How many fought in the Battle of Okinawa?
The Battle of Okinawa (April 1, 1945-June 22, 1945) was the last major battle of World War II, and one of the bloodiest. On April 1, 1945—Easter Sunday—the Navy's Fifth Fleet and more than 180,000 U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps troops descended on the Pacific island of Okinawa for a final push towards Japan.
How many Japanese fought in Okinawa?
The battle was the bloodiest in the Pacific, with approximately 160,000 military casualties combined: at least 50,000 Allied and 84,166–117,000 Japanese, including drafted Okinawans wearing Japanese uniforms.
Who all fought in the Battle of Okinawa?
Battle of Okinawa, (April 1–June 21, 1945), World War II battle fought between U.S. and Japanese forces on Okinawa, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands.
How many Japanese were killed in Battle of Okinawa?
In total, an estimated 110,000 Japanese troops were killed, whereas fewer than 8,000 surrendered. The civilian population of Okinawa was reduced by perhaps one-fourth; 100,000 Okinawan men, women, and children perished in the fighting or committed suicide under orders from the Japanese military.
Was Okinawa bigger than D Day?
Some 545,000 U.S. troops, backed by 12,000 aircraft and 1,600 ships, stormed Okinawa, an island in the south of Japan, in the last major battle of World War II. The invasion was considerably bigger than the one at D-Day, and it marked the beginning of the planned assault on Japan.
Did U.S. win Okinawa?
American forces have overwhelmed Okinawa by June 22, marking another victory in the Pacific. Rather than surrender, many of the remaining Japanese forces choose to sacrifice themselves in the name of the Emperor. Japanese soldiers wading out to surrender to a United States boat, Okinawa, 1945.
What did the Japanese call Marines?
Though often referred to as "Japanese Marines," the Rikusentai were not trained to conduct opposed amphibious operations, and were entirely under the control of the Imperial Japanese Navy as opposed to a quasi-independent military branch such as the United States' Marine Corps or the United Kingdom's Royal Marines.
How long was the Okinawa battle?
three monthsThe battle lasted three months and involved four U.S. Army and two Marine Corps divisions. The U.S. aircraft carrier Bunker Hill burns after being struck by two Japanese kamikaze aircraft, May 11, 1945, in the waters between Okinawa and Kyushu, Japan.
What was the bloodiest battle of ww2?
The Battle of StalingradThe Battle of Stalingrad was the deadliest battle to take place during the Second World War and is one of the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare, with an estimated 2 million total casualties.
What was the bloodiest battle in the Pacific?
The Battle for OkinawaThe Battle for Okinawa, April 1 to June 22, 1945, was the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War. Okinawa is the largest of the Ryukyus Islands and lies 350 miles from mainland Japan.
What was the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history?
In the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history, 27 Marines and sailors were awarded the Medal of Honor for action on Iwo Jima. No other campaign surpassed that number.
How many Americans were killed on Okinawa?
12,000 deathsLike this article? Read more in our online classroom. Victory at Okinawa cost more than 49,000 American casualties, including about 12,000 deaths. Among the dead was the Tenth Army's commander, Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., killed on June 18 by a sniper during the final offensive.
Was Okinawa worse than Iwo Jima?
By the end of the Iwo Jima engagement – which was fought from 19 February to 26 March – US casualties stood at 26,000, including 6,800 dead. The Battle for Okinawa, which took place between 1 April and 22 June, resulted in an even higher number of US casualties – 82,000, of whom more than 12,500 were killed or missing.
How many Marines were killed on Okinawa?
The Marines of the III Amphibious Corps counted 16,507 battle casualties, with 2,779 of those killed and 13,609 wounded.
What was the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history?
In the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history, 27 Marines and sailors were awarded the Medal of Honor for action on Iwo Jima. No other campaign surpassed that number.
How many Japanese died at Iwo Jima?
22,000 Japanese soldiersIn its 36 days of combat on Iwo Jima, the V Amphibious Corps killed approximately 22,000 Japanese soldiers and sailors. The cost was staggering. The assault units of the corps—Marines and organic Navy personnel—sustained 24,053 casualties, by far the highest single-action losses in Marine Corps history.
Where was the Battle of Okinawa?
Battle of Okinawa, (April 1–June 21, 1945), World War II battle fought between U.S. and Japanese forces on Okinawa, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands. Okinawa is located just 350 miles (563 km) south of Kyushu, and its capture was regarded as a vital precursor to a ground invasion of the Japanese home islands.
Who led the invasion of Okinawa?
Chester Nimitz, Fifth Fleet commander Adm. Raymond Spruance would oversee the landings and U.S. ground troops would be commanded by Lieut. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. The invasion was launched on April 1, 1945, when a contingent of U.S. ground troops landed at Hagushi, on the west coast of central Okinawa. Before nightfall, some 50,000 men of the U.S. 10th Army, under the command of Buckner, had gone ashore and established a beachhead about 5 miles (8 km) long.
What was the name of the ship that was shelled by the Japanese in Okinawa?
U.S. Navy LSM (R) (Landing Ship Medium, Rocket) shelling Japanese positions on Okinawa, 1945. The Japanese battleship Yamato, 1941. Elements of the 10th Army drove cautiously to the north and had pacified the entire northern two-thirds of the island by April 22.
Who destroyed the Japanese planes?
The air and sea attacks that preceded the invasion had begun as early as October 1944, and Allied air operations carried out in March 1945 by carrier Task Force 58 under Rear Adm. Marc Mitscher destroyed hundreds of Japanese planes.
Who was killed in the Battle of Ie?
During this period, U.S. forces suffered perhaps their highest profile casualty of the battle when journalist Ernie Pyle was killed in combat. Pyle, whose coverage of the European conflict had made him one of the most beloved war correspondents of World War II, had accompanied the 77th Infantry Division in an assault on Ie, an island just west of Okinawa. On April 18, while traveling to a forward command post, Pyle was mortally wounded by Japanese machine-gun fire.
What was the Japanese response to the beach landings?
The Japanese response to the beach landings was deceptively muted, and by April 4, U.S. Army troops and Marines had cut the island in two. The first major Japanese counterattack came on April 6–7 in the form of suicidal raids by more than 350 kamikaze planes and the battleship Yamato.
How many people died in the Battle of Okinawa?
Battle of Okinawa Death Toll. Both sides suffered enormous losses in the Battle of Okinawa. The Americans bore over 49,000 casualties including 12,520 killed. General Buckner was killed in action on June 18, just days before the battle ended.
Who Won The Battle of Okinawa?
But wanting to bring the war to a swift end, and knowing over 2 million Japanese troops were awaiting battle-weary American soldiers, Harry S. Truman chose to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6.
What is the name of the cliff that was attacked by the Japanese in the Battle of Maeda?
Hacksaw Ridge . The Maeda Escarpment, also known as Hacksaw Ridge, was located atop a 400-foot vertical cliff. The American attack on the ridge began on April 26. It was a brutal battle for both sides. To defend the escarpment, Japanese troops hunkered down in a network of caves and dugouts.
What was the last battle of World War II?
Sources. The Battle of Okinawa (April 1, 1945-June 22, 1945) was the last major battle of World War II, and one of the bloodiest. On April 1, 1945—Easter Sunday—the Navy’s Fifth Fleet and more than 180,000 U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps troops descended on the Pacific island of Okinawa for a final push towards Japan.
Why was Okinawa important to the Japanese?
Okinawa’s 466 square miles of dense foliage, hills and trees made it the perfect location for the Japanese High Command’s last stand to protect their motherland. They knew if Okinawa fell, so would Japan. The Americans knew securing Okinawa’s airbases was critical to launching a successful Japanese invasion.
How many casualties did the American troops have in the Battle of Motobu?
American troops who headed North to the Motobu Peninsula endured intense resistance and over 1,000 casualties but won a decisive battle relatively quickly. It was different along the Shuri Line where they had to overcome a series of heavily defended hills loaded with firmly-entrenched Japanese troops.
Where did the Japanese troops watch and wait for the American troops?
Japanese troops had been instructed not to fire on the American landing forces but instead watch and wait for them, mostly in Shuri, a rugged area of southern Okinawa where General Ushijima had set up a triangle of defensive positions known as the Shuri Defense Line.
How many people died in the Okinawa war?
By the time Okinawa was secured by American forces on June 22, 1945, the United States had sustained over 49,000 casualties including more than 12,500 men killed or missing. Okinawans caught in the fighting suffered greatly, with an estimate as high as 150,000 civilians killed.
When was the Battle of Okinawa?
Battle of Okinawa. On April 1, 1945, more than 60,000 soldiers and US Marines of the US Tenth Army stormed ashore at Okinawa, in the final island battle before an anticipated invasion of mainland Japan. "To the Best of My Ability" Podcast.
What division is Okinawa?
Okinawa military correspondence for Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, Transport Division 47. This overview explains the importance of occupation with airline distances and physical geography in detail. From the Collection of The National WWII Museum, Gift of Ms. Paulette Stewart, 2001.078.004.
How many kamikazes were there on Okinawa?
This first attack lasted five hours and involved 355 kamikazes and over 300 fighter escorts.
What war was over in 1945?
The war in Europe was over, but fighting raged in the Pacific. “We are only half-through,” Truman declares to the American people. He was right. The Battle of Okinawa (April 1 - June 22, 1945) was one of the hardest-fought in the history of the US military. Learn more in the "Death Stand" episode of Season 1 of "To the Best ...
What was the purpose of the invasion of Okinawa?
From Okinawa, US forces could increase air strikes against Japan and blockade important logistical routes, denying the home islands of vital commodities. Code named Operation Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa and other islands in the Ryukyus began on April 1, 1945. Although the joint Army-Marine Corps landings on Okinawa were initially unopposed, the well dug-in Japanese defenders soon put-up fierce resistance.
What was the name of the ship that was attacked by a Japanese kamikaze?
US sailors examining the inside of a large hole in the deck of the USS Birmingham (CL-62) after a Japanese kamikaze attack off the coast of Okinawa. From the Collection of The National WWII Museum, Gift in Memory of Sgt. Lyle E. Eberspecher, 2013.495.407. US Marines manning communication devices, Okinawa, 1945.
How many people died in the Battle of Okinawa?
The battle, which went into the month of June, was one of the most ferocious of the war with American casualties reaching a staggering 49,151, of which 12,520 were killed or missing. On an individual basis, 24 service members received the Medal of Honor for actions performed during the Battle of Okinawa. Thirteen went to the Marines and Navy corpsmen, nine to Army troops, and one to a Navy officer.
How many people received the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Okinawa?
Battle of Okinawa Medal of Honor recipients. On an individual basis, 24 servicemembers received the Medal of Honor for actions performed during the battle. Thirteen went to the Marines and their organic Navy corpsmen, nine to Army troops, and one to a Navy officer.
What is the action at Okinawa?
Action at Okinawa Synopsis of operation that focuses on the role of seaborne transport of personnel and supplies.
What was the goal of the Battle of Okinawa?
ground forces began the Battle of Okinawa. The objective was to secure the island, thus removing the last barrier standing between U.S. forces and Imperial Japan. With Okinawa firmly in hand, the U.S. military could finally bring its full might upon the Japanese, conducting unchecked strategic air strikes against the Japanese mainland, blockading its logistical lifeline, and establishing forward bases for the final invasion of Japan (Operation Olympic), scheduled for the fall of 1945.
What leaflet was recovered during the Battle of Okinawa?
Japanese propaganda leaflet recovered during the Battle of Okinawa.
When did Operation Iceberg take place?
Operation Iceberg—Okinawa Invasion in 1945. Photo essay on The Sextant, published 1 April 2015.
Who was the 5th Fleet Commander?
On the very day Iwo Jima was declared secured, Fifth Fleet Commander Admiral Raymond Spruance was on his flagship USS Indianapolis (CA-35) steaming to the Ryukyus in company with Admiral Marc Mitscher ’s Task Force 58. In the following weeks, more than 1,600 ships and 350,000 naval personnel would assemble to form the largest amphibious assault force of World War II.
How many people died in the Okinawa war?
Civilians, caught in the crossfire, bore the highest toll -- perhaps as many as 100,000 to 150,000 Okinawan men, woman, and children lost their lives during the nearly three months of fighting. Just 350 miles from Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu, Okinawa was home to an ethnically diverse group of people.
How long did the Battle of Okinawa last?
Shige Nakahodo was a child during the Battle of Okinawa. Shige Nakahodo. The battle lasted 82 days. More than 12,000 Americans were killed or missing in action -- the highest number lost in a single battle in the Pacific war.
What happened to Okinawa after the war?
After the war, Americans occupied and administered Okinawa. In 1972, administration of the island reverted back to Japan, but American military bases remain to this day. They exist not only to defend Japan -- but to also defend the region. The American presence on Okinawa is controversial.
What was the most important battle of World War II?
The Battle of Okinawa was one of the bloodiest and costliest of World War II in the Pacific. The United States needed a base to stage an invasion of mainland Japan. The island of Okinawa was the crucial final stepping stone for the Americans. For the Japanese, it would be the first time they met the enemy on home soil.
How long did the Japanese officer stay in the cave?
We stayed in the cave for five days with only water. There was a Japanese officer in our cave. He disguised himself as a local resident by wearing a female kimono. This officer said to my mother, 'the U.S. Army does not kill civilians.
When did the Japanese attack Okinawa?
Some civilians had been evacuated, but most were still on Okinawa when the battle began on April 1, 1945. By mid-May, the Japanese 32nd Army was retreating south to its final line of defense at Mabuni.
What would happen if Nakahodo was caught by the tanks?
So, if you were caught by them, you would have your ears and nose cut off, be blinded, and be run over by the tanks. If you were a woman, you would be raped.". Nakahodo witnessed both the evil and good in human nature during the final days of the battle.
How many casualties did the Japanese have in the Battle of Okinawa?
Often called “typhoon of steel” for the number of Allied armored ships that took part in the battle, it is known for the atrocity and frequency of the Japanese kamikaze strikes and the number of casualties amounting to 82,000 direct casualties and around half of the Okinawa island civil population.
What was the significance of the Battle of Okinawa?
In the line of fire. Many historians agree that the Battle of Okinawa was one of the most strategically significant for the Allied troops. The US Army planned to further use the Okinawa island as a base for attacking Japanese mainland, thus it was vital for the subsequent invasion of Japan. During 82 days, from April 1 to June 22, 1945, ...
What was the bloodiest battle in the Pacific?
Hacksaw Ridge, Desmond Doss, And The Battle Of Okinawa. The Battle of Okinawa is considered to be one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War and World War II. Often called “typhoon of steel” for the number of Allied armored ships that took part in the battle, it is known for the atrocity and frequency of the Japanese kamikaze strikes and ...
What was the cause of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
As a result of this tedious and bloody 82-day campaign, the island of Okinawa was seized by the US Army. Mainstream historians believe that the Battle of Okinawa was one of the reasons why Hiroshima and Nagasaki happened.
What was the last big battleship the Japanese used?
The Japanese put up a strong line of defense using their last big battleship, the Yamato, and carried out massive kamikaze airstrikes. The on-land resistance was massive and very persevering as the Japanese civilians made it about their honor to resist the enemy.
Was the Battle of Okinawa brutal?
As we can see , the Battle of Okinawa was a brutal and cruel incident in ...
Was Okinawa a Japanese island?
On one hand, Okinawa was much more densely populated than the other Japanese islands previously attacked by the US Army, and the local population’s ferocious resistance made it very difficult for the Allied troops to proceed.