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IWO JIMA 251

By the start of 1945, US forces had

moved far west across the Pacific,

reaching Leyte and Luzon in the

Philippines and inflicting terrible

damage on the Imperial Japanese

Navy and its air force in the process.

In February 1945, US Marines invaded

the tiny Pacific island of Iwo Jima, a

Japanese military base. Their aim was

strategic: they wanted to secure the

island’s airfields, which would provide a

base for Allied fighter planes needed to

escort the bombers raiding Japan from

the Marianas (see pp.252–53)—and for

the B-29 bombers themselves.

The Japanese were aware of the

impending threat and as a result had

made their preparations: sending

reinforcements to Iwo Jima, ordering

the evacuation of its civilian population,

and placing the island’s defense

into the hands of one of their most

brilliant and experienced generals,

Tadamichi Kuribayashi.

Lacking naval or air support and

commanding a relatively small force,

Kuribayashi knew that an American

victory was near inevitable, but he

was determined to make it as costly

as possible, and to delay his enemy’s

advance. Instead of defending the

island’s landing beaches, he ordered

the construction of a huge network of

caves, tunnels, and pillboxes inland.

The invading US troops on the surface—

often without cover—were at the mercy

of the defenders, who would suddenly

emerge from their underground

bunkers to launch attacks. Casualties

were huge on both sides.

IWO JIMA

The Japanese island of Iwo Jima, which lies some 800 miles

(1,300 km) from mainland Japan, was a strategic target for the

US. The Marines who took the island from the small number of

Japanese forces based there in early 1945 encountered some

of the bloodiest fighting of the Pacific War.

NORTH TO THE “MEATGRINDER”

FEBRUARY 25–MARCH 26, 1945

The Marines moved slowly northward to attack

the fortified ridges of Hill 362 and the area near

Hill 382 known as the “Meatgrinder.” Clearing the

defenders, who were often hidden underground,

was punishing work for the advancing US troops as

there was little cover. By March 7, the Americans had

taken both hills. On March 14, Iwo Jima was declared

secure, although a few Japanese soldiers remained

in isolated strongholds until the end of March.

4

US advance Feb 24–Mar 1, 1945

US advance Mar 14, 1945

Last Japanese stronghold until Mar 26, 1945

Heavy fortified terrain/high ground

FIGHT TO THE DEATH

Over 20,000 of the 21,000

Japanese soldiers on Iwo

Jima died in the fighting while

following the instructions set

out in General Kuribayashi’s

six “Courageous Battle Vows.”

The vows pledged soldiers to

defend the island with all their

strength, to attack the enemy

with suicidal bravery, to not

die until they had killed at

least ten enemy soldiers,

and to continue fighting to

the last man.

US Marines destroy a Japanese

bunker on Iwo Jima

“Japan has started a war with a formidable enemy and

we must brace ourselves accordingly.”

GENERAL TADAMICHI KURIBAYASHI, 1944

Airfield 2

Airfield 1

Airfield 3

4th Marine

Division

3rd Marine

Division

5th Marine

Division

T a c h i i w a

Point

Hill

362

Hill 382

T

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shi Poin

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M

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(^) Su
rib
ach
i
A m p h i t h e a t e r
Turkey
Knob
I
W
O
J
I
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A P A C I F I C
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A
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Feb 28, 1945 US Marines
begin their attack on Hill
382, which together with
a hill called Turkey Knob,
and a rocky bowl called
the Amphitheater,
comprises the
“Meatgrinder.”
Mar 2, 1945 US tanks bombard
the Japanese blockhouse on Turkey
Knob; the Japanese retreat into
their tunnels.
c. Mar 26, 1945
General Kuribayashi
dies, probably while
leading an assault on
sleeping Marines and
Air Force ground crews.
US_250-251_Iwo_Jima.indd 251 19/03/19 5:40 PM