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Stef Cohen & Kelly Broadbent
Honors U.S. History II, Period 2
Mr. Greenberg
Objectives
• To learn the importance of the Battle of Okinawa during World War II.
• To give an understanding of what happened at Okinawa in the spring of 1945.
*
Okinawa is one of the Ryukyu Islands off of the southern tip of Japan
Why Okinawa was important for the Allies
• To invade Japan Allies needed to capture the pacific islands.
• The islands supplied Japan during battle and Allies wanted to cut them off.
• Allies would also use these islands as refuelling and repair stations.
Why Okinawa was important to the Japanese
• After many battles Japan’s military was deteriorating. • They knew they could not win.
• Their goal was:• decrease the size of the Allie army
• decrease allies supplies and fleet
Naval Bombardment
• Mid- March 1945
• Greatest naval armada ever
• Attacked by kamikaze, and Ohka• Ohka are rocket
powered kamikaze
• Nicknamed “Baka” Japanese for idiot
*Naval bombardment of Okinawa
Start of Okinawa
• The invasion on land began April 1st, 1945
• There were no signs of the Japanese arm
• 60,000 American soldiers survived arrived
• Americans cleared the north of the island
• Little battle in beginning *Allies land on an Okinawa beach
Kamikazes Attacks
• Suicide plane attacks against warships
• Kamikazes attacks used in Okinawa began on April 6th, 1945
• Estimated that about 2,000 kamikazes in Okinawa
Japanese Plan
• No troops defend beaches -avoid casualties
• Dug tunnels and caves in high grounds-Away from beaches
-Allies could not use superior naval and air power
-Is where Japanese headquarters were to be found
-Americans eventually used grenades and thrown them in the caves
*A Japanese underground military
headquarter bottom right
Important dates
• April 29th-Huge barrage, largest in Pacific theater
• May 4th - Ushijima ordered a counter attack on the coast behind the Americans, it was unsuccessful
• May 21st-Japanese had withdrawn to the southern tip of the island
Mass suicide in Okinawa
• Grenades were given to civilians for suicide
• Anyone found with found were executed
• Japanese commanders encouraged mass suicide
*Some civilians chose to be taken captive rather than commit suicide
*A woman poses where bones of deceased civilians were thrown
End of the battle
• Became obvious Japan would lose in June
• Ushijima had committed suicide
• American secured Okinawa July 2nd 1945
* American flag planted in Okinawa
Aftermath for Americans
• Dead or missing-12,513
• Wounded-38,916
• Non-combat losses-33,096
• Sunken ships-79
• Aircrafts destroyed-763
Aftermath for Japanese
• Dead or missing-66,000
• Wounded-17,000
• Captured-7,455
• Sunken ships-16
• Aircrafts destroyed-3,130
• Civilians dead/missing75,000-140,000
Conclusion
• American victory
• Huge causalities for the Japanese
• Allies ready to invade Japan’s mainland.
• unnecessary after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Okinawa is now a Okinawa is now a beautiful vacation spotbeautiful vacation spot