The Battle of Okinawa in 1945 was a major battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II. [1] It was important for the Allies to take the island of Okinawa to cut off Japanese supply lines and have a place to refuel and repair ships before invading Japan. [2] The battle resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, especially among Japanese troops and Okinawan civilians, with estimates of over 75,000 civilian deaths. [3] Ultimately, the Allied victory at Okinawa paved the way for the planned invasion of Japan's mainland, though the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the war before an invasion was necessary.