Battle of Okinawa
Image taken from britannica.com
With the surrender of Germany and the almost full-scale retreat of all Japanese forces from their occupied islands, it was now time to assault the Japanese homelands. The first step was Iwo Jima. This small and insignificant island claimed thousands of deaths for Japanese and American troops alike. The next and crucial step would be to assault the large island of Okinawa, only a few miles from Japan itself. Veteran Marine divisions from hard-fought battles at Guadalcanal, Peleliu, and Spain would see their final encounter with Japanese forces on this small island that would determine the fate of the war.
Before the Marines landed on the beaches, they had heard news that the Japanese occupiers had enlisted civilians into the fight as well. So now the Marines would have no friendlies or rest-stops in their fight against the Japanese. The Japanese air forces made one last attempt on the Americans before they arrived. The Japanese sent waves of kamikaze and fighter planes to obliterate the American navy. This attack turned out to be ill-fated. The first part of the battle was over. Now it was time for the land battle.
The American marines landed on the island without much resistance, but encountered it once they reached the thick jungles inland. The Japanese were so desperate to hold this island they would have dozens of soldiers run headlong in deadly Banzai charges into American lines. This battle proved to be one of the most difficult for the veteran Marines. They had to flush the Japanese out of every jungle, fortress, bunker, and underground bases. Planes dropped more bombs on this island than in any other battle in the Pacific. Yet, at the end of many months of hard fighting, the Americans were once again victorious. The Japanese now had only one hope: defend their country to the death.
