Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. By the time they splashed their way onto its southeastern beach on February 19, , many of the U. Marine invasion force wondered if there were any Japanese left alive on Iwo Jima.
Allied aircraft, battleships and cruisers had spent the previous two and a half months The instability created in Europe by the First World War set the stage for another international conflict—World War II—which broke out two decades later and would prove even more devastating.
Rising to power in an economically and politically unstable Germany, Adolf Getting the perfect shot in wartime is not only about weapons. With over 30 countries involved in World War II and the loss of over 50 million lives, war photography captured the destruction and victories of the deadliest war in history. Lead by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, over one Here are major events from history that have inflicted a devastating toll on On September 15, , U.
Over the next several weeks, ferocious Japanese resistance inflicted heavy casualties on U. Army and U. Marine Corps troops descended on the Pacific island of Okinawa Live TV. This Day In History. History Vault. Recommended for you. It could soar to 30, feet to drop bombs, higher than enemy anti-aircraft weapons and fighters could reach — although the bombers would have trouble hitting their targets from that height.
Still, to reach Japan from the American-held Mariana Islands, aircraft had to detour around the Bonin Island chain, which included Iwo Jima, because of Japanese aircraft stationed there. However, capturing Iwo Jima instead of avoiding it would allow the Americans to use its airfields for refueling bombers on the way to Japan and back. It could also become a base for American fighter aircraft that could escort the bombers and allow them to drop bombs from a lower altitude — within range of enemy fighters, but far more accurately.
Planners believed heavy and well-targeted bombing of Japan was a necessary prelude to invading the home islands. Sometimes U. They decided to fight on Iwo Jima. The map shows areas occupied by Japan in the Pacific and the advance of U. The Japanese recognized the importance of the tiny volcanic island of Iwo Jima a mere two-and-a-half by five miles in size — and intended to defend it to the utmost of their power. Instead of fighting the Americans on the beaches, however, Japanese troops intended to hold out in deep fortifications built far inland, killing thousands of Americans while their kamikaze suicide bombers inflicted terrible losses on the American fleet.
Their introduction in October had been a mark of desperation by the Japanese, but they also shocked the Americans and were initially effective in sinking numerous vessels.
Three U. Marine divisions landed on Iwo Jima on February 19, , and gradually worked their way inland. They faced heavy resistance that an air and naval bombardment failed to subdue because the Japanese were underground in their fortifications.
This photograph shows the Marines of the 5th Division advancing up a slope during the battle of Iwo Jima. Marines planted and raised a flag to mark their capture of the peak, to the delight of American witnesses, but a Japanese grenade attack interrupted them when the enemy heard the Americans cheer for the flag. Joe Rosenthal, a photographer from the Associated Press, then asked the Marines to repeat the ceremony for his camera. Six men — five Marines and one U.
Navy Corpsman — obliged for a series of photographs that soon became immortal and won Rosenthal a Pulitzer Prize. The actual event had taken place earlier but was interrupted by a Japanese attack. This image later became the model for the U. The central photograph of the flag raising was reproduced thousands of times in the media for morale and propaganda purposes. For U. The Pacific War was one of the most brutal in the history of mankind, and nowhere was that more apparent than on Iwo Jima in February After three years of fighting, U.
For them, every island was part of the preparation they needed to invade mainland Japan. The day fight for Iwo Jima led Adm. Chester Nimitz to give the now-immortal praise, "Uncommon valor was a common virtue. The Japanese Empire controlled many islands in the Pacific area.
Saipan, Peleliu and other islands were either sold to Japan after World War I or it was given control of them by the League of Nations. Then, it started invading others. Iwo Jima was different. Though technically far from the Japanese Home Islands, it is considered to be part of Tokyo and is administered as part of its subprefecture.
After three years of taking control of islands previously captured by the Japanese, the Marines were finally taking part of the Japanese capital. Taking the island meant more than a symbolic capture of the Japanese homeland.
It meant the U. Now, the Army Air Forces would be able to make bombing runs without a Japanese garrison at Iwo Jima warning the mainland about the danger to come. It also meant American bombers could fly over Japan with fighter escorts. Iwo Jima is a small island, covering roughly eight square miles.
It was defended by 20, Japanese soldiers who spent a year digging in, creating miles of tunnels beneath the volcanic rock, and who were ready to fight to the last man. When the battle was over, 6, Americans were dead and a further 26, wounded or missing. This means Americans died for every square mile of the island fortress. Only Japanese troops were taken prisoner.
More gallantry was on display at Iwo Jima than any other battle before or since.
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