The Pacific War
The Pacific Front, or the the Pacific War, was the Pacific theatre of World War II, which was fought in the Pacific Ocean, its islands and in East Asia. It includes the Pacific Ocean theatre, the South West Pacific theatre, the South-East Asian theatre, and the Second Sino-Japanese War.
The Pacific War saw the Allied powers pitted against the Empire of Japan. The war climaxed with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and other large aerial bombing attacks by the United States Army Air Forces, accompanied by the Soviet invasion of Manchuria on 8 August 1945, resulting in the surrender of Japan and the end of fighting during World War II on 15 August 1945. The formal and official surrender of Japan occurred aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. |
The Allied Powers...Included; France, Poland, the Soviet Union, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa)
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The Pacific War consisted of many offensive attacks that the Japanese launched on other countries' strongholds within the Pacific Islands. While it is referred to as a war, the Pacific War is partof World War 2.
Japanese OffensivesIn 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 Dutch 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. 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. The Japanese media, influenced by military propagandists, began to refer to the embargoes as the "ABCD (American-British-Chinese-Dutch) encirclement". Faced with a choice between economic collapse and withdrawal from its recent conquests, the Japanese Imperial General adquarters began planning for a war with the western powers in April or May 1941.
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 Dutch East Indies, known as the "Southern Plan". It was also decided, because of the close relationship between the UK and United States, and the belief the US would inevitably become involved, Japan would also require an "Eastern plan". |
Means the partial or complete prohibition of commerce and trade with a particular country
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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 the seizure of the Philippines and cutting the U.S. lines of communication by seizing Guam and Wake. The southern plans called for attacking Malaya and Hong Kong and following with attacks against Bismarck Archipelago, Java, Sumatra and the Isolation of 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.
British, Australian and Dutch forces, already drained of personnel and materiel 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. The Allies suffered many disastrous defeats in the first six months of the Pacific war.
British, Australian and Dutch forces, already drained of personnel and materiel 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. The Allies suffered many disastrous defeats in the first six months of the Pacific war.
The Pacific War was one of the only defensive wars Australia has ever fought in. The threat of Japan invading Australia was a likely possibility, Japan making evident of their intent towards Australia as they sought to expand their Empire and weaken the British Commonwealth. When Australia asked their main ally, the United Kingdom for help they refused; viewing their war in Europe as a higher priority. Australia found an ally against Japan in the United States of America, working together to stop the Japanese from travelling further south and attacking more of the Pacific.
The Pacific War included various campaigns and events that Australia took part in or was affected by. To read more about specific events click the buttons below.
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