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The formal document of Japanese surrender is signed aboard the Battleship USS Missouri, moored in Tokyo Bay. Other surrender ceremonies are held in the remaining Japanese held territories.

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Emperor Hirohito announces, via radio, Japan’s acceptance of the Allies’ surrender terms.  Some fighting continues in the Pacific due to communication problems.

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Manchuria China&Russia Trade Area, Manzhouli, Hulunbuir, China

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Soviet forces invade Japanese held Manchuria. After meeting tough resistance to begin with, the Soviet forces quickly breakthrough the defences  and rapidly overrun Manchuria and northern Korea.

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An atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, destroying the city.

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An atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima, destroying the city.

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US troops land on Okinawa, the last island group before Japan itself is to be attacked. Japan resists strongly, and carries out the first kamikaze attacks. 10,755 of the Japanese garrison of 120,000, surrender; the first time a large number of Japanese became prisoners of war.  Over 100,000 civilians are killed.

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Iwo Jima, Iōjima, Ogasawara, Tokyo, Japan

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US Marines land on Iwo Jima.  The island takes over a month to secure.  Of the 22,000 Japanese garrison, only 216 surrender.  Iwo Jima provides airfields for bombers attacking Japan, and is selected as the base for the aircraft carrying atomic bombs.

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British Empire forces begin a major offensive to clear Burma. After 5 months heavy fighting Rangoon falls to an amphibious attack just as the monsoon rains bring movement to a halt.

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The Japanese Navy attempts to destroy the US invasion fleet off Leyte. Over three days the Japanese attacks are beaten off with heavy loss and fail to inflict major damage. The Japanese navy is effectively destroyed.

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US troops land on Leyte.  Major fighting continues throughout the islands until June 1945. The invasion helps to block Japanese links to the Dutch East Indies and Malaya.

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The Japanese attempt to prevent further advances in the Pacific by destroying the US fleet in a major battle. Instead the Japanese navy suffers heavy loses in ships and aircraft. US pilots call it “The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”.

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US troops land on Saipan Island, securing it in 3 weeks. Using Saipan as a base, US bombers are now within range of Japan. Of the 31,000 Japanese garrison, only 921 surrender.

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Japan launches an offensive into Southern China to remove bases for US long range bombers attacking Japan. The offensive also opens links between North China and Indochina.

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Trying to delay an expected Allied advance,  Japanese forces attack from Burma into India. In heavy fighting around Kohima and Imphal the Japanese are decisively defeated and by July are forced to withdraw.

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US Marines land on Kwajalein Atoll.  Learning from the fighting on Tarawa, the US take the islands relatively easily.

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US troops land in New Britain. This bypasses and isolates Japanese forces in New Guinea and the base of Rabaul. This marks the development of “island hopping” where only key points need to be occupied whilst Japanese forces are left to “wither on the vine”.

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US Marines land on Tarawa Atoll.  Despite heavy resistance and difficult terrain, the Atoll is secured in 4 days.  The seizure of Tarawa is the beginning of a new drive through the Central Pacific by the US Navy.

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A Japanese convoy carrying reinforcements to New Guinea is intercepted and destroyed by Allied aircraft. Further reinforcement of New Guinea by Japan is limited, weakening their hold in the Southeast Pacific

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US Marines invade Guadalcanal to prevent the Japanese building up a base which would threaten Australia. Japan responds  with reinforcements. After 6 months Japan abandons the island after heavy loses in soldiers, ships and aircraft.

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Japanese troops land on the north east of New Guinea. Attempts to fight overland to seize Port Moresby are halted by Australian forces after heavy fighting. Mountainous terrain and jungle makes the fighting especially difficult.

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Midway Island, United States Minor Outlying Islands, United States

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A Japanese fleet attempts to invade Midway Island but it is ambushed by the US.  Japan loses 4 of its carriers. The US loses 1 carrier. The Japanese lose their naval dominance in the Pacific.

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Concerned that Madagascar (occupied by pro-Axis Vichy France forces) might be used as a base by the Japanese, British forces land in northern Madagascar. Central and Southern areas are occupied in September.

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Japanese and American carrier fleets clash east of New Guinea – the first naval battle fought solely with aircraft.  The US suffer heavier loses but turn back a Japanese invasion fleet.

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16 bombers are launched from an aircraft carrier and bomb targets in Tokyo. Only minor damage is caused but it is a major morale boost for the US. For Japan it reveals the vulnerability of the home islands and the need to expand their area of control.

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Japanese troops invade from Thailand. By the end of May 1942, British Empire forces are pushed back into India, the longest retreat in British military history.

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Over the next 4 months Japanese secure the Dutch islands, which produce key resources such as oil and rubber.

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Japanese troops invade Hong Kong.  British Empire forces withdraw to Hong Kong Island but are forced to surrender on Christmas Day.

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Japanese troops land on Luzon. US forces withdraw to Bataan Peninsular then to Corregidor Island, which finally falls in early May 1942.

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Japanese troops land in northern Malaya.  British Empire troops are forced southwards. Two months later Singapore falls, the largest surrender in British history.

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7* December 1941 / *Because Hawaii lies just east of the International Date line, this is the same as 8 December Western Pacific Time

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The US Pacific fleet is severely weakened in a surprise attack by carrier-borne aircraft. As a result the USA declares war on Japan.

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Following France’s defeat by Germany, Japan moves troops into French Indochina. As well as gaining new bases in the south, this cuts off a major supply route to China.

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Japanese troops seize large areas of north east China including the capital, Beijing. Coastal cities are also occupied in the following months.  Chinese forces are forced to withdraw west.  For China, this marks the start of the Second World War.

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Under the Versailles Treaty, Japan gains territory from Germany, including numerous island groups in the Western Pacific.