1945

January 9: American and Filipino forces begin the Battle of Manila, aiming to liberate
the capital from Japanese control.

Summarize: During World War II, American and Filipino forces launched the Battle of
Manila with the intention of freeing the capital from Japanese rule. In the broader Pacific
Theater, the conflict was a pivotal campaign in which Allied forces attempted to recover
Japanese-occupied territory. The Battle of Manila, which took place in early 1945, was
characterized by fierce urban warfare and extensive destruction.

Japanese troops, resolute in their defense of their positions within the city, met the
combined forces of the United States and the Philippines with tenacious resistance. Street-
to-street fighting typified the conflict, and both sides suffered heavy losses. Notwithstanding
the difficulties, the Allies were eventually able to free Manila from Japanese rule, which
helped the Allied cause in its larger campaign to retake the Philippines and move closer to
victory in the Pacific.
Link: Gaerlan, C. (2020, September 1). Liberating the Philippines: 75 Years After by
Cecilia Gaerlan. The National WWII Museum | New Orleans.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/liberation-of-philippines-cecilia-
gaerlan

February 3: American forces enter Manila, beginning a month-long campaign to clear

the city of Japanese resistance.

Summarize: During World War II, American soldiers invaded Manila to free the city from
Japanese rule. This marked the beginning of a month-long campaign marked by fierce
urban combat. The clashes, which included street-to-street warfare and resulted in
enormous destruction and deaths, were met with resolute Japanese resistance.
Notwithstanding the difficulties, the campaign was successful in driving out Japanese forces
from the city, aiding the larger Allied campaigns to recover the Philippines and move closer
to victory in the Pacific.

Link: Phocas, B. (2023, August 1). Fighting for the Pearl of the Orient: Lessons from
the Battle of Manila. Modern War Institute. https://mwi.westpoint.edu/fighting-for-the-
pearl-of-the-orient-lessons-from-the-battle-of-manila/

February 17: The Battle of Manila concludes with the liberation of the city, but at the
cost of widespread destruction and loss of civilian life.
Summarize: During World War II, the Battle of Manila resulted in the city's liberation, but
the victory was not without a high price: many civilian casualties and extensive destruction.
There were many civilian casualties as well as major infrastructure damage as a result of
the fierce urban combat and tenacious Japanese resistance. Even though the military goal
of liberating Manila was accomplished, the campaign's widespread devastation and human
suffering had a long-lasting effect on the city.

Link: Limos, M. A. (2019, February 12). How Manila Was Destroyed in a Bloody, Brutal
Battle That Killed 100,000 Civilians. Esquire Philippines.
https://www.esquiremag.ph/the-good-life/pursuits/james-m-scott-rampage-macarthur-
yamashita-and-the-battle-of-manila-a1957-20190212-lfrm2

March 10: American forces liberate the island of Panay in the central Philippines.
Summarize: During World War II, American soldiers successfully freed the island of Panay
in the central Philippines. This military action was a part of the larger Allied campaign to
regain lands in the Pacific that Japanese forces had taken. Ground operations, naval, and
maybe air help, along with strategic moves, were all necessary for the liberation of Panay.
The successful mission added to the larger plan to free the Philippines from Japanese
domination and showed the Allied forces' growing power in the area.

Link: History, M. (2022, January 10). The Philippines, 1942-1945: the resistance and
the return | The Past. The-Past.com. https://the-past.com/feature/the-philippines-1942-
1945-the-resistance-and-the-return/

April 1: The Battle of Okinawa begins as Allied forces launch an amphibious invasion
of the Japanese island of Okinawa.
Summarize: An amphibious invasion by Allied forces on the Japanese island of Okinawa in
April 1945 marked the beginning of the Battle of Okinawa, one of the biggest and most
intense military operations in the Pacific Theater of World War II. As a base of operations
for the upcoming invasion of Japan, the Allies aimed to take control of Okinawa. This was
one of the biggest and bloodiest wars in the Pacific, involving heavy air strikes, massive
naval operations, and brutal ground warfare. In the end, the Battle of Okinawa was a major
factor in the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II.

Link: History.com Editors. (2018, August 21). Battle of Okinawa. HISTORY.com;

HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa

April 3: Japanese forces launch kamikaze attacks against Allied ships off the coast of
Okinawa.
Summarize: Japanese forces attacked Allied ships off the coast of Okinawa with kamikaze
bombs during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. In kamikaze strikes, suicide pilots
intentionally crashed their planes—which were typically packed with explosives—into
enemy ships. Japan's desperate plan to thwart the Allied advance included these strikes.

Japanese pilots deliberately targeted the Allied naval fleet during the particularly fierce
kamikaze assaults in the vicinity of Okinawa. These suicide operations seriously
endangered the Allied forces, seriously damaging ships and taking a heavy toll in
casualties. The employment of kamikaze tactics was a reflection of the difficult
circumstances Japan found itself in as the war came to an end and they tried to fend off the
Allied assault by using strange and drastic means.

Link: Spindler, J. E. (n.d.). The Superbattleship Yamato in Operation Ten-ichi-go.

Warfare History Network. Retrieved February 20, 2024, from
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/the-superbattleship-yamato-in-operation-ten-
ichi-go/

May 7: Germany surrenders, ending World War II in Europe.

Summarize: The Second World War in Europe came to an end with Germany's surrender.
The formal surrender took place on May 8, 1945, however it happened on May 7, 1945. The
German army' unconditional surrender to the Allies was the cause of the surrender. As the
war in the European Theater came to an end, the word of Germany's capitulation sparked
jubilation throughout the continent. The conclusion of the war and the start of a new era in
international relations were made possible by the capitulation, which had enormous
historical ramifications.

Link: at 2:42pm, J. W. 7th M. 2020. (2020, May 7). The German Surrender: The End Of
The War In Europe. Forces Network. https://www.forces.net/heritage/wwii/german-
surrender-end-war-europe

August 6: The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, leading to
Japan's eventual surrender.
Summarize: The Japanese city of Hiroshima was struck by an atomic bomb dropped by the
United States in August 1945. "Little Boy," the bomb that carried out the catastrophic attack
on August 6, resulted in a great deal of destruction and casualties. The first-ever use of
atomic weapons changed the course of warfare and had a significant influence on world
history.
Japan reevaluated its involvement in the war as a result of the devastation caused by
Hiroshima. But on August 9, the United States detonated "Fat Man," a second atomic
weapon, on the city of Nagasaki before a formal reply. On August 15, 1945, Japan
announced its surrender in response to the devastating effects of the bombs and the Soviet
Union's entry into the war against it. As a result, on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS
Missouri, the formal instrument of surrender was signed, thereby bringing an end to World
War II. The use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is still a subject of historical
controversy and moral discussion.

Link: Bamford, T. (2020, August 6). The Most Fearsome Sight: The Atomic Bombing of
Hiroshima. The National WWII Museum | New Orleans.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/atomic-bomb-hiroshima

August 15: Japan announces its surrender, effectively ending World War II.
Summarize: On August 15, 1945, Japan formally declared the end of World War II with its
surrender, which was prompted by American atomic bombs delivered on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki earlier in the month. Japan formally adopted the provisions of the Potsdam
Declaration after realizing the unsustainable military situation, the devastating effects of the
bombs, and the Soviet Union's participation into the war against Japan.

On September 2, 1945, the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay hosted the ceremonial surrender
ceremony, officially ending World War II. The declaration of Japan's capitulation sparked
jubilation across the globe and started the process of post-war reconstruction and
reconciliation. Significant changes occurred as a result of the war's end, including how
international relations developed and the start of a new chapter in world history.

Link: Ruane, M. E. (2020, August 14). Japan’s emperor had to tell his people World
War II was lost. He did so on a scratchy recording. Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/08/14/vj-day-japan-surrenders-hirohito-
ends-wwii/

September 2: The formal surrender ceremony takes place aboard the USS Missouri in
Tokyo Bay, officially marking the end of World War II.
Summarize: On September 2, 1945, a ceremonial surrender ceremony aboard the USS
Missouri in Tokyo Bay signaled the official end of World War II. The event came after Japan
announced its surrender on August 15, in response to the devastating atomic bombings of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's entry into the war against Japan.

Under the direction of General Douglas MacArthur, representatives of the Allied powers
acknowledged Japan's complete surrender. With profound historical ramifications, the
signature of the instrument of capitulation aboard the USS Missouri officially ended World
War II and signaled the end of hostilities, the start of the post-war era, and the
commencement of a time of reconstruction and reconciliation.

Link: Celebrating the End of the War. (2020, September 2). Airandspace.si.edu.
https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/celebrating-end-war