Crusade in the Pacific

- Season 1

(1951)

Crusade in the Pacific looks at U.S. involvement in the the Pacific theater starting in 1933. It looks at Pearl Harbor, the Burma theater, the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway, the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the dropping of the atomic bomb and the surrender of Japan. It also looks at the start of the Korean War.

Crusade in the Pacific looks at U.S. and British interests in the Pacific prior to World War II including Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Australia, and New Zealand. It also looks at developments in Siam, China, and Japan focusing on the growth of modernization and militarism in Japan prior to the war.

Crusade in the Pacific examines Japanese military aggression and growth prior to World War II. It looks the creation of the puppet state Manchukuo in Manchuria and the eventual war with China. It examines Japanese imperial interests in Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, and Indochina and discussions the decision to bomb Pearl Harbor.

Crusade in the Pacific examines the America's entry into World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It looks at early Allied loses on Wake Island, Guam, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It also looks at the turning of American industry to war and the training of American soldiers.

Crusade in the Pacific looks at the relations between the United States, the Philippines, and Japan prior to World War II. It, then, examines the Japanese invasion of Luzon, the take-over of Manila, and the eventual attack and seizure of Corregidor.

Crusade in the Pacific examines early U.S. Navy operations in World War II. It looks at the establishment of bases in the South Pacific islands of Fiji, New Caledonia, and Espiritu Santo. It also looks at the Doolittle Raid over Tokyo, and the Battles of the Java Sea, the Coral Sea, and Midway.

Crusade in the Pacific examines early American offensive operations in World War II beginning with the Battle of Guadalcanal. U.S. marines land on the island and fight a well dug-in Japanese army while also being harassed by Japanese aircraft. After several month, U.S. establish Henderson Field and secure the island. It also looks at the taking of New Georgia Island and the Battle of Kula Gulf.

Crusade in the Pacific examines Japan's invasion of the Aleutian islands in Alaska. The Japanese navy bombs Dutch Harbor shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor and later occupies the islands of Kiska and Attu. Later, U.S. counter-attack by air and sea eventual force the Japanese off the islands. Meanwhile as Japan attacks in the north, the U.S. government forces Japanese-Americans into internment camps.

Crusade in the Pacific looks at the difficult New Guinea campaign. The Japanese lands on the island and entrench themselves there early in 1942. They attack Milne Bay with an amphibious force, but they are beaten back by allied forces. Australian forces drive across the mountainous island and eventual meet up with U.S. soldiers. Slowly they move through the northern part of the island defeating the Japanese at Lae and the Bismarck Sea.

Crusade in the Pacific looks at the campaign in the Solomon Islands directed at the Japanese stronghold on Bougainville. Allied reconnaissance aircraft target the island providing valuable intelligence for Allied bombing runs which loosen up the island for invasion. Allied troops eventual secure the beach and slowly fight their way across the island. The Japanese launch a counter-attack, but they are defeated in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay. After brutal fighting, the island is secured.

Crusade in the Pacific looks at the Allied campaign in the Gilbert Islands in the central Pacific. Allied aircraft first target the Marshall and Gilbert islands in a series of raids. The United States, then, uses amphibious landings to attack the atolls of Makin and Tarawa. Casualties are heavy on Tarawa, but eventually the atoll is taken.

Crusade in the Pacific looks at the naval war on the high seas. It examines the supply problem facing U.S. operations in the Pacific. It examines life on a naval submarine and looks at the many dangers faces by its crew. It also looks at life aboard an aircraft carrier.

Crusade in the Pacific looks at the Allied campaign against the Japanese outposts in the Marshall Islands. United States Marines launch an amphibious assault that captures the Kwajalein atoll. Later, the Marines move further west and attack the Eniwetok atoll where they also overcome Japanese resistance. Using these atolls as airbases, the Allies bomb the Japanese stronghold of Truk in the Caroline Islands.

Crusade in the Pacific examines the Allied effort on the island of New Britain. First it looks at the invasions of Arawe and Cape Gloucester and the crucial contributions of Native American scouts and Australian coast watchers. It also looks at the attacks on Rabaul and the Admiralty Islands, and, later, the step-by-step effort to seize control northern New Guinea.

Crusade in the Pacific looks at the Allied campaign in the Mariana Islands. It examines the brutal marine invasion of Saipan and the effort to push back the Japanese counter-attack in the Philippians sea. On Saipan , Allied forces eventually push all the way to Marpi Point point and take the island. Japanese soldiers and civilians frequently choose death over surrender. Later, the Americans successfully invade Tinian and later Guam.

Crusade in the Pacific examine early Chinese resistance to Japan prior to World War II and U.S. efforts to assist them. In order to get supplies to China, the U.S. must use an overland route through Burma. The Japanese cut off this route when they take control of Burma after the battle of Toungoo. Later, Allied forces push back against the Japanese and found the Ledo route as an alternative route to supply China. Although the Chinese resist the Japanese their efforts to mostly result in a bloody stalemate.

Crusade in the Pacific looks at the brutal effort to take the Palau islands. Strategists decide invade the island chain in order to cover the flank for the impending invasion of the Philippines. Amphibious assaults land in the southern islands of Peleliu and Angaur. On Peleliu, U.S. forces encounter fierce fighting from well fortified and entrenched Japanese soldiers. The U.S. eventually push the Japanese back to Bloody Nose Ridge where some of the bloodiest fighting on the war takes place. After weeks of fighting, the Allies finally secure the island.

Crusade in the Pacific examines the effort to retake the Philippines. After the initial Japanese invasion, the U.S. army is forced to surrender at Corregidor. After two years of occupation, the United States returns to retake the islands. They first attack the island of Leyte and secure the beachhead. Japanese naval forces attempt a counter-attack, but they are defeated in the battle of Leyte Gulf. The Allies secure Leyte before moving on to Mindoro and main island Luzon. On Luzon, the Americans are greeted as liberators. Eventually, they take the capital of Manila.

Crusade in the Pacific looks at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Allied forces need the island to launch support aircraft for long range bombers over Japan. The Allies land on the beach and face strong resistance from the Japanese. The U.S. eventually take Mount Suribachi and the southern half of the island, but suffer a large number of casualties. The Allies move north and after after a difficult battle, they take control of the island.

Crusade in the Pacific looks at the battle of Okinawa. American Army and Marine forces land unopposed and meet little resistance as they split the island in half. Later, as armies move north and south, fighting grows more fierce. Allied forces eventually capture the north half of the island. In the southern half, stiff Japanese resistance and rain bog down offensive operations. After weeks of fighting the advancing American troops eventually overwhelm defenders. In the end, the Battle of Okinawa proves costly for both sides.

Crusade in the Pacific examines the air war over the Japanese home island. It looks at the early Doolittle Raid over Tokyo and discusses later B-29 "super fortress" attacks based out of China and the Mariana Islands. It then examines the air delivered Nuclear Attacks at Hiroshima and Nagasaki which to the surrender of Japan.

Crusade in the Pacific examines the surrender and occupation of Japan. Japan surrenders unconditionally to the Allies after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The formal instruments of surrender are signed on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri though surrender ceremonies take place all across the Pacific theater. General Douglas MacArthur is declared Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Japan and begins reconstruction efforts. Japanese leaders are held responsible for the war and are punished though the Emperor is absolved of responsibility. Japan experiences a ...

Crusade in the Pacific examines the growth of independence movements in Asia in the wake of World War II. In the Dutch East Indies, Sukarno declares Indonesian independence and defeat Dutch efforts to retake their colony. In India, the British hands over control to Jawaharlal Nehru. They also oversees the creation of the nation of Pakistan. The two new nations soon come to conflict in the region of Kashmir. The Philippines are granted independence from the United States and struggles to adjust to self-government. In Indochina, French colonial armies attempt to ...

Crusade in the Pacific examines the Korean War. After World War II, Korea is divided along the 38th Parallel. In the North, the Soviet Union influences a Communist government under Kim Il-sung. In the South, the United States shepherds a young Republic. The Korean peninsula is plunged into war when North Korea invades the South. The North quickly overwhelms the armed forces of the South until the United Nations intervenes. The conflict sours relations between the United States and Soviet Union. The United States enters the war and halts the North Koreans at Pusan. ...

Crusade in the Pacific examines the Chinese intervention in the Korean War. Chinese Communists cross the North Korean border just as United Nations troops were moving to finish off the North Korean forces. The Chinese forces cut off U.S. troops near the Changjin reservoir. The U.S. forces march successfully to Hungnam on the coast where they could be evacuated. Elsewhere U.N. forces are forced back until a U.N. counter-attack stops the Chinese advances an recaptures Seoul. Truman dismisses MacArthur after the General pushes to attack mainland China. The War in Korea ...

Crusade in the Pacific considers the future of relations between the United States and Asia. It examines the religions of the East including Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism and also looks at the history of U.S. involvement in Asia. It also examines the value of U.S. assistance in Asia and efforts to curtail the growth of communism there. It also speaks to specialists from Japan, Indonesia, Pakistan, India and U.S. diplomat John Foster Dulles.