2. Location of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima is a tiny volcanic island that lays
some 750 miles south of Tokyo, Japan's
Capital
It is 1/3 the size of Manhattan
3. Japan's Iwo Jima Strategy
1. The Japanese didn't fight above ground. They
fought the battle entirely from beneath the
ground. They dug 1,500 rooms into the rock.
These were connected with 16 miles of tunnels.
2. Japanese strategy called for "no Japanese
survivors." They planned not to survive.
3. Japanese strategy was for each soldier to
kill 10 Americans before they themselves are
killed.
4. Facts about Iwo Jima
General Kuribayashi was the Japanese commander of Iwo Jima.
Iwo Jima was Japanese home soil
No foreign army in Japan's 5,ooo year history successfully
trod on Japanese soil
In order to provide a better base from which to launch
these raids, American forces set out in Febuary 1945 for
Iwo Jima.
The island's rugged terrain was heavily guarded by Japanese
soldiers.
American troops greatly outnumbered the defenders
For the first time in the war, the Japanese troops were
fighting for land that was actually a part of Japan.
Japanese soldiers fought ferociously hidden in caves,
tunnels, and were protected by concrete bunkers.
Early in the battle, marines managed to capture the
island's tallest point, Mount Suribachi.
Twenty-one thousand defenders of Japanese soil, burrowed in
the volcanic rock of Iwo Jima, anxiously awaited the
American invaders.
The US sent more Marines to Iwo than to any other battle, 110,000 Marines in
880 Ships. The convoy of 880 US Ships sailed from Hawaii to Iwo in 40 days.
5. Facts about Iwo Jima cont.
At 8:30am, the order, "Land the Landing Force," sent the first wave of
Marines towards the deadly shores. Once ashore, the Marines were bedeviled
by the loose volcanic ash. Unable to dig foxholes, they were sitting ducks
for the hidden Japanese gunners.
Heavy fire made it impossible to land men in an orderly manner. Confusion
reigned on the beaches.
Heavy fire made it impossible to land men in an orderly manner. Confusion
reigned on the beaches.
On Mt. Suribachi, Japanese gunners zeroed in on every inch of the landing
beach.
The invading US Marines fought above ground. The defending Japanese fought
from below ground. The US Marines on Iwo rarely saw a Japanese soldier.
Every Marine, everywhere on the island was always in range of Japanese
guns.
Historians described U.S. forces' attack against the Japanese defense as
"throwing human flesh against reinforced concrete."
Easy Company started with 310 men (the Flag Raising Company)
Only 50 men boarded the ship after the battle. Seven officers went into
the battle and only 1 survived
Nearly 7,000 Americans were dead and many more were wounded.
More than 20,000 Japanese defenders had been on Iwo Jima when the
Americans Landed. All but 1,000 fought to the death.
17. The importance of the Battle
of Iwo Jima to the U.S
Americans found the island a wanted treasure. Saipan, Tinian,
and Guam(Marianas Islands) were the closest American occupied
islands from Tokyo. They were about 1300 miles from Tokyo,
which meant a B-29 bomber took a 16 hour round trip mission
only to find itself minutes from running out of fuel. The
island was a must-have for Americans. The island would provide
fuel for bombers, and would be a resort for damaged planes.
Previously, all B-29s had to fly out of Saipan, which left
pilots with very long flights and no room for error or
mischance, a state of affairs that led to very high
operational losses.
18. Impact of Battle of Iwo Jima
on World War II
Most people remember the battle as a victory
but don't understand the importance of the
triumph. The victory at
the Iwo Jima Island was a huge stepping stone
in the fight with Japan during World War II.
The island was used as an air force base that
was much closer for the planes to land when
they could not make it back to the states for
emergency repairs. These planes were used to
carry bombs on long range missions which later
played a vital role in the defeat of Japan.
The victory was an important one that helped
increase the hope of the American people.
