1 abr 1945 año - Start of the Battle of Okinawa

Descripción:

Even after many losses, Japan showed few signs that they were ready to surrender. Many American officials thought the Japanese would not surrender until Japan had been completely invaded. To prepare for the invasion, the United States needed a base near Japan to store supplies and build up troops. Iwo Jima was small and still too far away. Military planners chose Okinawa was only 350 miles away from mainland Japan.

American troops landed on Okinawa on April 1, 1945. However, Instead of defending the beaches, like American officials thought would happen, the Japanese troops took to the island’s rugged mountains and defended there. To get the Japanese out of their caves and bunkers, the American troops had to fight their way up steep slopes against machine gun and artillery fire. To get soldiers out of bunkers, grenades and flamethrowers were very useful.