Paragraph 3.3 - War in the Pacific

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Paragraph 3.3 - War in the Pacific

From an American point of view

Hitler or Japan: which is the bigger threat?

 

• Military ‘advisors’ to China (1937)
  
• Volunteers to train Chinese pilots
  
• Burma Road; connecting China to Burma (British colony) to transport American military supplies
  

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Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

7 December 1941

• 
  
• Japan attacks the American marine base of Pearl Harbor. It is a surprise attack.
• The American fleet is largely destroyed: the Japanes have free range in Asia

Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbour?

1. Due to an offense made by to the Americans to the emperor of Japan
2. Due to the fact that the American fleet was only big enough to prevent Japanse expansion in South-East Asia
3. Due to the Dutch and American oil boycott (and metal and steel)
4. Both C and D combined (without oil no expansion was possible)

Waking up the lion

US declares war on Japan (8th of December 1941)

Tripartite Act:

• Germany and Italy declare war on the USA (11th of December 1941) 

Japan

China

Germany

USA

Oil supply

Burma Road

Tripartite Act

Declaration of war

Defeating the colonial 'masters'

Island hopping

• After the Battle of Midway --> US slowly advanced towards Japan
  
  
• But... they had to capture all the small islands in between, one by one.
  
  
• From 1944 and onwards, allied bombers got close enough to Japan to start airbombing the island.
• After 8 May 1945 --> US focuses solely on Japan

Japan occupy the 

Dutch East Indies

March 1942

Dutch were interned in Japanese internment camps. 

The circumstances were terrible: bad hygiene, famine and corporal punishment. 

Women sometimes were forced to work as prostitutes ('Comfort women')

Men were used as forced labourers, often dying in the process

Use the picture on the right to explain why many Asian countries saw the Japanese army as liberators

After WWII many European colonies in Asia started to fight for independence. What influence do you think that Japanese military successes had on this movement? Explain your answer.

What is the difference between the Japanese internment camps and those in Europe?

Turning the tables

Which battle is considered the turning point for the Pacific front?

1. The battle of Stalingrad
2. The battle of Java sea
3. The battle of Midway
4. The battle of Normandy

The phase between 1942-45 on the Pacific front is known as...

1. island hopping
2. hopscotch
3. cruising
4. touring

The Pacific Allied front only had American soldiers

True

False

False!

There were also Australian, Kiwi, British and Canandian troops involved

Was it worth it?

Read together  'Atomic bombings' (TB 71)

Give two reasons why the USA decided to use their atomic bomb

In you opinion, was the use of the atomic bomb in WWII justified?

Yes

No

Explain your answer on the previous question

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

The Battle of Midway

Tripartite Act signed

Hiroshima is struck with the atomic bomb

American volunteers are recruited to train Chinese pilots 

USA declares war on Japan

Germany surrenders to Western Allied powers

Homework

Knowledge & skills of 3.3

Make exercise 1,2,4 up to and including 6, 8,10 up to and including 12