Alaska and World War II

Aleutian Islands

• American internment of Unangan people

• 1942; 900 Unangan people are relocated to Southeast Alaska for 3 years.

• Link & Reference– http://www.nps.gov/aleu/historyculture/unangan-internment.htm

Japanese Offensive

• Dutch Harbor bombed June 3-4, 1942• Invasion of Attu & Kiska on June 6-7, 1942.• Captured by Japan:

– Naval weather crew on Kiska– Entire village on Attu

• Possible diversion from Midway Island campaign

• Shattered Sword; Jonathan Parshall & Anthony Tully argue it was not merely a diversion

Attu

• Japanese cut off from their naval forces• May 11, 1943 (nearly a year after Japanese

invastion) American recapture begins• Uncontested landings; use of difficult

terrain• Banzai charge on Massacre Bay• Dead

– 549 Americans– 2,351 Japanese– Only 28 Japanese captured

Kiska

• Nearly 35,000 U.S. troops marshalled to invade. (compared to 12,500 of Attu)

• Dense fog allows Japanese escape

Photos• http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcoll/findaids/docs/photos

graphics/AleutianIslandsinWWIIPHColl604.xml

Alaska-Canada (Alcan) Highway

• Built from 1942-1943• Connected Alaska with the “lower 48.”• Construction:

– Army troops– African American troops– “permafrost” & “muskeg”– Muncho Lake– Completed ‘43; opened to public in ‘48

Anchorage Area

• Elmendorf Air Force Base– June 8, 1940

• Fort Richardson– 1940 @ Elmendorf– 1947 relocated 5 miles away