16, paratroopers and amphibious units assaulted Corregidor, and resistance ended there on February 27. Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols For the Spanish historical administrative position see Corregidor (position Corregidor is an island in the entrance of the Philippines Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation
In all, ten U. S. divisions and five independent regiments battled on Luzon, making it the largest campaign of the Pacific war, involving more troops than the United States had used in North Africa, Italy, or southern France.
Palawan Island, between Borneo and Mindoro, the fifth largest and western-most Philippine Island, was invaded on February 28, with landings of the Eighth Army at Puerto Princesa. Palawan Island is the largest island of the Palawan Province, Philippines. Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule The City of Puerto Princesa ( Filipino: Lungsod ng Puerto Princesa) the capital of Palawan, is a first class city in the Philippines The Japanese put up little direct defence of Palawan, but cleaning up pockets of Japanese resistance lasted until late April, as the Japanese used their common tactic of withdrawing into the mountain jungles, dispersed as small units. Throughout the Philippines, U. S. forces were aided by Filipino guerrillas to find and dispatch the holdouts.
The U. S. Eighth Army then moved on to its first landing on Mindanao (17 April), the last of the major Philippine Islands to be taken. Events 69 - After the First Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes Roman Emperor. Mindanao was followed by invasion and occupation of Panay, Cebu, Negros and several islands in the Sulu Archipelago. Panay is an Island in the Philippines located in the Visayas. Cebu is one of the Provinces of the Philippines. It lies to the east of Negros Island; to the west of Leyte and to the southeast is Bohol Negros is an island of the Philippines located in the Visayas, at. Sulu Archipelago is an island chain in the southwest Philippines. These islands provided bases for the U. S. Fifth and Thirteenth Air Forces to attack targets throughout the Philippines and the South China Sea. Thirteenth Air Force is a United States Air Force "Component- Numbered Air Force " (C-NAF and warfighting headquarters in Pacific Air Forces The South China Sea is a Marginal sea south of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the
Final stages
Allied offensives in Burma, 1944–45
The British launched a series of offensive operations back into Burma during late 1944 and the first half of 1945. The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United The Royal Marines ( RM) are the marine corps and amphibious Infantry of the United Kingdom and along with the Royal Navy Command of the British formations on the front was rearranged in November 1944; the 11th Army Group was replaced with Allied Land Forces South East Asia.
The Japanese Burma Area Army withdrew the 15th Army behind the Irrawaddy River (Operation BAN). The Ayeyarwady River or Irrawaddy River ( is a River that flows from north to south of Burma (Myanmar 28th Army was to continue to defend the Arakan and lower Irrawaddy valley (Operation KAN), while 33rd Army would attempt to prevent the completion of the new Ledo Road between India and China by defending Bhamo and Lashio, and mounting guerrilla raids (Operation DAN). Rakhine State ( formerly Arakan) is a state of Myanmar. Situated the western coast it is bordered by Chin State in the north Burma and Ledo Road 1944 - 1945jpg|250px|thumb|right|Burma Road and Ledo Road in 1944]]Ledo Burma Roads Assam-Burma-China Bhamo is a city of Kachin State in northernmost part of Myanmar, located 186 km south from the capital city of Myitkyina. () is the largest town in northern Shan State, Myanmar, situated in 22° 56' N
In Arakan, as the monsoon ended, the British Commonwealth XV Corps resumed its advance on Akyab Island for the third year in succession. The Indian XV Corps was a British Commonwealth Corps, which was formed in India during World War II. This time the Japanese were numerically far weaker, and had already lost the most favorable defensive positions. The Indian 25th Infantry Division advanced on Foul Point and Rathedaung at the end of the Mayu Peninsula, while the West African 81st Division and West African 82nd Division converged on Myohaung at the mouth of the Kaladan River. The 82nd (West Africa Division was formed under British control during World War II. The Japanese evacuated Akyab Island on December 31, 1944. Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It was occupied by XV Corps without resistance two days later.
Following the incursion into western Burma, XV Corps operations were halted in order to transfer transport aircraft to support Fourteenth Army. The British Fourteenth Army was a multinational force comprising units from Commonwealth countries during World War II. With the coastal area secured the Allies were free to build sea-supplied airbases on the two offshore islands, Ramree Island and Cheduba. Ramree Island is an Island off the coast of Myanmar. The area of the island is about 1350 km² Cheduba Island (also known as Manaung Island is an Island in the Bay of Bengal close to Ramree Island belonging to Burma. Cheduba, the smaller of the two islands, had no Japanese garrison, but the clearing of the small but typically tenacious Japanese garrison on Ramree took about six weeks
NCAC's operations were limited from late 1944 onwards by the need for Chinese troops on the main front in China. The Battle of Ramree Island was fought for six weeks during January and February 1945 as part of the British Fourteenth Army 1944/45 offensive on the Southern Front The Northern Combat Area Command or NCAC was a mainly Sino-American formation that held the northern end of the Allied front in Burma during World War II The American and British commanders attacked the Chinese leadership's decision to focus their limited resources on the defensive of Chinese cities rather than the defeat of the Japanese in Burma. In spite of these limitations, General Sultan was still able to resume his advance against the Japanese 33rd Army.
On his right, the British 36th Infantry Division, brought in to replace the Chindits, made contact with the Indian 19th Infantry Division near Indaw on December 10, 1944, and Fourteenth Army and NCAC now had a continuous front. The 36th Infantry Division was a Second World War British Army formation created from the Indian Army 36th Infantry Division during the campaign in The Chindits (Officially in 1942 77th Indian Infantry Brigade and in 1943 Indian 3rd Infantry Division) were a British Indian Army "Special Force" that served The Indian 19th Infantry Division was raised during World War II, and played a prominent part in the final part of the Burma Campaign. Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Meanwhile, three Chinese divisions and a US Force known as the "Mars Brigade" (which had replaced Merrill's Marauders) advanced slowly from Myitkyina to Bhamo. Merrill’s Marauders, officially named the 5307th Composite Unit (provisional, was a United States Long range penetration Special forces unit Myitkyina ( in English pronounced myiʔʧíná) is the Capital city of Kachin State in Myanmar (formerly Burma located 919 miles from The Japanese resisted for several weeks, but Bhamo fell on December 15. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of
Sultan's forces made contact with Chiang's Yunnan armies on January 21, 1945, and the Ledo road could finally be completed, although it was not yet secure. The Light Tank M3 was an American light Tank of World War II in use with British and Commonwealth forces prior to the entry of Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The Ledo road by this point in the war was also of uncertain value. It would not be completed soon enough to change the overall military situation in China. Chiang, to the annoyance of the British and Americans, ordered Sultan to halt his advance at Lashio, which was captured on March 7. Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus In April, OSS Detachment 101 took over control of American forces from the NCAC, which had withdrawn to China, while the 36th Division withdrew to India. Detachment 101 of the Office of Strategic Services operated in the China Burma India Theater of World War II.
Fourteenth Army made the main thrust into central Burma. It had IV Corps and XXXIII Corps under its command, with six infantry divisions, two armoured brigades and three independent infantry brigades. Logistics were the primary problem the advance faced. A carefully designed system involving large amounts of supply by air was introduced as well endless construction projects designed to improve the land route from India into Burma.
When it was realised that the Japanese had fallen back behind the Irrawaddy River, the plan was modified. Initially both corps had been attacking into the Shwebo Plain between the Chindwin and Irrawaddy rivers. Now, only XXXIII Corps would continue this attack, while IV Corps changed its axis of advance to the Gangaw Valley west of the Chindwin, aiming to cross the Irrawaddy close to Pakokku and then capture the main Japanese line of communication centre of Meiktila. Meiktila is a town in Mandalay Division, Myanmar; its population was 252305 in 1901 and it is located at 20°53'N 95°53' E Diversionary measures (such as dummy radio traffic) would persuade the Japanese that both corps were aimed at Mandalay. Mandalay is the second largest city and the last royal capital of Burma (Myanmar and is the economic and cultural hub of Upper Burma
The plan was completely successful. Allied air superiority and the thin Japanese presence on the ground meant that the Japanese were unaware of the strength of the force moving on Pakokku. During January and February, XXXIII Corps seized crossings over the Irrawaddy River near Mandalay. There was heavy fighting, which attracted Japanese reserves and fixed their attention. Late in February, Indian 7th Division, leading IV Corps, seized crossings at Nyaungu, near Pakokku. Indian 17th Division and 255th Indian Armoured brigade followed them across and struck for Meiktila.
While the Japanese were distracted by events at Meiktila, XXXIII Corps had renewed its attack on Mandalay. It fell to Indian 19th Division on March 20, though the Japanese held the former citadel of Fort Dufferin for another week. Events 1600 - The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden. The battle was extremely costly in that much of the historically and culturally significant portions of Mandalay, including the old royal palace, were burned to the ground. With the fall of Mandalay (and of Maymyo to its east), communications to the Japanese front in the north of Burma were cut. The Japanese 15th Army was completely scattered, leaving only small detachments and parties of stragglers making their way east.
The Allied armies continued their southward drive towards Rangoon, with the goal of capturing the vital port before the monsoon season cut the overland supply routes. Yangon (also known as Rangoon) is the largest city and a former capital of Burma. IV Corps made the main attack, down the "Railway Valley" by striking at the delaying position held by the remnants of Japanese 33rd Army at Pyawbwe. The Indian 17th Division and 255th Armoured Brigade were initially halted by a strong defensive position behind a dry chaung, but a flanking move by tanks and mechanized infantry struck the Japanese from the rear and shattered them. Following the route of the 33rd Army, organised resistance along the route to Rangoon all but ceased.
A general uprising delayed the Japanese 15th Division long enough for the Allied forces to reach the city of Toungoo, only 136 miles (219 km) from Rangoon. Taungoo ( also known as Toungoo) is a city in the Bago Division of Myanmar, located 220 km from Yangon, towards the northern end of the The Indian 17th Division reached Pegu, 40 miles (65 km) north of Rangoon by April 25. Bago, formerly Pegu, is a city and the capital of Bago Division in Burma (or Myanmar Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. Kimura had formed the various service troops, naval personnel and even Japanese civilians in Rangoon into the Japanese 105 Independent Mixed Brigade. This scratch formation used buried aircraft bombs, anti-aircraft guns and suicide attacks with pole charges to delay the British advance, holding the British off until April 30, and covered the evacuation of the Rangoon area. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule
General Slim feared that the Japanese would defend Rangoon to the last man through the monsoon, which would put Fourteenth Army in a disastrous supply situation. His lines of communication by land were impossibly long, and the troops relied on supplies ferried by aircraft to airfields close behind the leading troops. Heavy rain would make these airfields unusable, and curtail flying. However, Kimura had ordered Rangoon to be evacuated, starting on April 22. Events 1500 - Portuguese Navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral becomes the first European to sight Brazil. Many troops were evacuated by sea, although British submarines claimed several ships. Kimura's own HQ left by land. The Japanese 105 Independent Mixed Brigade, by holding Pegu, covered this evacuation.
On May 1, a Gurkha parachute battalion was dropped on Elephant Point, which cleared Japanese rearguards from the mouth of the Rangoon River. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. During World War II, Operation Dracula was the name given to an airborne and amphibious attack on Rangoon by British and Indian forces part of the Burma The Indian 26th Infantry Division landed the next day and took over Rangoon, which had seen an orgy of looting and lawlessness similar to the last days of the British in the city in 1942. Following the capture of Rangoon, there were still Japanese forces to take care of in Burma, but it was largely a mopping up operation.
Liberation of Borneo
.jpg/180px-Balikpapan_landing_(AWM_018812).jpg)
The Borneo Campaign of 1945 was the last major Allied campaign in the South West Pacific Area. Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The Borneo Campaign of 1945 was the last major Allied campaign in the South West Pacific Area, during World War II. The South West Pacific was one of two theatres of World War II in the Pacific region between 1942 and 1945. In a series of amphibious assaults between May 1 and July 21, the Australian I Corps, under General Leslie Morshead, attacked Japanese forces occupying the island. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World I Corps of the Australian Army was the main frontline Corps of the army during World War II. Lieutenant General Sir Leslie James Morshead KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO, ED ( September 18, 1889 – The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku Allied naval and air forces, centred on the U.S. 7th Fleet under Admiral Thomas Kinkaid, the Australian First Tactical Air Force and the U. The Seventh Fleet is the United States Navy's permanent forward projection force based in Yokosuka, Japan, with units positioned near South Korea Thomas Cassin Kinkaid ( 3 April 1888 &ndash 17 November 1972) was an Admiral of the United States Navy during World The Australian First Tactical Air Force (1TAF was formed on October 25, 1944 by the Royal Australian Air Force to provide fighter and ground S. Thirteenth Air Force also played important roles in the campaign. Thirteenth Air Force is a United States Air Force "Component- Numbered Air Force " (C-NAF and warfighting headquarters in Pacific Air Forces
The campaign opened with a landing on the small island of Tarakan on May 1. The Battle of Tarakan was the first stage in the Borneo campaign of 1945. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. This was followed on June 1 by simultaneous assaults in the north west, on the island of Labuan and the coast of Brunei. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Operation Oboe Six was the codename for the campaign by Australian forces to retake Brunei and Labuan island from Japanese forces between Brunei Darussalam, (bruːˈnaɪ in English officially the State of Brunei Abode of Peace (Negara Brunei Darussalam Jawi: برني دارالسلام A week later the Australians attacked Japanese positions in North Borneo. The Battle of North Borneo was fought in June-August 1945 between Australian and Japanese forces in North Borneo (later known as Sabah) The attention of the Allies then switched back to the central east coast, with the last major amphibious assault of World War II, at Balikpapan on July 1. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song.
Although the campaign was criticised in Australia at the time, and in subsequent years, as pointless or a "waste" of the lives of soldiers, it did achieve a number of objectives, such as increasing the isolation of significant Japanese forces occupying the main part of the Dutch East Indies, capturing major oil supplies and freeing Allied prisoners of war, who were being held in deteriorating conditions. See http//enwikipediaorg/wiki/WikipediaFootnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the tags and the template below Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit [40]
Landings in the Japanese home islands
Hard-fought battles on the Japanese home islands of Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and others resulted in horrific casualties on both sides but finally produced a Japanese defeat. The, which forms the Country of Japan, extends roughly from northeast to southwest along the northeastern coast of the Eurasia mainland washing upon the northwestern The Battle of Iwo Jima ( February 19, 1945 &ndash March 26, 1945) was the United States capture of the island of Iwo Jima The Battle of Okinawa, also known as Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault Faced with the loss of most of their experienced pilots, the Japanese increased their use of kamikaze tactics in an attempt to create unacceptably high casualties for the Allies. The U. S. Navy proposed to force a Japanese surrender through a total naval blockade and air raids. [41]
Towards the end of the war as the role of strategic bombing became more important, a new command for the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific was created to oversee all U. S. strategic bombing in the hemisphere, under United States Army Air Forces General Curtis LeMay. The United States Army Air Forces ( USAAF) was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II. Curtis Emerson LeMay (15 November 1906–3 October 1990 was a General in the United States Air Force and the vice presidential running mate of American Independent Japanese industrial production plunged as nearly half of the built-up areas of 64 cities were destroyed by B-29 firebombing raids. Incendiary devices or incendiary bombs are Bombs designed to start Fires or destroy sensitive equipment using materials such as Napalm, Thermite On March 9-March 10, 1945 alone, about 100,000 people were killed in a fire storm caused by an attack on Tokyo. Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar A firestorm is a Conflagration which attains such intensity that it creates and sustains its own wind system In addition, LeMay also oversaw Operation Starvation, in which the inland waterways of Japan were extensively mined by air, which disrupted the small amount of remaining Japanese coastal sea traffic. Operation Starvation was an American mining operation conducted in World War II by the Army Air Force, in which vital water routes and ports
Atomic bomb and the Soviet invasion
On August 6, 1945, a B-29, the Enola Gay, dropped an atom bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, in the first nuclear attack in history. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were nuclear attacks near the end of World War II against the Empire of Japan by the United States at Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. The Japanese city of ( is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshū, the largest of Japan 's On August 9, another was dropped on Nagasaki. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus ( is the Capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. This was the last ever nuclear attack. More than 240,000 people died as a direct result of these two bombings. [42] The necessity of the atomic bombings has long been debated, with detractors claiming that a naval blockade and bombing campaign had already made invasion, and hence the atomic bomb, unnecessary. A blockade is any effort to prevent supplies Troops information or aid from reaching an opposing force Strategic bombing is a Military strategy used in a Total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability to wage war rather [43] However, other scholars have argued that the bombings did obviate invasion, including a planned Soviet invasion of Hokkaidō, or a prolonged blockade and bombing campaign, any of which may have exacted even higher casualties among Japanese civilians. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan 's [44]
On February 3, 1945, the Soviet Union agreed with Roosevelt to enter the Pacific conflict. Events 1112 - Ramon Berenguer III of Barcelona and Douce I of Provence marry uniting the fortunes of those two states Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar It promised to act 90 days after the war ended in Europe and did so exactly on schedule on August 9, by launching Operation August Storm. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus A battle-hardened, one million-strong Soviet force, transferred from Europe attacked Japanese forces in Manchuria and quickly defeated the Japanese Kantōgun (Kwantung Army group). Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast The, also known as the Guandong Army ( 관동군 was an Army group of the Imperial Japanese Army in the early twentieth century
In Japan, August 14 is considered to be the day that the Pacific War ended. Events 1183 - Taira no Munemori and the Taira clan take the young Emperor Antoku and the three sacred treasures However, Imperial Japan actually surrendered on August 15, and this day became known in the English-speaking countries as "V-J Day" (Victory in Japan). Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Victory over Japan Day ( V-J Day, also known as Victory in the Pacific Day, or V-P Day) is a name chosen for the day on which the Surrender of [45] The formal Instrument of Surrender was signed on September 2, 1945, on the battleship USS Missouri, in Tokyo Bay. The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was the written agreement that established the Armistice ending the Pacific War and with it World War II. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Construction See also Iowa class battleship, Armament of the Iowa class battleship Missouri was one of the ''Iowa''-class " is a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was. The surrender was accepted by General Douglas MacArthur as "Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers", with representatives of several Allied nations, from a Japanese delegation led by Mamoru Shigemitsu and Yoshijiro Umezu. Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers ( SCAP) was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II Mamoru Shigemitsu (重光 葵 July 29 1881 &ndash January 26, 1957) was the Japanese Minister of Foreign affairs at ( 4 January 1882 - 8 January 1949) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II.
Following this period, MacArthur went to Tokyo to oversee the postwar development of the country. This period in Japanese history is known as the occupation. At the end of World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, led by the United States with contributions also from Australia, British
Pacific War campaigns
- 1938-07-29 – 1938-08-11 Battle of Lake Khasan
- 1938-05-11 – 1938-09-16 Battle of Khalkhin Gol
- 1945-08-08 – 1945-09-02 Operation August Storm
Japanese conquest of Southeast Asia and Pacific
1941-12-07 (12-08 Asian Time) Attack on Pearl Harbor- 1941-12-08 Japanese Invasion of Thailand
- 1941-12-08 Battle of Guam (1941)
- 1941-12-08 United States declares war on Japan
- 1941-12-08 – 1941-12-25 Battle of Hong Kong
- 1941-12-08 – 1942-01-31 Battle of Malaya
- 1941-12-10 Sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse
- 1941-12-11 – 1941-12-24 Battle of Wake Island
- 1941-12-16 – 1942-04-01 Borneo campaign (1942)
- 1941-12-22 – 1942-05-06 Battle of the Philippines
- 1942-01-01 – 1945-10-25 Transport of POWs via hell ships
- 1942-01-11 – 1942-01-12 Battle of Tarakan
- 1942-01-23 Battle of Rabaul (1942)
- 1942-01-24 Naval Battle of Balikpapan
- 1942-01-25 Thailand declares war on the Allies
- 1942-01-30 – 1942-02-03 Battle of Ambon
- 1942-01-30 – 1942-02-15 Battle of Singapore
- 1942-02-04 Battle of Makassar Strait
- 1942-02-14 – 1942-02-15 Battle of Palembang
- 1942-02-19 Air raids on Darwin, Australia
- 1942-02-19 – 1942-02-20 Battle of Badung Strait
- 1942-02-19 – 1943-02-10 Battle of Timor (1942-43)
- 1942-02-27 – 1942-03-01 Battle of the Java Sea
- 1942-03-01 Battle of Sunda Strait
- 1942-03-01 – 1942-03-09 Battle of Java
- 1942-03-31 Battle of Christmas Island
- 1942-03-31 – 1942-04-10 Indian Ocean raid
- 1942-04-09 Bataan Death March begins
1942-04-18 Doolittle Raid- 1942-05-03 Japanese invasion of Tulagi
1942-05-04 – 1942-05-08 Battle of the Coral Sea- 1942-05-31 – 1942-06-08 Attacks on Sydney Harbour area, Australia
- 1942-06-04 – 1942-06-06 Battle of Midway
Allied offensives
| See Atlas of Battle Fronts from July 1943 to August 1945 at Half-Month intervals | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South East Asian campaigns: 1941-12-08 – 1945-08-15
- 1942-01-23 – Battle of Rabaul
- 1942-03-07 – Operation Mo (Japanese invasion of mainland New Guinea)
1942-05-04 – 1942-05-08 Battle of the Coral Sea- 1942-07-01 – 1943-01-31 Kokoda Track Campaign
- 1942-08-25 – 1942-09-05 Battle of Milne Bay
- 1942-11-19 – 1942-01-23 Battle of Buna-Gona
- 1943-01-28 – 1943-01-30 Battle of Wau
- 1943-03-02 – 1943-03-04 Battle of the Bismarck Sea
- 1943-06-29 – 1943-09-16 Battle of Lae
-
1943-06-30 – 1944-03-25 Operation Cartwheel - 1943-09-19 – 1944-04-24 Finisterre Range campaign
- 1943-09-22 – 1944-01-15 Huon Peninsula campaign
- 1943-11-01 – 1943-11-11 Attack on Rabaul
- 1943-12-15 – 1945-08-15 New Britain campaign
- 1944-02-29 – 1944-03-25 Admiralty Islands campaign
- 1944-04-22 – 1945-08-15 Western New Guinea campaign
Aleutian Islands campaign
1942-06-06 – 1943-08-15 Battle of the Aleutian Islands- 1942-06-07 – 1943-08-15 Battle of Kiska
- 1943-03-26 – Battle of the Komandorski Islands
Guadalcanal campaign
-
1942-08-07 – 1943-02-09 Battle of Guadalcanal - 1942-08-09 Battle of Savo Island
- 1942-08-24 – 1942-08-25 Battle of the Eastern Solomons
- 1942-10-11 – 1942-10-12 Battle of Cape Esperance
- 1942-10-25 – 1942-10-27 Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
- 1942-11-13 – 1942-11-15 Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
- 1942-11-30 Battle of Tassafaronga
- 1943-01-29 – 1943-01-30 Battle of Rennell Island
- 1943-03-06 Battle of Blackett Strait
-
1943-06-10 – 1943-08-25 Battle of New Georgia - 1943-07-06 Battle of Kula Gulf
- 1943-07-12 – 1943-07-13 Battle of Kolombangara
- 1943-08-06 – 1943-08-07 Battle of Vella Gulf
1943-08-17 – 1943-08-18 Battle off Horaniu- 1943-08-15 – 1943-10-09 Land Battle of Vella Lavella
- 1943-10-06 Naval Battle of Vella Lavella
- 1943-11-01 – 1945-08-21 Battle of Bougainville
- 1943-11-01 – 1943-11-02 Battle of Empress Augusta Bay
- 1943-11-26 Battle of Cape St. George
Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign
- 1943-11-20 – 1943-11-23 Battle of Tarawa
- 1943-11-20 – 1943-11-24 Battle of Makin
- 1944-01-31 – 1944-02-07 Battle of Kwajalein
- 1944-02-16 – 1944-02-17 Attack on Truk
- 1944-02-16 – 1944-02-23 Battle of Eniwetok
Bombing of South East Asia, 1944-45
Operation Cockpit 1944-04-19- Operation Transom 1944-05-17
- Operation Matterhorn 1944-06-05 – May 1945
- Operation Meridian 1945-01-24 – 1945-01-29
Mariana and Palau Islands campaign
- 1944-06-15 – 1944-07-09 Battle of Saipan
- 1944-06-19 – 1944-06-20 Battle of the Philippine Sea
- 1944-07-21 – 1944-08-10 Battle of Guam
- 1944-07-24 – 1944-08-01 Battle of Tinian
- 1944-09-15 – 1944-11-25 Battle of Peleliu
- 1944-09-17 – 1944-09-30 Battle of Angaur
- 1944-10-20 – 1944-12-10 Battle of Leyte
- 1944-10-24 – 1944-10-25 Battle of Leyte Gulf
- 1944-11-11 – 1944-12-21 Battle of Ormoc Bay
- 1944-12-15 – 1945-07-04 Battle of Luzon
- 1945-01-09 Invasion of Lingayen Gulf
- 1945-02-27 – 1945-07-04 Southern Philippines campaign
Volcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign
- 1945-02-16 – 1945-03-26 Battle of Iwo Jima
- 1945-04-01 – 1945-06-21 Battle of Okinawa
- 1945-04-07 Operation Ten-Go
-
1945-05-01 – 1945-05-25 Battle of Tarakan - 1945-06-10 – 1945-06-15 Battle of Brunei
- 1945-06-10 – 1945-06-22 Battle of Labuan
- 1945-06-17 – 1945-08-15 Battle of North Borneo
- 1945-07-07 – 1945-07-21 Battle of Balikpapan
See also
- Operation Downfall
- Pacific Theater of Operations
- Second Sino-Japanese War
- Japanese war crimes
- Allied war crimes during World War II
- South-East Asian Theater
- Timeline WW II — Pacific Theater
- Japanese holdout
Notes
- ^ The National World War II Museum, New Orleans
- ^ Russia and USSR in Wars of XX century http://www.soldat.ru/doc/casualties/book/chapter5_10_1.html#5_10_51
- ^ [1] Map of the Pacific Theatre
- ^ World War II Database: China. The Second Sino-Japanese War ( July 7, 1937 to September 9, 1945) was a major war fought between the Republic of China and the Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 2492 BC - Traditional date of the defeat of Bel by Hayk, progenitor and founder of the Armenian nation The Battle of Lake Khasan ( July 29, 1938 &ndash August 11, 1938) and also known as the Changkufeng Incident (Chinese & Japanese Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers The Battle of Khalkhyn Gol (бои на реке Халхин-Гол Халхын голын байлдаан Japanese ノモンハン事件 Nomonhan jiken --i Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Japan Standard Time or JST (日本標準時 or 中央標準時 is the standard Timezone of Japan, and is 9 hours ahead of UTC The attack on Pearl Harbor (or Hawaii Operation, as it was called by the Imperial General Headquarters) was a surprise Military strike conducted by Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. The Japanese Invasion of Thailand occurred on December 8, 1941. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. The Battle of Guam (1941, was an engagement during the Pacific War in World War II, and took place on December 8 1941 on Guam Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian The Battle of Hong Kong took place during the Pacific campaign of World War II. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes The Battle of Malaya was a campaign fought by Allied and Japanese forces in Malaya, from December 8 1941 to January 31 Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V The Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse was a World War II naval engagement which illustrated the effectiveness of aerial attacks Naming The Admiralty ordered construction of two new ''King George V''-class Battleships on 29 July 1936 (the other became HMS ''King George V'') Service in World War I Repulse first saw action on 17 November 1917 at the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes The Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on December 23, 1941, with the surrender of the American Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne For campaigns on eastern Borneo see Battle of Tarakan (1942 and Battle of Balikpapan (1942. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. The Battle of the Philippines was the invasion of the Philippines by Japan in 1941–42 and the defense of the islands by Filipino and United Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a The term hell ship mainly refers to the ships used by the Imperial Japanese Navy to transport Allied Prisoners of war (POWs out of the Philippines Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople The Battle of Tarakan took place on January 11&ndash12 1942 Even though Tarakan was only a small marshy island at northeastern Borneo in the Netherlands East Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor The Battle of Rabaul, on the island of New Britain, in the Australian Territory of New Guinea, in January and February 1942, represented Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled This article concerns the naval and land battles of Balikpapan in 1942 Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1112 - Ramon Berenguer III of Barcelona and Douce I of Provence marry uniting the fortunes of those two states The Battle of Ambon occurred on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia on January 30 - February 3, 1942, during Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor The Battle of Singapore was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II when the Empire of Japan invaded the Allied stronghold Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons The Battle of Makassar Strait, also known as the Action of Madura Strait, the Action North of Lombok Strait and the Battle of the Flores Sea, was a Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor The Battle of Palembang was a battle of the Pacific theatre of World War II. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum The Japanese air raids on Darwin, Australia, on 19 February 1942 were the largest attacks ever mounted by a foreign power against Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1472 - Orkney and Shetland are left by Norway to Scotland, due to a Dowry payment The Battle of Badung Strait was a Naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the night of 19 February &ndash Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1355 - The St Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead The Battle of Timor (1942–43 occurred on the island of Timor, in the Pacific theatre of World War II. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant The Battle of the Java Sea was a major Naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant In the Battle of Sunda Strait was a Naval battle which occurred during World War II. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. This article concerns the land battle of Java in 1942 For the preceding naval battle see Battle of the Java Sea. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Japanese forces occupied Christmas Island, on March 31 1942, during World War II. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama The Indian Ocean raid was a naval sortie by the Fast Carrier Strike Force of the Imperial Japanese Navy from 31 March to 10 April 1942 Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans) The Bataan Death March (also known as The Death March of Bataan) took place in the Philippines in 1942 and was later accounted as a Japanese war Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. The Doolittle Raid, 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese home island of Honshū Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1491 - Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries adopting the baptismal name of João The invasion of Tulagi, on May 3 and May 4, 1942, was part of Operation ''Mo'', the Empire of Japan 's strategy in the South Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from May 4 – May 8, 1942, with most of the action occurring on May 7 and May 8, was Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1279 BC - Rameses II (The Great (19th dynasty becomes pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable In late May and early June 1942 during World War II, Submarines belonging to the Imperial Japanese Navy made a series of attacks on the cities of Sydney Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year The Battle of Midway was a major Naval battle, widely regarded as the most important one of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Public domain document Atlas of the World Battle Fronts in Semimonthly Phases to August 15th 1945 was produced for the Chief of Staff of the United The South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was the name given to the campaigns of the Pacific War in India, Thailand, Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. The Battle of the Malacca Strait, sometimes called the Sinking of the Haguro, and in Japanese sources as the Battle off Penang (ペナン沖海戦 was a naval The New Guinea campaign ( 1942 – 45) was one of the major Military campaigns of World War II. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor The Battle of Rabaul, on the island of New Britain, in the Australian Territory of New Guinea, in January and February 1942, represented Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus Operation Mo ( Mo Sakusen) or the Port Moresby Operation was the name of the Japanese plan to take control of the Australian Territory of New Guinea, located just north of Australia, is the world's second largest island, having become separated from the Australian mainland when the area now known Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from May 4 – May 8, 1942, with most of the action occurring on May 7 and May 8, was Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes This article concerns the World War II military campaign For more general information see the Kokoda Track article Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. The Battle of Milne Bay ( Operation RE) was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1095 - The Council of Clermont, called by Pope Urban II to discuss sending the First Crusade to the Holy Land Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor The Battle of Buna–Gona was a battle in the New Guinea campaign, a major part of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain The Battle of Wau, 29 January - 31 January 1943, was a battle in the New Guinea campaign of World War II. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 986 - Louis V becomes King of the Franks. 1127 - Assassination of Charles the Good Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth The Battle of the Bismarck Sea was a battle in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA during World War II, in which planes of the United States Fifth Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers The Salamaua–Lae campaign was a series of actions in the New Guinea campaign of World War II. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. Operation Cartwheel (1943–1944 was the major Military strategy for the Allies in the Pacific theater of World War II. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to The Finisterre Range campaign, also known as the Ramu Valley-Finisterre Range campaign, was a series of actions in the New Guinea campaign of World War II Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign The Huon Peninsula campaign was a series of battles in the New Guinea campaign of World War II. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare The Allies of World War II conducted a bombing of Rabaul in November 1943 at the major Japanese base Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed The New Britain Campaign was a World War II campaign by the Allies, between December 1943 and the end of the war in August 1945 to contain Japanese Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Leap years Although the modern calendar counts a year as 365 days a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. The Admiralty Islands campaign ( Operation Brewer), was a series of battles in the New Guinea campaign of World War II in which the United States Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1500 - Portuguese Navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral becomes the first European to sight Brazil. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed The Western New Guinea campaign was a series of actions in the New Guinea campaign of World War II. The Aleutian Islands (possibly from Chukchi aliat, " Island " are a chain of more than 300 small volcanic islands forming a Volcanic Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed The Aleutian Islands campaign was a struggle over the Aleutian Islands, part of Alaska, in the Pacific campaign of World War II. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1099 - The First Crusade: The Siege of Jerusalem begins Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Operation Cottage was a tactical Maneuver during the Aleutian Islands campaign. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. The Battle of the Komandorski Islands was one of the most unusual engagements of World War II. Guadalcanal (local name Isatabu) is a 2510- Square mile (6500- km²) Island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 322 BC - Battle of Crannon between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 474 - Zeno crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal, was fought between August 7, 1942, and February 9, 1943, in the Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus The Battle of Savo Island, also known as the First Battle of Savo Island and in Japanese sources as the, took place August 8 – August 9 1942 Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the The naval Battle of the Eastern Solomons (also known as the Battle of the Stewart Islands and in Japanese sources as the, took place on August 24, 1942 Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. The Battle of Cape Esperance, also known as the Second Battle of Savo Island and in Japanese sources as the, took place October 11 &ndash 12 1942 and was a Naval Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Santa Cruz or in Japanese sources as the, was the fourth Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1002 - English king Ethelred orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the Third and Fourth Battles of Savo Island, the Battle of the Solomons or in Japanese sources as Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats The Battle of Tassafaronga, sometimes referred to as the Fourth Battle of Savo Island or in Japanese sources as the, was a nighttime Naval battle that took The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War of World War II. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain The Battle of Rennell Island (Japanese レンネル島沖海戦 took place on January 29 – January 30, 1943, and was the last major naval Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of The Battle of Blackett Strait (Japanese ビラ・スタンモーア夜戦 Battle of Vila-Stanmore was a Naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England The naval Battle of Kula Gulf (Japanese クラ湾夜戦 took place in the early hours of 6 July 1943 during World War II and was between United Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to The Battle of Kolombangara (Japanese コロンバンガラ島沖海戦 was a Naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 322 BC - Battle of Crannon between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. The Battle of Vella Gulf (Japanese ベラ湾夜戦 was a Naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on the night of August Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 986 - A Byzantine army was destroyed in the pass of Trajan's Gate by the Bulgarians under the Comitopuli Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica. The Battle off Horaniu (Japanese 第一次ベララベラ海戦 was a minor Naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on the night Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 768 - Carloman I and Charlemagne are crowned Kings of The Franks. The Battle of Vella Lavella was fought from August 15 to October 9 of 1943 between Japan and the Allied forces from New Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus The Battle of Vella Lavella (Japanese 第二次ベララベラ海戦 was a Naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on the night Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, on November 1 -2 1943 &mdash also known as the Battle of Gazelle Bay, Operation Cherry Blossom Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 43 BC - The Second Triumvirate alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus ("Octavian" later "Caesar Augustus" The Battle of Cape St George was a Naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on November 26, 1943, between In the Pacific Theater of World War II, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaigns, from November 1943 through February 1944 were the first offensive Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 800 - Charlemagne arrives at Rome to investigate the alleged crimes of Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 380 - Theodosius I makes his adventus, or formal The Battle of Makin was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought from 20 November to 24 November 1943, on Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince The Battle of Kwajalein was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought from January 31, 1944, to February 3, Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori Operation Hailstone (トラック島空襲 Torakku-tō Kūshū, lit Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable The Battle of Eniwetok was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought between 17 February 1944 and 23 February Operation Cockpit was a bombing raid by aircraft from two Allied naval forces (Force 69 and Force 70 on 19 April 1944. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer Operation Transom was a major Bombing raid on Japanese targets at Surabaya, Java by United States and British planes on Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason. This article deals with the World War II Operation Matterhorn Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 70 - Titus and his Roman Legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem During World War II, Operation Meridian was a series of British air attacks conducted on 24 January ( Meridian One) and 29 January ( Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. The Mariana and Palau Islands campaign was an offensive launched by United States forces against Imperial Japanese forces in the Mariana Islands and Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. The Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands from Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. The Battle of the Philippine Sea (aka "The Marianas Turkey Shoot" was a decisive naval battle of World War II, and the largest aircraft carrier battle in history Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire The Battle of Guam ( July 21 - August 8 1944) was the American capture of the Japanese held island of Guam (in the Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman The Battle of Tinian was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Tinian in the Mariana Islands from Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 668 - Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse Italy. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1034 - Máel Coluim mac Cináeda, King of Scots dies Donnchad, the The Battle of Peleliu, codenamed Operation Stalemate II, was fought between the United States and Japan in the Pacific Theater of World Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the The Battle of Angaur was a battle of the Pacific campaign in World War II, fought on the island of Angaur in the Palau Islands from The Philippines campaign of 1944–45 was the Allied campaign to defeat Japanese forces occupying The Philippines, during World War II. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1740 - Maria Theresa takes the throne of Austria. France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of Leyte in the Philippines by American Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the "Battle for Leyte Gulf" the "Battles for Leyte Gulf" and formerly as the "Second Battle of the Philippine Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian The Battle of Ormoc Bay was a series of air-sea battles between Imperial Japan and the United States in the Camotes Sea in the Philippines between Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples The Battle of Luzon, on the island of Luzon, home to the Filipino capital Manila. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. The Invasion of Lingayen Gulf was an Allied amphibious operation in the Philippines during World War II. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples The Philippines campaign of 1944–45 was the Allied campaign to defeat Japanese forces occupying The Philippines, during World War II. The Volcano and Ryūkyū Islands campaign was a series of battles and engagements between Allied forces and Imperial Japanese forces in the Pacific Ocean Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. The Battle of Iwo Jima ( February 19, 1945 &ndash March 26, 1945) was the United States capture of the island of Iwo Jima Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce. The Battle of Okinawa, also known as Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Ten-gō sakusen ( Kyūjitai: ja 天號作戰 Shinjitai: ja 天号作戦 "Operation Heaven One" also known as Ten-ichi-go and Operation The Borneo Campaign of 1945 was the last major Allied campaign in the South West Pacific Area, during World War II. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. The Battle of Tarakan was the first stage in the Borneo campaign of 1945. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history Operation Oboe Six was the codename for the campaign by Australian forces to retake Brunei and Labuan island from Japanese forces between Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 217 BC - Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. Operation Oboe Six was the codename for the campaign by Australian forces to retake Brunei and Labuan island from Japanese forces between Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1462 - Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II ( The Night Attack) forcing him to retreat Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed The Battle of North Borneo was fought in June-August 1945 between Australian and Japanese forces in North Borneo (later known as Sabah) Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World For other uses of this term see Battle of Balikpapan. The Battle of Balikpapan was the concluding stage of the Borneo campaign (1945 The Japan Campaign was a series of battles and engagements in and around the Japanese Home Islands, between Allied forces and the forces of Imperial Japan Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1099 - First Crusade: Godfrey of Bouillon is elected the first Defender of the Holy Sepulchre of The Kingdom of The Battle of Tokyo Bay was a World War II anti-shipping raid in Tokyo Harbor on the night of July 22, 1945. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were nuclear attacks near the end of World War II against the Empire of Japan by the United States at Operation Downfall was the overall Allied plan for the invasion of Japan near the end of World War II. The Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO was the World War II military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it a geographic scope The Second Sino-Japanese War ( July 7, 1937 to September 9, 1945) was a major war fought between the Republic of China and the Japanese war crimes occurred during the period of Japanese imperialism. Allied war crimes were violations of the Laws of war committed by the Allies of World War II against civilian populations or military personnel of the Axis The South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was the name given to the campaigns of the Pacific War in India, Thailand, Japanese holdouts or stragglers were Japanese soldiers who after the official Surrender of Japan after World War II, either adamantly doubted Retrieved on 2007-03-05. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a
- ^ World War II: 1930–1937. Retrieved on 2007-03-05. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a
- ^ The Emperor was using the Army to keep the Diet off-balance and shore up Imperial prestige, so he did not use his authority to rein in "cowboy generals" in China, even as the China war dragged on. Bix, Hirohito.
- ^ Georgi Dimitrov and the United National Front in China 1936-1944 (See: No. 22 New Soviet Aid for Chinese). Retrieved on 2007-03-05. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a
- ^ Kokushi Daijiten ("Historical Dictionary"), 1980: "It was not an official term, but a term of incitement used by the Japanese media, under the guidance of the military, in order to stir up the Japanese people's sense of crisis. . . " (Cited by Christopher Barnard, 2003, Language, Ideology and Japanese History Textbooks, London & New York, Routledge Curzon, p. 85. )
- ^ Peattie & Evans, Kaigun; Willmott, Barrier and the Javelin (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1983).
- ^ Peattie & Evans, Kaigun.
- ^ Pearl Harbor to Midway. http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/ Military History Online. Retrieved on May 27, 2007. Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
- ^ Peattie, Mark R. , & Evans, David C. Kaigun (United States Naval Institute Press, 1997); Parillo, Mark P. Japanese Merchant Marine in World War II. (United States Naval Institute Press, 1993).
- ^ H. Bix, "The Shōwa Emperor's Monologue and the Problem of War Responsibility", Journal of Japanese Studies, Vol. 18, No. 2, 1992, p. 344.
- ^ Remembering 1942, The fall of Singapore, 15 February 1942
- ^ Hoyt, Edwin P. (1986). Japan's War. Da Capo, 262–263. ISBN 0-306-80348-8.
- ^ Blair, Silent Victory
- ^ http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1942/420428a.html
- ^ Parillo, Japanese Merchant Marine; Peattie & Evans, Kaigun.
- ^ Thanks in part to terrible aircraft torpedoes. The modern torpedo (historically called an automotive automobile locomotive or fish torpedo is a self-propelled explosive Projectile weapon launched above or below
- ^ Willmott, Barrier and the Javelin.
- ^ By John Murpy in Tambor. First war patrol Tambor began her first war patrol on 15 March when she stood out of Pearl Harbor to reconnoiter the areas around Wake Island Truk Blair, Silent Victory, p. 246.
- ^ Willmott, op. cit.
- ^ Blair, Silent Victory; Parillo, Japanese Merchant Marine
- ^ Clay Blair, Silent Victory: The U. S. Submarine War Against Japan (Lippincott, 1975) and Theodore Roscoe, United States Submarine Operations in World War II (US Naval Institute Press, 1949).
- ^ Prange et al. Pearl Harbor Papers
- ^ Roscoe, Theodore. Pig Boats (Bantam Books, 1958); Blair, Silent Victory, pp. 991-2.
- ^ Roscoe, Theodore. Pig Boats Bantam Books, 1958.
- ^ Larry Kimmett and Margaret Regis, U.S. Submarines in World War II
- ^ The US thereby reversed its opposition to unrestricted submarine warfare. After the war, when moralistic doubts about Hiroshima and other raids on civilian targets were loudly voiced, no-one criticized Roosevelt's submarine policy. (Two German admirals, Erich Raeder and Karl Dönitz, were charged at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials with violating international law through unrestricted submarine warfare; they were acquitted after proving Allied merchant ships were legitimate military targets, under the rules in force at the time. Erich Johann Albert Raeder ( April 24, 1876 – November 6, 1960) was a naval leader in Germany before and during Karl Dönitz (ˈdøːnɪts) (16 September 1891 &ndash 24 December 1980 was a German naval Commander who served The Nuremberg Trials were a series of trials most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political military and economic leadership of Nazi Germany after
- ^ David Stevens. Japanese submarine operations against Australia 1942-1944. Accessed 18 June 2007.
- ^ Carl Boyd, "The Japanese Submarine Force and the Legacy of Strategic and Operational Doctrine Developed Between the World Wars," in Larry Addington ed. Selected Papers from the Citadel Conference on War and Diplomacy: 1978 (Charleston, 1979) 27–40; Clark G. Reynolds, Command of the Sea: The History and Strategy of Maritime Empires (1974) 512.
- ^ Farago, Ladislas. Broken Seal.
- ^ Chihaya Masataka, in Pearl Harbor Papers, p. 323. Chihaya went on to note, when IJN belatedly improved its ASW methods, the US submarine force responded by increasing Japanese losses.
- ^ Blair, Silent Victory, pp. 359-60, 551-2, & 816.
- ^ Roscoe, op. cit.
- ^ Blair, p. 877.
- ^ Uboat. net The Monsun boats. Accessed 18 June 2007.
- ^ [[2]]
- ^ [[3]]
- ^ Grey, Jeffrey (1999). A Military History of Australia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521644836. . Pages 184-186.
- ^ Skates, James. Invasion of Japan.
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/nuclear_02.shtml Professor Duncan Anderson, 2005, "Nuclear Power: The End of the War Against Japan"] (World War Two, BBC History website) Access date: September 11, 2007.
- ^ See, for example, Alperowitz, G. , The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb (1995; New York, Knopf; ISBN 0-6794-4331-2) for this argument.
- ^ Professor Duncan Anderson, "Nuclear Power: The End of the War Against Japan" (World War Two, BBC History website) Access date: September 11, 2007.
- ^ Chronology of Japanese Holdouts
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References
- Eric M. Bergerud, Fire in the Sky: The Air War in the South Pacific (2000)
- Clay Blair, Jr. Silent Victory. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1975 (submarine war).
- Thomas Buell, Master of Seapower: A Biography of Admiral Ernest J. King Naval Institute Press, 1976.
- Thomas Buell, The Quiet Warrior: A Biography of Admiral Raymond Spruance. 1974.
- John Costello, The Pacific War. 1982.
- Wesley Craven, and James Cate, eds. The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. 1, Plans and Early Operations, January 1939 to August 1942. University of Chicago Press, 1958. Official history; Vol. 4, The Pacific: Guadalcanal to Saipan, August 1942 to July 1944. 1950; Vol. 5, The Pacific: Matterhorn to Nagasaki. 1953.
- Dunnigan, James F. , and Albert A. Nofi. The Pacific War Encyclopedia. Facts on File, 1998. 2 vols. 772p.
- Harry A. Gailey.' 'The War in the Pacific: From Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay (1995)
- Gordon, David M. "The China-Japan War, 1931-1945" Journal of Military History (Jan 2006) v 70#1, pp 137-82. Historiographical overview of major books
- Seki, Eiji. (2006). Mrs. Ferguson's Tea-Set, Japan and the Second World War: The Global Consequences Following Germany's Sinking of the SS Automedon in 1940. London: Global Oriental. Global Oriental is an independent trade publishing company in Dorset, United Kingdom. 10-ISBN 1-905-24628-5; 13- ISBN 978-1-905-24628-1 (cloth) [reprinted by University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, 2007. The University of Hawaii Press is a University press that is part of the University of Hawai{{okina}}i. previously announced as Sinking of the SS Automedon and the Role of the Japanese Navy: A New Interpretation.
- Saburo Hayashi and Alvin Coox. Kogun: The Japanese Army in the Pacific War. Quantico, Va. : Marine Corps Assoc. , 1959.
- James C. Hsiung and Steven I. Levine, eds. China's Bitter Victory: The War with Japan, 1937–1945 M. E. Sharpe, 1992
- Ch'i Hsi-sheng, Nationalist China at War: Military Defeats and Political Collapse, 1937–1945 University of Michigan Press, 1982
- Rikihei Inoguchi, Tadashi Nakajima, and Robert Pineau. The Divine Wind. Ballantine, 1958. Kamikaze.
- S. Woodburn Kirby, The War Against Japan. 4 vols. London: H. M. S. O. , 1957-1965. Official Royal Navy history.
- William M. Leary, We Shall Return: MacArthur's Commanders and the Defeat of Japan. University Press of Kentucky, 1988.
- Gavin Long, Australia in the War of 1939–45, Army. Vol. 7, The Final Campaigns. Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1963.
- Dudley McCarthy, Australia in the War of 1939–45, Army. Vol. 5, South-West Pacific Area—First Year: Kokoda to Wau. Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1959.
- D. Clayton James, The Years of MacArthur. Vol. 2. Houghton Mifflin, 1972.
- Maurice Matloff and Edwin M. Snell Strategic Planning for Coalition Warfare 1941–1942, Center of Military History United States Army Washington, D. C. , 1990
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- Samuel Eliot Morison, History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Vol. 3, The Rising Sun in the Pacific. Boston: Little, Brown, 1961; Vol. 4, Coral Sea, Midway and Submarine Actions. 1949; Vol. 5, The Struggle for Guadalcanal. 1949; Vol. 6, Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier. 1950; Vol. 7, Aleutians, Gilberts, and Marshalls. 1951; Vol. 8, New Guinea and the Marianas. 1962; Vol. 12, Leyte. 1958; vol. 13, The Liberation of the Philippines: Luzon, Mindanao, the Visayas. 1959; Vol. 14, Victory in the Pacific. 1961.
- Masatake Okumiya, and Mitso Fuchida. Midway: The Battle That Doomed Japan. Naval Institute Press, 1955.
- E. B. Potter, and Chester W. Nimitz. Triumph in the Pacific. Prentice Hall, 1963. Naval battles
- E. B. Potter, Bull Halsey Naval Institute Press, 1985.
- E. B. Potter, Nimitz. Annapolis, Md. : Naval Institute Press, 1976.
- John D. Potter, Yamamoto 1967.
- Gordon W. Prange, Donald Goldstein, and Katherine Dillon. At Dawn We Slept. Penguin, 1982. Pearl Harbor
- ——, et al. Miracle at Midway. Penguin, 1982.
- ——, et al. Pearl Harbor: The Verdict of History.
- Seki, Eiji (2007). Sinking of the SS Automedon And the Role of the Japanese Navy: A New Interpretation. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 1905246285.
- Henry Shaw, and Douglas Kane. History of U. S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II. Vol. 2, Isolation of Rabaul. Washington, D. C. : Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps, 1963
- Henry Shaw, Bernard Nalty, and Edwin Turnbladh. History of U. S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II. Vol. 3, Central Pacific Drive. Washington, D. C. : Office of the Chief of Military History, 1953.
- E. B. Sledge, With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa. With the Old Breed At Peleliu and Okinawa is a World War II memoir by Eugene Sledge, a United States Marine. Presidio, 1981. Memoir.
- J. Douglas Smith, and Richard Jensen. World War II on the Web: A Guide to the Very Best Sites. (2002)
- Ronald Spector, Eagle Against the Sun: The American War with Japan Free Press, 1985.
- John Toland, The Rising Sun. 2 vols. Random House, 1970. Japan's war.
- H. P. Willmott. Empires in the Balance. Annapolis: United States Naval Institute Press, 1982.
- ——. The Barrier and the Javelin. Annapolis: United States Naval Institute Press, 1983.
- Gerhard L. Weinberg, A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II, Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-44317-2. (2005).
- William Y'Blood, Red Sun Setting: The Battle of the Philippine Sea. Annapolis, Md. : Naval Institute Press, 1980.
- Harries, Meirion; Susie Harries (1994). Soldiers of the Sun : The Rise and Fall of the Imperial Japanese Army. New York: Random House. Random House Inc is the world's largest English-language general trade book publisher ISBN 0-679-75303-6.
- Hayashi, Saburo; Alvin D. Cox (1959). Kogun: The Japanese Army in the Pacific War. Quantico, VA: The Marine Corps Association.
External links
- (French) La politique de la sphère de coprospérité de la grande Asie orientale au Japon
- Animated History of the Pacific War
- Canada at the Pacific War — Canadians in Asia & the Pacific
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