Volcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign

The Volcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign (January – June 1945) was a series of battles and engagements between the Allies and the Empire of Japan in the Pacific War during the Second World War.

The campaign happened in the Volcano and Ryukyu Islands. There were two major battles: Iwo Jima and Okinawa. One of the largest naval battles were Operation Ten-Go. This campaign was one of the first steps of the Allies to invade mainland Japan (codenamed Operation Downfall), with Iwo Jima and Okinawa in American hands they were able to blockade and bomb major Japanese bases and cities and eventually an Allied invasion of Japan. However, this was unnecessary after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki plus the Soviet invasion of Manchuria which ultimately forced Japan to surrender unconditionally without the Allies sending massivs troops to Japanese mainland.

 Related pages 
 Japan campaign

Category:Pacific battles of World War II
Category:World War II