Japan attacks by surprise
On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes attack the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Nearly 2,500 Americans are killed.
At the same time, Japanese troops are attacking Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
The next day, the United States, Great Britain and the Netherlands declare war on Japan.
© Anne Frank HouseJapanese conquests
In 1942 Japan conquers the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies and attacks India and Australia.
The Japanese fleet suffers its first defeat at Midway Island.
© Anne Frank HouseAllied counter-attacks
In 1943 in 1944, the United States launches attacks on the Japanese-occupied islands in the Pacific.
During the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944, the Americans achieve an important victory. The Japanese army loses a lot of equipment and hundreds of planes.
© Anne Frank HouseHeavy battles
On October 20, 1944, American troops land in the Philippines.
In the winter of 1944-1945, Japan attacks the US naval bases in the Mariana Islands.
American troops capture the Japanese islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in February and April 1945 at the cost of massive casualties.
Allied troops land in Japanese-occupied Borneo on May 1, 1945.
© Anne Frank HouseHet einde.
On August 6, 1945, the United States drops an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. A second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki on August 9.
After these devastating bombings, Emperor Hirohito announces the Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945. The capitulation is signed on 2 September.
© Anne Frank House
