Pacific war is a more common name, around the world, for the broader conflict. Untold stories from the marine heroes of world war ii. After the attack on pearl harbor, nimitz assembled the forces, selected the leaders, and as commander of all u. In fact, the turning point in the pacific theater took place between june 47, 1942 as a. In june 1942, japan hoped to capture midway island, an american held base about miles from hawaii. Sparked by the japanese attack on pearl harbor on dec. Dec 7th, 1941 hideki tojo japans prime minister planned attack. The light aircraft carrier survived three years of frantic combat in the pacific theater, where it weathered torpedo damage from enemy bombers and dueled with one of the imperial japanese navys. A short history of the united states navy in the second world war by samuel eliot morison more times than i can count.
World war ii in the pacific stories of some who were there on the morning of december 7, 1941, i was eleven years old. August 15 th in local time based on time zone differences. Dec 7th, 1941 hideki tojo japans prime minister planned attack much devastation from air bombing death of americans 2,400, 1,200 wounded sunk nearly all of the pacific fleet, destroyed over 300 ships. Jan 26, 2020 the battle of iwo jima was fought between the united states and japan between february 19th and march 26th 1945. There are a total of 37 ww2 pacific war fighter aircraft 19391945 in the military factory. Aug 23, 2017 the turning point in the pacific theatre came in mid1942 with historys first great carrier battles. Nimitz personally retained command of the central pacific. And though the battle locales that constitute the war in the pacific pearl. Other new weapons technologies all manner of new weapons were introduced or improved during world war ii, including. The pacific strategy, 19411944 the national wwii museum. World war ii, 193945, worldwide conflict involving every major power in the world. Listed here are most of the books that would appeal to a general reader, with an emphasis on memoirs.
The definitive onevolume account of world war ii in the pacific theaterthe first book to weave together the separate stories of the fighting in china, malaya. I am going to make an account so go check out my other history quizzes. Heres your opportunity to let others know your favorite books on the war that led us from pearl harbor to tokyo bay. Oct 14, 2016 the war in europe began in september 1939 when nazi germany, under adolf hitler, invaded poland. World war ii in the pacific national geographic society. At its peak, the empire stretched throughout eastern china, southeast asia, the islands of oceania, and even the aleutian islands in north america. On august 7, 1942, allied forces, primarily us marines, landed on the islands of tulagi and guadalcanal in the southwestern pacific to fight back the encroaching japanese army. During the american occupation of japan, between 1945 and 1955, the tokyo takarazuka theater in downtown tokyo was renamed the ernie pyle theater, a site that was. This rollicking and panoramic history of casablanca during the second world war sheds light on the city as a key hub for european and american powers, and a place where spies, soldiers, and political agents exchanged secrets and vied for. Pacific war, major theatre of world war ii that covered a large portion of the pacific ocean, east asia, and southeast asia, with significant engagements occurring as far south as northern australia and as far north as the aleutian islands.
This book is the story of the air war in the pacific through the eyes of the last surviving imperial japanese naval aviators of world war ii, chronicled through never before published firsthand accounts, wartime diaries, and private photographs. A book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Fighting in the pacific was unlike fighting in europe. List of books and articles about world war ii pacific theater online. This is a question that has been begged by the decades of europefirst histories of great quality, but extreme focus on the the battles in the west including the germans eastern front. The pacific theater of operations pto is the term used in the united states for all military activity in the pacific ocean and the countries bordering it, in world war ii. The battle took place in the pacific campaign of world war 2 and finished with the u. The combined air, land, and sea assault was the first of its kind, marking the allies first major. This book is the story of the air war in the pacific through the eyes of the last surviving imperial japanese naval aviators of world war ii, chronicled through never before published. Army in world war ii series the armys official history of world war ii commonly referred to as the green books are listed in the following sections. This is a great book to read for anyone interested in world war ii. How much do you know from school or research done by yourself. The pacific ocean theater, during world war ii, was a major theater of the war between the allies and the empire of japan. Using blitzkrieg tactics the country was quickly overtaken.
The war in europe began in september 1939 when nazi germany, under adolf hitler, invaded poland. It was defined by the allied powers pacific ocean area command, which included most of the pacific ocean and its islands, while mainland asia was excluded, as were the philippines, the dutch east indies, borneo, australia. The pacific theatre of world war ii was largely defined by the territories of the empire of japan. For reasons big and small, understandable and unjustified, the war in the pacific during world war ii has largely been overshadowed by the allies war against hitler. During the american occupation of japan, between 1945 and 1955, the tokyo takarazuka theater in downtown tokyo was renamed the ernie pyle theater, a site that was popular with many american g. The pacific war, sometimes called the asiapacific war, was the theater of world war ii that was fought in the pacific and asia. Click through this timeline to see how battles dotted the pacific theatre between 1931 and 1945. Dec 19, 2016 the turning point in the pacific theatre came in mid1942 with historys first great carrier battles. Books pacific theater books page 1 the national wwii. The turning point in the pacific theatre came in mid1942 with historys first great carrier battles. When germany and italy declared war on the united states days later, america found itself in a global war. List of books and articles about world war ii pacific theater. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order 1toz.
And though the battle locales that constitute the war in the pacific pearl harbor, midway, tarawa, guadalcanal, iwo jima are common knowledge, locations and statistics alone cant convey what it was like to have fought in those battles. Army in world war ii used two types of flame throwers, the portable, carried on the soldiers back, and the mechanized, mounted on an armored vehicle, usually a tank. Chester nimitz was an admirals admiral, considered by many to be the greatest naval leader of the last century. It was geographically the largest theater of the war, including the vast pacific ocean theater, the south west pacific theater, the southeast asian theater, the second sinojapanese war, and the sovietjapanese war. The pacific theater ww2 a list of favorite books 4 over the course of several decades of research and writing i have a small bookshelf of essential titles i often refer to. Sep 06, 2018 when did world war 2 end in the pacific. The story of the uss houston, fdrs legendary lost cruiser, and the epic saga of her survi. Feb 4, 2016 explore bogusboggss board books on ww2. The combined air, land, and sea assault was the first of its kind, marking the allies first major offensive against the empire of japan in the pacific theater. While this attention is both wellearned and welldeveloped.
World war ii pacific theater questia online library. Marines take the unfinished airfield on guadalcanal and name it henderson field after maj. We were in the outer channel of pearl harbor when the japanese attacked. Hornfischer goodreads author shelved 3 times as worldwariipacifictheater. On december 7, 1941, japan staged a surprise attack on pearl harbor, severely damaging the us pacific fleet. Long range rockets german v2 missiles mechanized infantry long range fighters and bombers radar jet propulsion hiroshima and nagasaki president truman decided. The two most important were macarthurs southwest pacific area swpa and admiral chester nimitzs pacific ocean areas poa. See more ideas about books, history books and world war ii.
What are the best books about the pacific theater and japan in wwii. The best fiction and nonfiction on the war between the allied forces and japan in the pacific theatre. Books on the pacific war from pearl harbor to hiroshima. From the coast of france to the pacific theater, discover the best world war ii books that examine the conflicts murky origins and complex legacies. Read your way through wwii with these true stories of blood, sand, and. The united states and japan fought throughout the pacific ocean in world war ii from 1941 to 1945, a part of the war remembered as the pacific. Coconut juice or water inside not only is sterile, but has the same electrolytic balance as human blood, which enabled medics in the pacific theater in world war ii to use it as an emergency substitute for plasma. Women airforce service pilots wasp was formed due to the lack of men available as pilots during ww2 the members of wasp were compiled of united states federal civil service employees to test aircraft, ferried aircraft, and train other pilots in order to free up men to fight the war.
It inspired a fascination with the pacific theater that continues for me to this day. World war 2 ended in asia or the pacific theater on august 14 th, 1945 when emperor hirohito announced the decree on the radio. Navy and the imperial japanese navy that played out six months after the attack on pearl harbor. The battle for the pacific and southeast asia during world war 2 required a special breed of aircraft and pilot. A brief overview of the pacific war against the japanese empire in world war ii. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator. These are my memories of the bombing and the days that followed. Navy and the imperial japanese navy that played out six months after the attack. Home browse history military history wars, battles, and military interventions world war ii world war ii pacific theater. Poa, in turn, was subdivided into north pacific, central pacific, and south pacific commands. Popular world war ii pacific theater books showing 150 of 317 ship of ghosts. The united states and japan fought throughout the pacific ocean in world war ii from 1941 to 1945, a part of the war remembered as the pacific theater. What are the best books on the pacific theater of wwii. Pacific war is a more common name, around the world, for the broader conflict between the allies and japan, between 1937 and 1945.
73 1551 593 655 766 1518 804 1420 1148 654 586 1355 269 1308 961 775 822 1256 1426 923 1211 72 676 955 423 168 358 311 1563 1185 949 539 27 1273 1283 378 690 55 102 392 71 464 1005