Pacific War

The **Pacific War** was a major theater that took place in Asia (especially the Pacific Ocean) during World War II from 1941 to 1945 between Japan and the Allies.

## Second Sino–Japanese War

The Second Sino–Japanese War took place from 1937 to 1945 between the Republic of China and the empire of Japan. Although this was the first war to break out in Asia during the Second World War, it was not formally declared until December 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.

## December 1941

On 7 December 1941, the Empire of Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, killing more than 2,400 Americans and heavily damaged US navy and aircrafts. The following day, 8 December, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan, alongside Germany and Italy (on 11 December) after years of American isolatism policies.

## 1942–1945

Immediately after Pearl Harbor, Japan expanded its territories by taking by force to the Philippines from the US, Hong Kong, Malaya and Singapore from the British Empire and the Dutch East Indies from the Netherlands. Six months later after Pearl Harbor attack, the Japanese empire and the United States had an important and a turning point naval battle called the Battle of Midway in which the US won, sinking four Japanese carriers and Japan would never recover from that. Before Midway was the Battle of the Coral Sea which the US also won. After many American victories, Japan's naval forces were weakened, especially after the Allied victory over the Guadalcanal campaign. With Lend-Lease operations, the US helped the Chinese army against Japan. During this time, the US, alongside the British, was developing nuclear weapons under the Manhattan Project. In June 1944, America defeated Japan in the important Battle of the Philippine Sea which opened the door for the invasion of Iwo Jima later. In October 1944, the Allies launched the Philippines campaign which successfully resulted in the Philippines getting back to the Allies' hands. After many US battle victories but costly in Iwo Jima, Okinawa and taking some of the Japanese islands, the Allies planned to invade Japan under Operation Downfall that was eventually cancelled because they realized it was too costly, deadly and the American public was turning against the war after Iwo Jima and Okinawa, but also they already got the atomic bombs. After Germany surrended on 8 May 1945, Japan was the only one left in the Axis powers. After a nuclear bomb was successfully tested in New Mexico, the US dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 and Nagasaki on 9 August 1945 (the same day the Soviet Union invaded Manchuria under Japanese rule), Japan was forced to surrender unconditionally on 15 August, and signed a peace treaty on 2 September 1945, ending the deadliest war of history.

## Infobox (military conflict)

- **conflict**: Pacific War
- **partof**: World War II
- **image**: **Clockwise from top left:**
- **image size**: 300
- **date**: 7 December 1941 – 2 September 1945
- **result**: Allies of World War II, Allied victory
- **territory**: Occupation of Japan, Allied occupation of Japan
* Removal of Japanese troops from Republic of China (1912–1949), China and Retrocession Day, retrocession of Taiwan under Japanese rule, Taiwan to China
* Liberation of Korea under Japanese rule, Korea and Manchukuo, Manchuria, followed by the division of Korea
* Cession of South Pacific Mandate, Japanese-held islands in the Central Pacific Ocean to the United Nations, organized as the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
* Seizure and annexation of South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands by the Soviet Union
- **combatant1**: **Allies of World War II, Allies**

- **combatant2**: **Axis powers, Axis**

- **commander1**: **Allied leaders:**
 Chiang Kai-shek
 Franklin D. Roosevelt
 Winston Churchill
- **commander2**: **Axis leader:**
 Hirohito
 Plaek Phibunsongkhram
- **strength1**: * 23,275,564+ troops (total)
- **strength2**: * 8,926,500-9,026,500+ troops (total)
- **casualties1**: **Military:**
5 battleships
12 aircraft carriers
14 cruisers
84 destroyers & frigates
63 submarines
21,555+ aircraft
2,200,000+ dead (1937–1945)

**Civilians:**
26,000,000+ deaths (1937–1945)
- **casualties2**: **Military:**
11 battleships
25 aircraft carriers
39 cruisers
135 destroyers
131 submarines
43,125–50,000+ aircraft
2,500,000+ dead (1937–1945)
**Civilians:**
1,000,000+ deaths