The invasion of Iwo Jima was part of the U.S. island hopping to reach the Japanese Home Islands. Iwo Jima was halfway between Japan and the Marianna Islands. The invasion of Iwo Jima stemmed from the need to have an emergency airfield to harbor incoming B-29's from Japan.
The invasion started on February 16, 1945 with a naval and aerial bombardment of the island for 3 days. After the third day, 3 U.S. Marine divisions stormed the island.
What was different about Iwo Jima was that the military commander for the Japanese, General Kuribayashi, broke their military doctrine. Instead of facing the Americans on the beach, he focused on the defense of the interior of the island.
About 23,000 Japanese troops fought the battle entirely underground. This proved to be an effective strategy. When the Americans landed on the beach, they did so unopposed.
However, when they advanced past the beach, the Japanese opened fire. While they sustained heavy losses on the beach they were able to advance, half towards Mt. Suribachi and half to the north. Mt. Suribachi was captured within a week of landing on the island. The rest of the island took more a month to secure.
Iwo Jima was considered to be the bloodiest battle fought in the Pacific. The battle resulted in more than 6,000 deaths for the Americans and the Japanese losing most of their numbers.
The battle last 36 days.
The invasion started on February 16, 1945 with a naval and aerial bombardment of the island for 3 days. After the third day, 3 U.S. Marine divisions stormed the island.
What was different about Iwo Jima was that the military commander for the Japanese, General Kuribayashi, broke their military doctrine. Instead of facing the Americans on the beach, he focused on the defense of the interior of the island.
About 23,000 Japanese troops fought the battle entirely underground. This proved to be an effective strategy. When the Americans landed on the beach, they did so unopposed.
However, when they advanced past the beach, the Japanese opened fire. While they sustained heavy losses on the beach they were able to advance, half towards Mt. Suribachi and half to the north. Mt. Suribachi was captured within a week of landing on the island. The rest of the island took more a month to secure.
Iwo Jima was considered to be the bloodiest battle fought in the Pacific. The battle resulted in more than 6,000 deaths for the Americans and the Japanese losing most of their numbers.
The battle last 36 days.