The campaign to seize Guadalcanal and adjacent islands, Operation Watchtower, is a valuable case study illustrating aspects of design and operational art. Features of operational design and art are unmistakable in the shaping of the Pacific campaign plan and subsequent subordinate operations. This case study illustrates the actions taken link the series of tactical actions across the Pacific toward the national strategic objective of defeating Japan along a defined line of operation. This paper briefly explores the use of design and operational art by the Allies in the Solomon Islands campaign of World War II.
At the strategic level, the Allies prioritized the European Theater of Operations (ETO) ahead of the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) after the Arcadia conference (22 Dec 1941 – 14 Jan 1942). This initially relegated Pacific strategy to a defensive one primarily due to lack of resources. However, due to rapid Japanese advances in early 1942 Australia requested the return of her divisions that were currently serving in the ETO under the British. This set a chain of events in motion allowing a more aggressive Pacific strategy to emerge. Australia was a crucial ally and a decisive point in the defense of the Pacific. As a conciliatory measure the United States dispatched additional divisions and equipment to the South Pacific in order to retain Australian divisions in Europe. It should also be noted that most Americans were still seething over Pearl Harbor adding to
The Marine Corps takes history very seriously. When asked, Marines can name battles most people have never heard of, such as the Battle of Chapultepec in Mexico in 1847. It is rumored that the Blood Stripe of a Marine Non-Commissioned Officer’s (NCO’s) trouser is based off the bloody Battle of Chapultepec. Marine NCO’s since then had created a tradition called “Blood Striping.” Blood striping is the act of literally inflicting a blood stripe on a newly promoted NCO’s legs through means of punching or kicking them. Blood striping a Marine is classified as hazing and is already prohibited under Marine Corps Order 1700.28B, but still happens to this day and is supported by most Marines. Blood striping is a tradition that should be changed or completely eliminated because it is based off false history, considered hazing, and does not support the Marine Corps goal in approaching professionalism. Marine NCO’s hold the title “keeper of traditions” not the “keeper of lies.”
Beginning of the year in 1941, FDR decided that the Pacific Fleet would move to Hawaii from San Diego in the hopes of discouraging the invasion of the Japanese. Negotiations between Washington and Tokyo had been going on for several months without a resolution. On July 2, 1941, the Imperial High Command was tired of negotiations with the United States and needed to proceed with their development within Asia even with the embargo in place and meaning it would be at a high risk of war with the US. [4] Therefore, the Japanese had deceived the United States, ignored the arbitration, and moved forward with their plans. The United States had hoped that this restrictive embargo would halt Japan’s assault as negotiations had continued well into November.
As the Kokoda fighting began in July 1942 , the scheme of both sides was in transition. The Japanese felt it was time to defend their gains, and halt the fighting and advancing. But the Allies were thinking differently. Having massive amount troops, ships, aircraft and supplies in New Zealand and Australia, they made the decision to launch a counterattack to defend and retake some of the islands that were occupied by the Japanese. Papua had no particular resource that they desired, but it was a useful link in the chain of defences of the newly conquered area of Japan. So because Japan was quickly gaining new lands closer to Australia, posing a threat to Australia’s safety, the battle of Kokoda was the most important Australian-fought victory, in terms of winning the war. The campaign helped to shape Australia’s post-war training practices and military operations. Although it was not they first victory against Japan, it allowed the allies to make thrust forward through ‘island hopping’ and ultimately win the war. Kokoda was the battle that ended Japan’s dominance and permitted the Allies to go on the offence. Australia greatly learned from their Kokoda experience, and subsequently improved their strategic thinking. They learned to not purely rely on naval defences, and realised that they cannot just let other countries dot the fighting. “…the modern Australian professional army was
On the 9th of February 1942, three divisions of Japanese soldiers landed in Singapore, which was at the time a major British military base and presence in the Pacific. Six days later, over 90 000 British, Australian and Indian troops were forced to surrender. It had been believed that Singapore guaranteed the security of Australia during the war, consequently, the fall of Singapore opened Australia to invasion. The fall of Singapore was significant in causing relations between Australia and the United States to increase as in lieu of Britain’s inability to provide economic and military assistance when it was required most, the United States’ capability to provide what Britain could not was instrumental in strengthening bonds.
These had the effect of Australia feeling vulnerable and lonely, and all the traditional beliefs of the mother country, Britain, coming to Australia’s aid in time of need vanished and with the reaction of Britain towards Australia, Australian Government had to accept the fact that they were only expendable part of the British Empire. Australia, led by the Curtin Government at the time, at last realized the limits of British powers, yet desperate in need of allies and protectors, looked up to the United States as the only support to assist Australia. This realization made a great impact in the changes of the relationships between Britain and Australia. United States did come to rescue Australia in 1942 but the motive was for its self interest because Australia was the best place from which the Americans could apply its counter offenses against the Japanese, and when General MacArthur arrived in Australia he was greatly welcomed by the Australia government, seeing as they didn’t have much choice other than follow US military strategies due to the fall of British power.
Art in World War I was observed in many forms, from photography to art movements on the home fronts of many countries. What many people did not realize is that art was also used in the war for battle. Propaganda and camouflage were crucial to the success on the battlefield and they were used and produced in ways not normally seen in history before. Propaganda had existed before WWI but was used heavily in this war and was often negatively themed, to promote involvement in a war against the evil enemy. Complex camouflage of machinery, ships, and uniforms also arose during the Great War, and this
The battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa were two of the most important American operations in the Pacific Theatre against the Empire of Japan during World War Two. The goal of the two operations was to secure strategically important islands close to Japan to use for bombing campaigns. The battles for Iwo Jima(February-March 1945) and Okinawa f(April-June 1945) killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians and helped to win the war for the United States.
An artist's job is to interpret, and express the aspects of life in a creative fashion. War has played a big part in shaping our human history, and many artists have portrayed their feelings about art through paintings, and even monuments. Whether it be to show; the joy of victory, the sorrow of defeat, or to educate the public on the gory realities of war. Art about war can also show us a great amount of history of the kinds of weapons that were used at the time. It is necessary for artists to interpret, and criticize all aspects of life; even ones as tragic as war, It can make the public more aware of what goes on in times of war.
The American strategy in Europe and Pacific after Pearl Harbor was….Americans united to defend and avenge. Began a war w/ Asia and Europe Dec 11, 1941.
to stay at equal footing with world powers such as Germany and Japan, they needed to expand their influence into the Pacific. Only then, as is mentioned, would the U.S. be able to respond to other nations with its great sea power.
The American forces plan consisted of a “divide and conquer” methodology. The U.S. focused on landing its assault force expediently and quickly and securing Mt. Suribachi and dominant high ground of the island. The Americans expected victory in less than a week. Their forces consisted of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions. The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions were to land on the eastern beaches the 4th on the right and the 5th on the left. The 3rd Marines would either land on the eastern beaches or assume a defensive role, which ever was called (Planning for the Battle of Iwo Jima, n.d.).
During WWII, there were numerous meetings between U.S. and British strategists. Of these meetings, two held significant importance: Quebec Conference and the Tehran Conference. These two meetings contained major military strategic decisions and they made significant impacts on the conduct of the war. It is important to note that throughout all meetings conducted in preparation for and during WWII, military strategy differences existed between the Allied
During this period, President Roosevelt endured extremely intense emotional pressure due to the loss of America’s prestige and pride in the Pacific. At the same time he was expected to honor the British who were struggling with Hitler. Notably, just before the Japanese Pearl Harbor attack had taken place, Roosevelt had agreed that the first priority should be a defeat of Nazi Germany. This should have been until America was able to recover from its Pearl Harbor naval forces and consequently mobilize for a two-front war. The decision made focused on accepting the Philippines loss, Guam and Wake and instead put plenty of concentration on a defensive kind of triangle that was inclusive of Panama, Alaska and Hawaii.
The Battle of Guadalcanal was a very important battleground that ended the Japanese ground advancement in the Pacific area of operations. Also, after they were defeated and removed from the island it showed that they were not an unstoppable foe that resulted in boasting the confidence of the United States and its allies. The amphibious assault that occurred on Guadalcanal was the first amphibious counteroffensive for the United States after the attacks on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese were attempting to build an airfield on the island and gain a foothold that would help to protect their flanks as they continued their offensive campaign through the Pacific. Having an established foothold on Guadalcanal would also give the
The Teheran Conference codenamed Eureka, ascertained significant coalition strategic decisions as Allied planners finalized preparations for the defeat of Nazi-Germany. In essence, Eureka solidified previous agreements to sustain the Germany first policy, liberation of Western Europe and the unconditional surrender of the Axis powers (ends). Moreover, Eureka highlighted Allied strategic decisions setting priorities for the amphibious assaults for Operations Overlord and Anvil, and the appointment of a Supreme Allied Commander (ways).14 In addition, Allied partners agreed to simultaneous attacks at Anzio (e.g. US and British) and on the Eastern Front (e.g. USSR) to discourage troop movement westward (ways), and a Russian declaration of war