Powerpoint on the geography of Iwo Jima and its improtance to both the US and the Japanese

2. Purpose of Our Lesson
• Describe the geographical features of the island
of Iwo Jima and tell how these features played a
part in this battle?
• Why was Iwo Jima an important island to capture
from the US perspective?
• Why was the defense of Iwo Jima so important
from the Japanese perspective?

4. The Island of Iwo Jima
• Approximately 650 miles South of Tokyo,
Japan
• Small (8 square miles), volcanic island (Mt.
Suribachi)
• Black, volcanic sand beaches and porous, soft
rock terrain

6. Perspective
• Latin:per=through
• spect=look, watch
Definition: point of view
Perspective is shaped by experiences, life
lessons, outside influences
• Example: Perspectives on music

7. Iwo Jima’s Importance (US
Perspective)
Wanted an airbase close enough to mainland
Japan to carrier out bombings/air strikes
Island hopping towards the Japanese mainland-
(Iwo Jima a Japanese island prior to WW II)
Japanese airfields on Iwo Jima enabled attacks on
US ships

8. Airfields of Iwo Jima

9. Iwo Jima’s Importance (Japanese
perspective)
• Japanese territory for thousands of years
• Air bases allowed for attacks on US
• Hoped strong, defensive stand against US
would encourage the US not to invade
mainland Japan

10. Japanese Defense
22,000 troops led by General Kuribayashi
The Japanese began their preparation for a US invasion
months before the US arrived
Planted land mines, constructed pillboxes and cave
bunkers
dug a complex system of caves from which to defend
against US invasion from a protected position

13. US Invasion of Iwo Jima
• June, 1944-Naval attacks and B29 bombings of island
begin
• US Forces lead by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
• February, 1945-Land invasion of the southeast beach of
Iwo Jima (Invasion Beach)
• Focus begins at Mt. Suribachi where Japanese have
several bunkers built within, US persists and conquers
the area-raises the flag at the summit of Mt. Suribachi

17. Results of Battle
• 36 day battle:
-6,800 US troops dead
-Of approximately 22,000 Japanese troops in Iwo Jima,
approximately 1,000 survived
• US would move on to its final “island hopping” target:
Okinawa
• In these final 2 battles, US learns just how fiercely the
Japanese are willing to fight to defend their own soil
• As a result, US considers alternatives to a land invasion
of Japan