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SC010 - Edition 2500 - March 1945 |
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Allied force close on Berlin |
| Why Iwo Jima? Why was so much military effort expended by both
sides on this insignificant speck in the Pacific Ocean? One of three little
islands in the Volcano Group, 750 miles from Tokyo, it had little remaining
strategic value to Japan, though a considerable force was still deeply embedded
there, in its natural volcanic caves and tunnels. If the Americans could capture
it, however, then it could be used as a base for fighters escorting the
long-range bombers already attacking the Japanese mainland from their bases in
the Marianas Islands, too far away for the fighters. So on 16 February, this
tiny island was hit by the largest sustained bombardment on a single target in
military history, nine battleships firing unceasingly for three days. 19
February saw a massive invasion of the small beaches, and intense defence by the
Japanese. 26 days of desperate hand to hand battle between the US Marines and
the fanatical defenders, under continuous bombardment by the fleet offshore
would result in tiny advances, maybe only yards at a time. The massive effort
eventually reduced the Japanese garrison to three small pockets by 10 March, and
six days later the last organised resistance ended. This victory has been won at
enormous cost. The US V Marine Corps alone has suffered 4,189 dead, 441 missing
and 15,308 wounded, and there have also been many casualties among the naval
forces. The toll of Japanese has been even greater, estimated at 21,000 dead and
700 taken prisoner. |
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