The Marshalls Islands had been in Japanese hands since World War I. Occupied by the Japanese in 1914, they were made part of the “Japanese Mandated Islands” as determined by the League of Nations. The Japanese withdrew from the League in 1933 and began transforming the Mandated Islands into military bases. During the Second World War, these islands, as well as others in the vicinity, became targets of Allied attacks. D-Day in the Marshalls was set for 31 January 1944 with the U.S. Marine Corps 4th Division moving onto the northern half of Kwajalein Atoll and the Army’s 7th Infantry Division assaulting Kwajalein Island and the other small islands in the southern half of Kwajalein Atoll. The Marines assaulted Roi Island and Namur Island, then the remaining smaller islands of northern Kwajalein Atoll. Once ashore, the Marines advanced rapidly. Roi was secured on 1 February and Namur the next day. In the seizure of the northern portion of Kwajalein Atoll, Marine 4th Division casualties were 313 killed and 502 wounded. An estimated 3,563 Japanese garrison forces were reduced to only about 90 prisoners. Subsequently, all the other Marshall Islands were captured one by one. The Japanese soldiers were exterminated during confrontation or by committing suicide. Few decided to surrender. Rapid victory in the Marshall Islands added momentum to the Central Pacific drive and put Japanese positions in the Carolines and the Marianas within range of American reconnaissance and bombing aircraft. New bases were opened for the US Navy. The Japanese Navy, intimidated by the approaching US forces, reduced its fleet at Truk Island in the Carolines, formerly the bastion of Japanese air and naval power in the Central Pacific. The relatively low 3,000 combined casualties for Army and Marines showed that the lessons of Tarawa were put to good use. Tactics against heavily defended islands had been changed and improved, including the use of heavy bombardment prior to landings and better transportation to the beaches. (US Army Archives). Notify me of new posts by email.
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