Preserving the History of World War II
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Eldred World War II Museum
Copyright © 2007. Joseph Bradley. All Rights Reserved.
Address: 201 Main Street P.O. Box 273 Eldred, PA 16731 | Phone: 814-225-2220
Copyright © 2007. Joseph Bradley. All Rights Reserved.
Address: 201 Main Street P.O. Box 273 Eldred, PA 16731 | Phone: 814-225-2220
Japan
The Eldred World War II Museum
Although Japan officially didn't enter into World War II until the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and other
American holdings in the Pacific, the Japanese had occupied vast portions of territory in Asia throughout
the 1930s and early 1940s. Japan had invaded China in the early 1930s and controlled much of the Chinese
coast. Japanese atrocities in China were well-documented, particularly at the city of Nanking. Japan also
seized the Asian colonies of western powers Great Britain, France and the Netherlands.
Soon the United States, angered at Japanese aggression and brutality in Asia, imposed an oil embargo on
Japan. Oil was a vital component to Japanese military operations. The Japanese believed their only option
was to attack the United States. On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on the
American base at Pearl Harbor in Oahu, Hawaii. Although the attack on Pearl Harbor caused considerable
damage to the American fleet in the Pacific, America would quickly recover.
The Japanese navy was dealt a decisive blow six months later at the Battle of Midway, losing four aircraft
carriers. This would mark the turning point of the war in the Pacific. The Japanese would find their naval
supremacy eventually surpassed by the United States, who after Midway, were constantly on the offensive
in the South Pacific. The Japanese suffered devastating loses at Guadalcanal, Leyte Gulf, the Philippines,
Okinawa and Iwo Jima. Victory was but a mirage for Imperial Japan in the summer of 1945.
As Japan readied its' defenses for the inevitable invasion of Japan itself, American planners were debating
what would be the most efficient way to end the war. United States President Harry Truman ordered the
dropping of two atomic bombs if Japan refused to surrender. Japan refused to surrender. The United
States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9,
1945). On August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered.
American holdings in the Pacific, the Japanese had occupied vast portions of territory in Asia throughout
the 1930s and early 1940s. Japan had invaded China in the early 1930s and controlled much of the Chinese
coast. Japanese atrocities in China were well-documented, particularly at the city of Nanking. Japan also
seized the Asian colonies of western powers Great Britain, France and the Netherlands.
Soon the United States, angered at Japanese aggression and brutality in Asia, imposed an oil embargo on
Japan. Oil was a vital component to Japanese military operations. The Japanese believed their only option
was to attack the United States. On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on the
American base at Pearl Harbor in Oahu, Hawaii. Although the attack on Pearl Harbor caused considerable
damage to the American fleet in the Pacific, America would quickly recover.
The Japanese navy was dealt a decisive blow six months later at the Battle of Midway, losing four aircraft
carriers. This would mark the turning point of the war in the Pacific. The Japanese would find their naval
supremacy eventually surpassed by the United States, who after Midway, were constantly on the offensive
in the South Pacific. The Japanese suffered devastating loses at Guadalcanal, Leyte Gulf, the Philippines,
Okinawa and Iwo Jima. Victory was but a mirage for Imperial Japan in the summer of 1945.
As Japan readied its' defenses for the inevitable invasion of Japan itself, American planners were debating
what would be the most efficient way to end the war. United States President Harry Truman ordered the
dropping of two atomic bombs if Japan refused to surrender. Japan refused to surrender. The United
States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9,
1945). On August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered.
Affiliation: Axis
Entered the War: December 7, 1941
Killed in Action: 1,750,000
Entered the War: December 7, 1941
Killed in Action: 1,750,000
