The Japanese Invasion of America- The Aleutian Islands of Alaska - General

Alot of people, always thought that USA was never under any threat, and that it had never been invaded. But the Japs invaded from Alaska, and caught Americans by surprise. Its interesting, of all the Americans I've asked, they all denied that US soil was attacked. [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w25_8e01445u.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]Bleak, mountainous Attu Island in Alaska had a population of only about 46 people prior to the Japanese invasion. On June 6, 1942, a Japanese force of 1,100 soldiers landed, occupying the island. One resident was killed in the invasion, the remaining 45 were shipped to a Japanese prison camp near Otaru, Hokkaido, where sixteen died while in captivity. This is a picture of Attu village situated on Chichagof Harbor. (O. J Murie/LOC)[/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w26_00000020.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]On June 3, 1942, a Japanese aircraft carrier strike force launched air attacks over two days against the Dutch Harbor Naval Base and Fort Mears in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. In this photo, bombs explode in the water near Dutch Harbor, during the attack on June 4, 1942. (U.S. Navy) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img26"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w27_00000019.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]U.S. forces watch a massive fireball rise above Dutch Harbor, Alaska after a Japanese air strike in June of 1942. (U.S. Navy) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img27"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w28_00000016.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]Defending Dutch Harbor, Alaska during the Japanese air attacks of June 3-4, 1942. (U.S. Navy) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img28"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w29_00000017.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]Bombing of SS Northwestern and oil tanks in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, by Japanese carrier-based aircraft on June 4, 1942. (U.S. Navy)[/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w30_06010128.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]U.S. soldiers fight a fire after an air raid by Japanese dive bombers on their base in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, in June 1942. (AP Photo)[/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w31_00000013.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]Oil tanks, the SS Northwestern, a beached transport ship, and warehouses on fire after Japanese air raids in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, on June 4, 1942. (U.S. Navy)[/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w32_00000022.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]The ruins of a bombed ship at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, on June 5, 1942. (U.S. Navy) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img32"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w33_00000021.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]Decoy aircraft are laid out by occupying Japanese forces on a shoreline on Kiska Island on June 18, 1942. (U.S. Navy) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img33"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w34_8e00983u.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]A train of bombs drops from United States Army Air forces plane on territory in the Aleutians held by the Japanese in 1943. (LOC) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img34"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w35_Kiska003.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]Bombs dropped from a U.S. bomber detonate on Japanese-occupied Kiska Island, Alaska, on August 10, 1943. (USAF) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img35"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w36_00000014.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]Japanese ship aground in Kiska Harbor, on September 18, 1943. (U.S. Navy) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img36"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w37_Kiska004.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]Dozens of bombs fall from a U.S. bomber toward Japanese-occupied Kiska Island, Alaska, on August 10, 1943. Note the craters from previous bombing runs and the zig-zag trenches dug by the Japanese. (USAF) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img37"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w38_KiskaInv.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]Adak Harbor in the Aleutians, with part of huge U.S. fleet at anchor, ready to move against Kiska in August of 1943. (NARA) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img38"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w39_00000031.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]USS Pruitt leads landing craft from USS Heywood toward their landing beaches in Massacre Bay, Attu, on the first day of the May 11, 1943 invasion of Attu. Pruitt used her radar and searchlight to guide the boats nine miles through the fog. The searchlight beam is faintly visible pointing aft from atop her pilothouse. Some 15,000 American and Canadian troops successfully landed on the island. (U.S. Navy) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img39"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w40_8e01505u.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]Landing boats pouring soldiers and their equipment onto the beach at Massacre Bay, Attu Island, Alaska. This is the southern landing force on May 11, 1943. The American and Canadian troops took control of Attu within two weeks, after fierce fighting with the Japanese occupying forces. Of the allied troops, 549 were killed and 1,148 wounded -- of the Japanese troops, only 29 men survived. U.S. burial teams counted 2,351 Japanese dead, and presumed hundreds more were unaccounted for. (LOC)[/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w41_3b24010u.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]A Canadian member of the joint American-Canadian landing force squints down the sights of a Japanese machine gun found in a trench on Kiska Island, Alaska, on August 16, 1943. After the brutal fighting in the battle to retake Attu Island, U.S. and Canadian forces were prepared for even more of a fight on Kiska. Unknown to the Allies though, the Japanese had evacuated all their troops two weeks earlier. Although the invasion was unopposed, 32 soldiers were killed in friendly-fire incidents, four more by booby traps, and a further 191 were listed as Missing in Action. (LOC) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img41"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w42_Kiska009.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]Wrecked Japanese planes, oil and gas drums are a mass of rubble on Kiska, Aleutian Islands, on August 19, 1943, as a result of Allied bombings. (NARA) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img42"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w43_00000032.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]A group of approximately 40 dead Japanese soldiers on a mountain ridge on Attu Island on May 29, 1943. Several groups of Japanese soldiers were encountered in this manner by U.S. troops, who reported that the Japanese realized they were trapped and decided to either attack in suicidal Banzai charges, or (as in this photo) to commit hara-kiri as a group, killing themselves with their own hand grenades. (U.S. Army Signal Corps) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img43"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w44_00000015.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]A heavily damaged midget submarine base constructed by occupying Japanese forces on Kiska Island, photo taken sometime in 1943, after Allied forces retook the island.(U.S. Navy) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img44"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w45_Kiska008.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]On Kiska Island, after Allied troops had landed, this grave marker was discovered in a small graveyard amid the bombed-out ruins in August of 1943. The marker was made and placed by members of the occupying Japanese Army, after they had buried an American pilot who had crashed on the island. The marker reads: "Sleeping here, a brave air-hero who lost youth and happiness for his Mother land. July 25 - Nippon Army" (U.S. Navy) [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/#img45"]#[/URL][/QUOTE] Full length film on the battle. [video=youtube;XFGkrT4Vd4E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFGkrT4Vd4E[/video] Source: [URL]http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-battle-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/[/URL] [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Copy and paste thread - 3rd time" - Craptasket))[/highlight]

Americans don't really care about alaska, wouldn't have been much if we lost it

[QUOTE=phobia-_-;31988328]Americans don't really care about alaska, wouldn't have been much if we lost it[/QUOTE] Had they secured it, they could had sent a invasion fleet. But of course, I'm no historian. So I might be wrong.

Obviously swamp gas. You know dem Japs can't 'tak this place, cus this is mercuh!

[QUOTE=Ignhelper;31988396]Had they secured it, they could had sent a invasion fleet.[/QUOTE] It's not like capturing Alaska would be a turning point for the war though.

[QUOTE=Ignhelper;31988289] [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w45_Kiska008.jpg[/img] [quote]On Kiska Island, after Allied troops had landed, this grave marker was discovered in a small graveyard amid the bombed-out ruins in August of 1943. The marker was made and placed by members of the occupying Japanese Army, after they had buried an American pilot who had crashed on the island. The marker reads: "Sleeping here, a brave air-hero who lost youth and happiness for his Mother land. July 25 - Nippon Army" (U.S. Navy) #[/quote] [/QUOTE] that's really touching

[img_thumb]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w45_Kiska008.jpg[/img_thumb] This seems so entirely out of character for what we know to be the brutal and unrelenting Japanese invasion forces. I don't know what to say.

Very interesting. Probably the only time ever USA has been under a real threat. Probably due to it's highly advantageous position. [QUOTE=teh pirate;31988458][img_thumb]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_11/w45_Kiska008.jpg[/img_thumb] This seems so entirely out of character for what we know to be the brutal and unrelenting Japanese invasion forces. I don't know what to say.[/QUOTE] Generalising a whole enemy nation as brutal and unrelenting is nothing short of propaganda.

I had no idea that this ever happened. Thank you for the excellent read.

[QUOTE=Ignhelper;31988396]Had they secured it, they could had sent a invasion fleet.[/QUOTE] They held a lot of the islands for over a year and didn't do anything, I don't think they would have had enough force to send a fleet and would gave to send back to Japan for more. Japan wasn't good at coordinating large scale landings at the time and would have barely done anything because of it

Japan is just so fabooooooooulus!

This is just something that American schools don't teach students a whole lot about. I remember one year, my history teacher mentioned it, and another student thought that she was joking. It's a shame, too. It's a really interesting part of 20th-century history.

[QUOTE=Falchion;31988464]Generalising a whole enemy nation as brutal and unrelenting is nothing short of propaganda.[/QUOTE] True -- but we know that supremely fucked up shit was done to captured Allied soldiers (not that Allies didn't do some fucked shit to the Axis troops when THEY were captured). It just seems uncharacteristic for, well, war.

It wasn't a state until 1959 though.

I never had any idea about this, interesting to read.

[QUOTE=teh pirate;31988458] This seems so entirely out of character for what we know to be the brutal and unrelenting Japanese invasion forces. I don't know what to say.[/QUOTE] This is what american education does to you

[QUOTE=DuncanFrost;31988903]This is what american education does to you[/QUOTE] Nah because it had nothing to do with them all blowing themselves up all the time for the glorious Empire of Japan.

[QUOTE=phobia-_-;31988328]Americans don't really care about alaska, wouldn't have been much if we lost it[/QUOTE] False, we have a load of resources there. That's where our oil reserves are.

I wonder if my Hist teacher will mention this when we get to the 40s. He mentions shit that the books, media etc don't typically tell you so heres hoping.

I had no idea this had ever happened. At all. I always thought that the extent of Japanese attacks on the U.S. Mainland had extended to a few scattered attacks.

Really fascinating pictures, OP. Its really a shame. If you went up to a random person on the street, and asked them if the Japanese have ever invaded Alaska, there's a great chance they'd say no. Hell I didn't know they did until I watched a documentary about it. Even though it was small compared to a battle such as El Alamein or Stalingrad, a lot of people fought, a lot of people died. I wish people knew more about it.

Those pictures give a good sense of perspective

[QUOTE=DuncanFrost;31988903]This is what american education does to you[/QUOTE] "from what we know to be" i.e. what we've been taught. I realize they were people and that all (or even most) of them weren't the sick satanic monsters they're portrayed as - it's just surprising to see such a peaceful monument in this context. I worded the post poorly.

I may be late, but Alaska wasn't a state in 1942. Before the '50s it belonged to Russia.

From Wiki: [quote]Alaska was purchased from the Russian Empire on March 30, 1867, for $7.2 million ($113 million in today's dollars) at about two cents per acre ($4.74/km²). The land went through several administrative changes before becoming an organized (or incorporated) territory on May 11, 1912, and the 49th state of the U.S. on January 3, 1959.[/quote] So Alaska wasn't part of the US so they never "technically" invaded.