• International:– Japanese Empire

Grows– Attack on Hong

Kong– Pearl Harbor– Battles of the Coral

Sea, Midway and Leyte Gulf

– General McAurthur– Hiroshima– Nagasaki

• Canadian:– Battle of Hong Kong– Coastal Defense– Ian McKenzie– Japanese

Internment– Operation Downfall

• Fukoku Kyohei (Enrich the Country, Strengthen the Military)

• Began in late 1800’s – Japan’s rapid industrialization and militarization. In a quest for resources to support industrialization, Japan moves out into South East Asia to capture supplies from resource rich countries (Greater East Asian Co Prosperity Sphere)

England – controls Hong Kong, heavy naval presence in region – defended by close to 14,000 men (2 Canadian Units)

United States – Claims to Philippine Region, Pacific Naval base at Pearl Harbor Hawaii

Japan – 1937 to 1940 sweeps outward and takes over much of S.E. Asia. British presence in Hong Kong a threat. Considers the American naval presence a threat.

Russia - had previously fought with Japan, and sought peace fearing a two front war with Germany. Japan signed TRIPARTITE PACT with Germany and Italy in Sept. 1940

• By 1940, world opinion was against Japan. When Japan captured Indochina, the US halted all trade of fuel to Japan.

• Knowing the time for peace was over, Emperor Hirohito ordered Admiral Yamamoto to begin practice and preparations for attacking Pearl Harbor.

• Japan knew the importance of naval superiority in the Pacific Ocean.

• They decided a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor would eliminate the American ability to fight

• Surprise attacks on Pearl Harbor, Thailand and the British base at Hong Kong were launched on December 7th (PH), and Dec. 8th

• December 7th, 1941• Torpedo Bombers attack US Pacific

Fleet in Hawaii• Hope to destroy 4 existing American

Aircraft Carriers

• The attack damaged 5 battleships, sunk 3, and destroyed many planes, but the US Air Craft Carriers were not in port. Japanese failed to destroy fuel depots.

• Japan has not destroyed the US naval ability to respond.

• Roosevelt declares war on Japan on December 8th.

• Japanese invade December 8th.• British, Indian, and Canadian forces hold out

until Christmas Day• All 1975 Canadians killed, wounded or

captured (not all supplies had arrived)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/19/HKbattle.png

• Years of residual hatred towards migrant Asian workers ignites in BC.

• Violence in Vancouver’s Chinatown, and government seizures of Japanese homes, fishing boats follow

• Employers such as the CPR lay off Japanese workers.

• Ian McKenzie, BC Cabinet Minister, begins the push to round up all Japanese in BC (despite RCMP and intelligence stating there is no threat).

• 100 mile protected area created along coast

• 22,000 people of Japanese decent uprooted – men to labor camps, women to isolated interior communities

• 1943, All possessions seized and auctioned

• May 1942- Battle of the Coral Sea – Japan’s first major setback

• June 1942 - Midway – US decodes Japanese messages and learns of attack. Japan loses 4 carriers and one cruiser (major turning point)

• Oct. 1944 – Leyte Gulf – largest naval battle in history (282 ships).

• Japan crippled attempting to stop American landing on Phillipines.

• US General Douglas MacArthur successfully “island hops” his troops closer to Japan. Takes Osaka in June 1945.

• Canadians returning from defeating Germany volunteer for Operation Downfall, the planned land invasion of Japan.

• The operation is cancelled. Other plans are made.

• President Harry Truman (replaced Roosevelt who died in April 45), authorized the atomic attack on Hiroshima on August 6th 45, and a second attack on Nagasaki on the 8th.

• Truman believed that by using atomic weapons, he was sparing the lives of millions if Operation Downfall had taken place.

• August 14th, Japan surrenders.