the war against japan
hiroshima and nagasaki |
Japanese POW camps |
timeline of the war against japan
For years before the war, Japan had been copying the development seen in the Western world and also created a strong navy and military base. It wanted to become the power in Asia.
1931 - Japan invades Manchuria, a wealthy Chinese province
December 7th, 1941 - Japan wants control over the Pacific Ocean; they attack Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and destroy the majority of their naval base, even though most of the ships are later repaired
December 8th, 1941 - As a direct result from the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt declared war on Japan - Japan also attacks Hong Kong on this date
1943-45 - General Douglas MacArthur drives the Japanese forces out from island to island in the Pacific
August 6, 1945 - The Enora Gay drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima; 70,000+ killed - Little Boy
August 9, 1945 - Bomb dropped on Nagasaki with similar results - called the Fat Boy
August 14, 1945 - Japan surrenders; VJ Day; WWII is officially over
1931 - Japan invades Manchuria, a wealthy Chinese province
December 7th, 1941 - Japan wants control over the Pacific Ocean; they attack Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and destroy the majority of their naval base, even though most of the ships are later repaired
December 8th, 1941 - As a direct result from the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt declared war on Japan - Japan also attacks Hong Kong on this date
1943-45 - General Douglas MacArthur drives the Japanese forces out from island to island in the Pacific
August 6, 1945 - The Enora Gay drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima; 70,000+ killed - Little Boy
August 9, 1945 - Bomb dropped on Nagasaki with similar results - called the Fat Boy
August 14, 1945 - Japan surrenders; VJ Day; WWII is officially over
The attack on pearl harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor, the American naval base just outside of Honolulu, Hawaii, happened in the early morning of December 7, 1941, catching the Americans completely unaware.
The Japanese attack was successful: nearly 20 ships were destroyed (including 8 huge battleships), 200 airplanes destroyed, and 3,000. After this attack, all of the American battleships had suffered obvious damage, however all but two would be repaired (the USS Arizona and the USS Utah). The Japanese were intent on taking over the Pacific, and the only opponent in their way was the United States. The reason the attack was so devastating was because Pearl Harbor was relatively undefended; although both sides knew war was coming, the Americans were not expecting an attack so close to home.
The Pearl Harbor attack directly brought the Americans - the world's biggest power at the time - into the war. A quote from President Theodore Roosevelt says, "I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall ever endanger us again." On December 8, 1941, was was declared against Japan, and in the next few days, Japanese allies Italy and Germany as well.
The Japanese attack was successful: nearly 20 ships were destroyed (including 8 huge battleships), 200 airplanes destroyed, and 3,000. After this attack, all of the American battleships had suffered obvious damage, however all but two would be repaired (the USS Arizona and the USS Utah). The Japanese were intent on taking over the Pacific, and the only opponent in their way was the United States. The reason the attack was so devastating was because Pearl Harbor was relatively undefended; although both sides knew war was coming, the Americans were not expecting an attack so close to home.
The Pearl Harbor attack directly brought the Americans - the world's biggest power at the time - into the war. A quote from President Theodore Roosevelt says, "I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall ever endanger us again." On December 8, 1941, was was declared against Japan, and in the next few days, Japanese allies Italy and Germany as well.
japanese prisoner of war camps
On December 8, 1941, Japan attacked Hong Kong. Over 2000 Canadian troops were posted here - after Japan captured the island in nearly 17 days, over 300 Canadians had been killed. More had been put in brutal Japanese prisoner of war camps - 267 Canadian prisoners died in these camps. They died from starvation, work, punishments, diseases, and many more. Approximately 1 in 3 prisoners died in these camps. In total, however, there was 140,000 white prisoners in these camps. Not only soldiers were captured, but civilians who had been in the country as well.
The conditions in these camps were extremely unsanitary and brutal - if an escape attempt was made, they were shot, and usually along with ten other prisoners. Most prisoners did not speak Japan, but had to learn Japanese to follow orders they were given - if they didn't follow orders, they were beaten. However, those who suffered the worst were the prisoners who were forced to work ten days on, one day off on the railroads.
The conditions in these camps were extremely unsanitary and brutal - if an escape attempt was made, they were shot, and usually along with ten other prisoners. Most prisoners did not speak Japan, but had to learn Japanese to follow orders they were given - if they didn't follow orders, they were beaten. However, those who suffered the worst were the prisoners who were forced to work ten days on, one day off on the railroads.
japanese internment camps in canada
After the attack of Pearl Harbor and the invasion of Hong Kong (in which many Canadians had been killed) the hostility, resentment, and fear towards Japanese-Canadians, which had already existed before the war, intensified. The Canadian government approved the creation of Japanese internment camps in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Alberta.
Japanese were forced to live in flimsy, small shacks that had no running water or electricity that were not made for harsh Canadian winters. The conditions were terrible, and families were often separated. As well, the government also auctioned off many of the belongings they were forced to leave behind.
Even after the war, the hostility towards Japanese-Canadians did not go away. This law was not repealed until two years after the war, in 1947, and following the war many Japanese-Canadians, some who were second and third generation Canadians, were deported back to Japan. The government of Canada did not even officially apologize until 1988, when the government gave $21,000 to every person who had survived the internment.
Japanese were forced to live in flimsy, small shacks that had no running water or electricity that were not made for harsh Canadian winters. The conditions were terrible, and families were often separated. As well, the government also auctioned off many of the belongings they were forced to leave behind.
Even after the war, the hostility towards Japanese-Canadians did not go away. This law was not repealed until two years after the war, in 1947, and following the war many Japanese-Canadians, some who were second and third generation Canadians, were deported back to Japan. The government of Canada did not even officially apologize until 1988, when the government gave $21,000 to every person who had survived the internment.
the atomic bombs
On August 6, 1945, the Americans dropped the atomic bomb Little Boy on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, instantly killing over 70,000 people. Three days later, on August 9, 1945 at 11am the Fat Man was dropped on Nagasaki, increasing the death toll.
The USA began the Manhattan Project after a warning from Einstein which told them that Germany was trying to develop the same technology. Throughout the war, over $2 billion was spent on the creation of the atomic bomb, and completely overseen by the chief scientist Robert Oppenheimer, who is sometimes called the "father of the atomic bomb". The atomic bomb was the first of its kind - no other country had developed a weapon like it. It was the most destructive weapon ever built.
From mines in the Northwest Territories, deposits of uranium were being sent from Canada to the USA to help with the development of the atomic bomb. Canada played a significant part in helping create the atomic bomb, since uranium was a very hard material to gather, and the type of uranium they needed was even harder to get.
The dropping of the atomic bombs directly lead to VJ-Day - President Harry Truman had told Japan to surrender or be destroyed.
The USA began the Manhattan Project after a warning from Einstein which told them that Germany was trying to develop the same technology. Throughout the war, over $2 billion was spent on the creation of the atomic bomb, and completely overseen by the chief scientist Robert Oppenheimer, who is sometimes called the "father of the atomic bomb". The atomic bomb was the first of its kind - no other country had developed a weapon like it. It was the most destructive weapon ever built.
From mines in the Northwest Territories, deposits of uranium were being sent from Canada to the USA to help with the development of the atomic bomb. Canada played a significant part in helping create the atomic bomb, since uranium was a very hard material to gather, and the type of uranium they needed was even harder to get.
The dropping of the atomic bombs directly lead to VJ-Day - President Harry Truman had told Japan to surrender or be destroyed.
victory in japan day
The Potsdam Declaration told Japan to surrender, and if they did, they would have a peaceful government. However, the Declaration threatened "prompt and utter destruction" if they did not. Japan refused to surrender.
Soldiers in Japan were very patriotic and dedicated, and they were determined to fight to the end for their country. However, the war was officially over in Japan on August 14th, 1945 - V-J (Victory in Japan) Day, when the Japanese surrendered after the American atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima days earlier (which, in total, instantly killed approximately 110,000 people). This day signaled the complete end of WWII, after V-E Day (Victory in Europe) several months ago.
Officially, Japan surrendered on the American ship of USS Missouri (which had been damaged and then repaired due to the Pearl Harbor attack) on September 2, 1945, signed by American military commander Douglas MacArthur, Japanese foreign minister Mamoru Shigemitsu, and chief of staff of the Japanese army, Yoshijiro Umezu.
Soldiers in Japan were very patriotic and dedicated, and they were determined to fight to the end for their country. However, the war was officially over in Japan on August 14th, 1945 - V-J (Victory in Japan) Day, when the Japanese surrendered after the American atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima days earlier (which, in total, instantly killed approximately 110,000 people). This day signaled the complete end of WWII, after V-E Day (Victory in Europe) several months ago.
Officially, Japan surrendered on the American ship of USS Missouri (which had been damaged and then repaired due to the Pearl Harbor attack) on September 2, 1945, signed by American military commander Douglas MacArthur, Japanese foreign minister Mamoru Shigemitsu, and chief of staff of the Japanese army, Yoshijiro Umezu.