-
Pearl Harbor
Japan attacks and destroys most of the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Most of the US Navy’s battleships and cruisers are sunk but its aircraft carriers and submarines escape unharmed. President Roosevelt proclaims it “a date which will live in infamy”. -
Period: to
Battle of the Pacific
In December 1941 Japan attacked the United States at Pearl
Harbor, Hawai'i, causing the U.S. to enter World War II. Over two
years would pass until the Allies reached their great turning point
in the Pacific War: the defeat of the Japanese at Guadalcanal in
February 1943; which led to the total surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945. -
The Empire expands
Japan captures Hong Kong, attacks Malay and seizes US bases on Guam and Wake Island. -
The Fall of Singapore
British Commonwealth forces surrender Singapore after a weeklong siege by the Japanese. About 80,000 British, Indian and Australian prisoners of war are taken, leading Churchill to call the Fall the “largest capitulation” in British history. -
The Battle of the Java Sea
Allied navies suffer a disastrous defeat at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Navy. -
Fall of Rangoon
The Allies abandon the Burmese capital of Rangoon to the advancing Japanese. The resulting occupation of Burma leads to widespread disorder in eastern India and a famine in Bengal which cause up to three million deaths. -
Doolittle Raid
The US sends 16 medium bombers to attack Tokyo and other Japanese cities from an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. Though the raid was strategically insignificant, it provided a much-needed morale-booster for the US and caused some Japanese to doubt their leadership. -
Battle of the Coral Sea
American aircraft carriers engage and rout their Japanese counterparts in the South Pacific. Although the Allies suffered more casualties and destroyed ships, this was a strategic defeat for the Japanese. -
The Philippines surrender
More than 80,000 American and Filipino forces surrender to the Japanese in the Philippines. The US Pacific command, led by General Douglas MacArthur, retreats to Australia. -
The Battle of Midway
The turning point of the Pacific War. The Americans defeat the Japanese Navy at Midway Atoll, sinking four carriers and one cruiser. -
Attack on Sydney Harbour
Two Japanese midget submarines shell Sydney’s eastern suburbs. -
Australian victory
The Japanese continued to advance through the Solomon Islands and New Guinea but are beaten back by the Australian Army at Milne Bay in September. This is the first outright defeat of Japanese land forces since 1939. -
Guadalcanal
US Marine-led forces win a drawn-out battle of attrition against the Japanese over this small island. -
The Battle of Changde
The Japanese use biological and chemical weapons including the bubonic plague against the Chinese. -
The Battle of Tarawa
American marines use “Alligator” amphibious tanks against the Japanese to take the island of Tarawa. Though US casualties are high, this is their first victory in the critical Central Pacific region. -
Cairo Conference
Roosevelt and Churchill meet Chinese nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek in Cairo to discuss strategy for defeating Japan. The meeting concludes with the Cairo Declaration to beat Japan into an unconditional surrender. -
Battle of Saipan
US forces capture the island of Saipan, where they build massive airbases for B-29 Superfortress bombers within range of the Japanese Home Islands. -
The Battle of the Philippines Sea
The US destroys the Japanese Navy's ability to conduct large-scale carrier actions. -
Return to the Philippines
Allied forces fight a bitter land campaign to liberate the Philippine islands. -
The Battle of Leyte Gulf
Arguably the largest naval battle in history involving over 250 warships and almost 2000 aircraft. This the first time Japanese aircraft carry out organized kamikaze attacks. The battle is a decisive Allied victory. -
Iwo Jima
US marines capture the heavily defended island of Iwo Jima. A dramatic photo of marines raising the American flag on the island is often cited as the most reproduced flag of all time. -
The Battle of Okinawa
The largest amphibious assault of the war. Over 100,000 Japanese soldiers (94 percent of their force) and 65,000 Allied troops are killed. -
Hiroshima
American B-29 bomber Enola Gay makes the first nuclear attack in history by dropping an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. -
Nagasaki
The city of Nagasaki suffers a nuclear attack. These two nuclear bombs kill more than 240,00 people. -
Russian Invasion
A force of 1,000,000 battle-hardened Soviets invades Japanese-held Manchuria and quickly overcomes the defenders. -
Victory over Japan
Japan submits its total surrender to General Douglas MacArthur aboard the battleship USS Missouri.
