【Introduction】:
Hey, when it comes to World War II, there was a war in the Pacific, and now it makes people's hearts heavy when they mention it, that is the battle of Iwo Jima. This battle is not only a major pain point in the Pacific theater, but also an indelible scar in the hearts of both the United States and Japan. Let's talk about this past today, pondering and pondering, how can a small island make the two powerful countries fight to the death.
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The island hides a big secret, the key to Tokyo
If you look at the map, Iwo Jima may be a small one, but it was a key pawn in the war at the time. It was like a roadblock on the way of the Americans rushing to Japan's doorstep, and every time an American bomber wanted to bomb Tokyo, they had to worry about the eyes of Iwo Jima.
In addition, from time to time, Japanese planes on the island sprang out to make trouble, causing the US flight team to be scattered. Therefore, if the United States wants to smoothly attack Japan, it must take this Iwo Jima. And on the Japanese side, for the sake of Tokyo's safety, it is also determined to defend it. In this way, a hard-fought battle is inevitable.
Speaking of which, the Japanese are not ordinarily concerned about Iwo Jima, they have enough food and drink, and the fortifications are even more solid. It would be even more difficult for American GIs to move the island.
A fortress made in heaven, it is more difficult to attack the island than to climb the ladder
Iwo Jima's boundaries are inherently a good place to defend. Volcanic rocks, ravines, cliffs, and natural barriers all over the ground. The Japanese army also deliberately dug tunnels and forts to play hide and seek with the American soldiers.
The American shells exploded loudly, but the Japanese soldiers hid underground, as if nothing happened. As soon as the artillery fire stopped, they came out and engaged the Americans. In this way, every step taken by the American soldiers was the price of blood, and sometimes, from day to night, they moved a few steps forward.
In particular, the fight for the 382 heights is simply a living meat grinder, and the commanders of the US army fall one by one, and in the end, even the leaders have to temporarily arrest the strong men. This battle is really an inch of land and an inch of blood, and it is a tragic battle.
The pain of logistics, the pain of supply lines
There is another thing that makes the Americans sad. Iwo Jima is too far from home, making it difficult to deliver things, and shipping supplies by sea is easily disrupted. Although the US Navy is bullish, it cannot quench its thirst far from water, and its troops and materials cannot be sent to the front line, so it is in a hurry. It is like a man who is very thirsty, but the water is hundreds of miles away, and the enemy is clearly in front of him, but he cannot take it in one go. As a result, the U.S. military can only grind slowly, gnaw slowly, and people are consumed little by little.
The Japanese soldiers on the island, with their backs to the sea, had no way to retreat, so they could only go out and fight the US troops to the death. More than 20,000 people, all of whom are desperate, let Americans see what it means to "put to death and then live".
A desperate fight in the night, a final counterattack
On March 9, the U.S. military finally grabbed an airfield, but was almost attacked by Japanese soldiers at night. Fortunately, the Americans reacted quickly, using flares and hard-nosed defense, and they were stunned to push back the Japanese night attack, and they also made Japan suffer a big loss. This battle can be regarded as extinguishing Japan's last hope of turning the tables.
Bloodstained history, revelations of peace
In the end, although the Japanese soldiers were still struggling, the general trend had gone, and their strength was almost exhausted. The American general also wrote a letter to persuade the Japanese soldiers to surrender, meaning that there was no point in fighting any longer, and it would only kill more people. Unfortunately, the Japanese did not agree, and in the end, there were almost no Japanese soldiers left on Iwo Jima, and the American army also paid a heavy price.
【Conclusion】:
Think about it, why are the U.S. troops suffering so many casualties? On the one hand, Iwo Jima is blessed with its strategic location and natural conditions; On the other hand, the desperate resistance of the Japanese soldiers and the logistical problems of the American army. The brutality of this battle was also one of the reasons why the United States later decided to use the atomic bomb.
The windmill of history has turned and turned, and the smoke of gunpowder has dissipated, leaving behind a cherishing of peace and a deep contemplation of war. If we have the opportunity to visit the old battlefield of Iwo Jima, we might as well listen quietly and listen to those silent stones talk about the past, they talk about bravery and sacrifice, and tell us that peace is not easy to come by, and we must cherish it.