World War II may be one of the most important historical events in modern history; its results have impacted everyone worldwide. While the war itself was a long and hard fight, the victory was largely a result of several key turning points. Among these was the Battle of Midway. Success in the Pacific war was critical to America; fighting a two front war is a great task for any military, and a loss in either could have crushed the war effort. The Battle of Midway had a huge impact on the outcome of World War II proving to be the key turning point leading to allied victory in the Pacific theater. In the battles leading up to Midway, Japan had been on a winning streak in the Pacific and was seemingly unstoppable. The massive losses suffered …show more content…
at Midway allowed the U.S. to take the offensive in the Pacific theater, and placed Japan on the defensive until the end of the war. Japan was never able to recover from the crippling defeat at Midway and as a result the U.S. prevailed in the Pacific war and eventually gained a victory in the war as a whole. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 they had effectively started one of the largest naval campaigns in history. The overwhelming defeat of America by an outside force had many effects on the nation. The first is the simply the loss of men and equipment. The thousands of people dead, dozens of ships sunk, and hundreds of airplanes destroyed left the U.S. at a huge disadvantage for a naval war in the Pacific. The second, and more important, effect was the mental effect. The Japanese victory at Pearl Harbor marked the first of many victories for the Japanese navy in the WWII Pacific Theater, and sparked their feeling of invulnerability which later influenced their war strategy (Earl 8-10). The Japanese acted swiftly after Pearl Harbor, shortly after the battle the Japanese Navy and Army had successfully captured Wake Island, Hong Kong, Malaya , Thailand and the Philippines (Earl 17). Japan’s empire later expanded to include all of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, most of the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, The East Indies and most of East Asia.(Earl 19). With all the success in battle the Japanese war machine gained momentum on two fronts, in battle and back home. With so many consecutive decisive victories more and more grossly exaggerated war stories were sent home, and the Japanese public couldn’t help but back the military that was so soundly defeating any opponents they faced on the seas. Newspaper headlines often grossly distorted the truth. They made the smallest victory or even a draw seem like another massive victory for the invincible Imperial Navy. The Battle of Coral Sea was blown way out of proportion by the Japanese press. One Carrier was actually sunk, and one damaged. Newspaper headlines reported two carriers, two cruisers, and a battleship sunk, along with several others badly damaged. None of the reported sunken ships were even at the battle (Prange 19). However, the public could not question the success of their Navy, and neither could the soldiers themselves. The Japanese Navy had not lost a battle in the past 350 years, and they were continuing their winning streak (Layton 448). The early Pacific campaign can be thought of as nothing more than a complete success in the terms of Japan’s short term goals. Statistically they were succeeding in terms of losses. Of the anticipated 25% casualty rate for Japan’s initial offensive, only one tenth of that amount was actually lost (Healy 9). The reasons behind Japan’s success were partly influenced by their motivation. By cutting off Japan from its source of oil, they were forced to expand in order to sustain their industrial nation. They only had enough oil left to support them for the next year, and without it they would be destroyed. As a result, the early actions of Japan were largely governed by their motivation to expand (Healy 9). Japan’s plans lacked any real long term vision: “Realizing his first offensive was nearly complete and successful; Ugaki asks “what next”. The fact that the chief of combined fleet could utter such a question less than a month after his nation had plunged headlong into a war with the United States and Great Britain speaks volumes for the lack of any long-term strategic vision applied to that decision (Healy 9).” The explosive, fast paced victories of Japan continued to leave the U.S. more and more on the fringe of disaster as the daunting Imperial Navy approached closer and closer to the American west coast. The Japanese had planned on their initial invasion being complete by March, only 3 months after the plans inception, and they had essentially accomplished this goal. By May, 1942 most of America’s Far East air power was destroyed on the ground. The Naval bases of Cavine and Luzon were invaded and taken over. The Japanese continued to score victory after victory (Healy 17). These repeated victories contributed to what is known as “Victory Disease” (Layton 407). A string of uninterrupted victories led the Japanese into battle feeling invincible. This confidence and heightened morale contributed to some of their victories, but as they grew more and more successful they became more and more overconfident. While their overconfidence attributed to their loss at Midway, if they had not been so soundly defeated their momentum would have carried them into more and more victory. Eventually, when they finally met the Americans for the big showdown at Midway, their spirits would be crushed and their plans ruined by the first of many defeats in the Pacific Theater (Fuchida 283-286). When the Japanese entered the war their initial intentions were on a smaller scale; they needed to strike back at America for cutting them off from their main source of oil, and they needed to replenish that source.
The Japanese strategy shifted enormously, however, after the Doolittle raid. When the Japanese saw that they could be struck so close to home they knew they needed to take more serious measures, thus they drew up a very aggressive and daunting plan to capture the Pacific and make it part of their empire and force the United States into submission (Healy 9). Up until the Doolittle raid their plan had been in debate, now they focused their sights on advancing with one key goal in mind : Midway. Their original plan was contrived mostly on taking small island chains which held their need for oil; their new plan involved sending a massive attack fleet through the Pacific with its ultimate destination being the Midway atoll. (Fuchida 101 – …show more content…
110) Had the outcome at Midway been different, then the world today would most likely also be very different.
From the U.S. standpoint, a loss would have been an even more crippling defeat than the one the Japanese suffered. They had already suffered one devastating loss at Pearl Harbor where 2300 servicemen were killed, 21 ships were damaged or sunk and over 400 planes damaged or destroyed. If U.S. had lost at Midway, and suffered similar casualties as the Japanese did, then there would have been almost no way they could have stopped the advancing Imperial Navy (Battle of Midway 1). One of the main goals of the Japanese at Midway was to lure the last remaining U.S. Pacific carriers into their confrontation and destroy U.S. naval power once and for all. If the Japanese were successful at this and the U.S. had lost their carriers at Midway they would have been left with only two carriers in the Pacific. Japan had four operational carriers, soon to be six, after the Shokaku and Zukaku which were damaged at Coral Sea had been repaired (Prange 66). With six Japanese carriers to only two American carriers there would have been an even greater imbalance than the one created by the U.S. victory at
Midway. From the Japanese point of view a victory at Midway would have meant almost certain victory. The success of their Midway Operations plan would only further prove their invincibility in the Pacific and they would have continued to be an unstoppable force (Battle of Midway 1). It is also possible that the Japanese were planning an even larger scale invasion after Midway, they may have intended on invading Hawaii, a very possible feat for considering how easily they would out-number their opponents. With a foothold in Midway a large scale U.S. sea based invasion would definitely have been conceivable. Japan’s capture of Midway was most likely not to simply have another naval stronghold, as it was so far out that it would have been nearly impossible to supply. Additionally it was in range of attack from Hawaiian based bombers. It is more likely that the Japanese occupation of Midway was intended to create a stepping stone on the way to a massive invasion into Hawaii. At high levels of Japan's Combined Fleet this plan to attack Hawaii was known as "Eastern Operation". If the plan worked and Japan had succeeded in destroying the U.S. carriers at Midway and capturing the atoll then they would have been able to move on and attack the U.S. at its westernmost state. According to John J Stephan, on December 9, 1941 Admiral Yamamoto ordered Rear Admiral Matome Ugaki to create a plan for invading Hawaii. Yamamoto intended on using Hawaii as a bargaining chip to get the U.S. to recognize Japanese dominance in the Pacific in exchange for the return of Hawaii. After the U.S. fleet was destroyed at Midway the Japanese had no intentions on staying on Midway. They’re next move would be to capture Johnston island, which would put their bombers in range of Pearl Harbor, and then move into Hawaii (Unraveling the… 1).
Midway itself was not that important in the larger scheme of Japan's intentions. Japan was concentrating on the Samoa Islands, Fiji and Australia to expand their newly acquired SE Pacific territory than Midway. Midway was the closest remaining US base to Japan, and would therefore be heavily defended by the US. Admiral Yamamoto's battle plan was bold. Like most Imperial Japanese Navy strategies, it was designed to lure major parts of the US Fleet into a fatal situation. Yamamoto's main force trailed his carriers and was intended to take out whatever part of the US Fleet that might come to Midway's support. The plan was complicated because it was put together very rapidly in the wake of the Tokyo Air Raid by US Army B-25's flying...
To begin, the attack on Pearl Harbour was devastating to U.S. naval capabilities in the Pacific at the onset of their entry into the war. Japanese officials had grown tired of the U.S. oil embargo, which was meant to limit their territorial expansion and aggression in South-East Asia as well as China, and as negotiations weren’t reaching any conclusions they decided that the only course of action was a first strike on the aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbour to cripple U.S. naval capability in the Pacific (Rosenberg 1). The attack, which lasted about two hours, had resulted in the sinking of four battleships, among ...
San Antonio, Texas-- The Battle of the Alamo, a battle in San Antonio, against the Mexicans broke out, marks the most important of the battles so far during the Texas fight for independence. The battle began on February 23, 1836 and ended two days ago on March 6, 1836, lasting for 13 days. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, leader of the Mexican force, planned to seize the fort with an army of thousands. Unprepared, the Texans had an army of around 200 men, including well- known congressman David Crockett and James Bowie and not so well-known William Barret Travis.
The battle of Gettysburg was the most important battle in the Civil War and in shaping our county. The Battle of Little Round Top was noted as the most important battle in the Battle of Gettysburg. Located in Gettysburg Pennsylvania is little round top which is the smaller of two hills south of Gettysburg Pennsylvania, between Emmetsburg and Taneytown roads. During the second day of the battel of Gettysburg, little round became a key location in winning the battel.
The motive for Japan’s plan to attack Midway Island was to claim dominant power over the Pacific Ocean and to...
Morison, Samuel, E. (1960). Victory in the pacific, 1945 – history of the united states naval operations in world war ii. (Vol. 14, p. 389). Boston: Little Brown.
On June 4th, a legendary battle took pace over the pacific sea. The battle of midway was the turning for America in World War 2. The air attacks of Japan and America would continue for many days. America won the battle and took out half of Japans carriers. It battle was a great victory for America, considering the fact that japan had much greater forces. This battle was the start of America taking control of the war over the pacific. This battle took place six months after japans first strike a Pearl Harbor. Many histories say this was the greatest air battle of all time. America not only proved that numbers didn’t matter, but showed that only leaders with clear eyes and soldiers with heart can win a battle of any size.
... Stimson, Churchill, Truman were all very aware of this. Declassified documents state that “the Japanese leaders had decided to surrender and were merely looking for sufficient pretext to convince the die-hard Army group that Japan had lost the war and must capitulate to the Allies.’’ (Alperoviz) According to this scenario there would have been some casualties but no more than 5000.
John MacArthur is a well-known and sometimes controversial pastor that holds a strong conservative viewpoint of the Scriptures. As a graduate of Talbot Theological Seminary, MacArthur’s ministry has covered a wide spectrum of Christian fields including pastor, author and radio host. MacArthur currently serves as the Pastor of Grace Community Church in Sunny Valley, California. For over 45 years his pastoral ministry at Grace Community Church has given evidence of a deep abiding love for the exposition of the Scriptures. Beyond his role as pastor, MacArthur serves as the president of the Master’s College and Seminary, which functions to train men to work in various areas of Christian ministry. As a successful author, MacArthur continues to write many books ranging from culturally and theological relevant issues to New Testament expositional commentaries and study guides. Macarthur also serves as the lead teacher of Grace to You, an everyday radio and television ministry, which centers on verse by verse exposition of Scripture. MacArthur is not known for shying away from controversial topics that Christianity struggles with. He seeks to use scripture to help modern Christians think through these topics.
The battle of Midway took place 4-7 June 1942. The US Navy and Imperial Navy of Japan fought near the Central Pacific island of Midway. The battle of Midway was a battle that occurred during WW II Pacific Theater of operations. There were two events that led up to this battle. The first major event was the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which took place six months prior to the battle of Midway ( 7 December 1941). The second event was the Battle of the Coral Sea. The Battle of the Coral Sea took place a month prior and it gave the Japanese Commanders courage to set a new objective. The Battle of the Coral Sea was a key factor that led up to the battle of Midway. The battle of the Coral Sea was Japans attempt to strengthen their defensive positioning
On December 7th 1941, Japanese Planes and submarines attacked the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor. This event singlehandedly brought the U.S from its then neutral stance in World War Two to a fighting member of the “Allied Powers.” Pearl Harbor was the first of a long series of confrontations between the U.S and the Japanese in an effort to gain control of the Pacific. Unlike the “War in Europe” the Pacific strategy was dominated by naval and aerial battles, with the occasional land-based “Island Hopping” Campaign. As such, one of the most important factors in the war in the pacific was Fleet Size, the more ships a country could send to war, the better. Pearl Harbor was the Japanese’s way of trying to deal with the massive U.S Pacific fleet. However, Pearl Harbor was not the turning point of the war. After December 7th the United States began work on numerous technological developments which would ultimately help them in one of the most important battles of WWII, the largest naval confrontation of the war, The Battle of Midway. The battle, which took place from June 4th to June 7th , 1942 is widely considered the turning point of the Pacific Theater (James & Wells). Through the Post-Pearl Harbor desire for “Revenge” and various technological advantages including code breaking and radar, the U.S were able to outsmart the Japanese at Midway and ultimately win the battle, eventually leading to a victory in the Pacific.
“The Japanese force that had dominated the Pacific for six months was in ruins, extinguishing the hopes of an empire. Midway was that rarest of engagements - a truly decisive battle” (BBC History). Midway, to the Japanese, was a stab back at America after the Doolittle Raids of Tokyo. The Doolittle Raids wer...
As the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 the United States officially entered World War Two. The Japanese government later learned later that this single event sets off an explosion that subsequently caused the United States to attack the Midway Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Pearl Harbor was one of the United States largest naval bases and the largest in the Pacific Ocean. This attack ceased all trade with Japan and officially added Japan as one of the US enemies. With a new world war started it created new concerns for the army. “World War II introduced a whole new set of problems in naval tactics” (Smith, 1). The main change driving these changes was the fact that aircraft carriers became more prevalent and common in every major countries naval force. Japan was able to pull off the Pearl Harbor attack as a result of aircraft carriers to launch their airplanes. As a result of the battles leading up to the Battle of Midway and conflicts with Japan this created a lot larger of an impact on WWII as a whole and to boost unity in America leading to a more prosperous period of history following the war.
World War II consisted of many devastating battles in both the European and the Pacific Theater. The Battle of Okinawa was fought in the Pacific theater. In the beginning of the battle there was little opposition from the Japanese soldiers but as the American troops traveled more inland the more resistance they met. Eventually, the 10th Army came against the fierce challenge of the intricate defense lines the Japanese held up. Many caves and pillboxes in the hills created a formidable challenge for American troops. Slowly though the Allies gained ground and continued to push back the defensive lines of General Ushijima and his troops. The Japanese tried to use kamikaze air and land attacks as successful offensive measures, these continued to produce little effect and failed each time. Finally, the Allies started to gain ground quite quickly. The Japanese had to move their defensive lines several time because the Americans were boxing them in. At las,t General Ushijima ordered everyman to fight till the death and the fighting became very disorganized. On June 21, all the loss ends were tied up. America had won Okinawa.
The entire Japanese military and civilian population would fight to the death. American casualties -- just for that initial invasion to get a foothold on the island of Japan would have taken up to an estimated two months and would have resulted in up to 75,000 to 100,000 casualties. And that was just the beginning. Once the island of Kyushu was captured by U.S. troops, the remainder of Japan would follow. You can just imagine the cost of injuries and lives this would take.