Excavating Historical Secrets: Uncovering the Unseen Conflicts of World War II in Alaska
In the heart of the Pacific War, a lesser-known battle unfolded on the Aleutian Islands, marking the only campaign fought on American soil during the conflict. This campaign saw the Japanese occupation of Attu and Kiska Islands, located over 1,000 miles towards Japan.
The Aleutian Islands Campaign began in June 1942 when Japanese forces invaded the islands, with little resistance on Kiska and a tiny U.S. weather station quickly captured on Attu. The Battle of Attu, one of the ugliest fights in the Pacific War, took place from May 11 to May 29, 1943. Despite the harsh, remote, and foggy conditions, the U.S. forces managed to turn the tide, resulting in the death of over 2,300 Japanese soldiers and fewer than 30 U.S. soldiers. Only 28 Japanese soldiers survived the Battle of Attu.
On the U.S. side, the battle claimed 549 soldiers, 1,148 were wounded, and over 1,800 were taken out by frostbite, infections, and illness. The U.S. Navy also successfully cut off supply lines to the Japanese troops on the Aleutian Islands, making it difficult for them to survive.
The Battle of Kiska, however, did not go as planned for the U.S. forces. On August 15, 1943, Operation Cottage was launched with 35,000 U.S. troops, 5,000 Canadians, warships, and planes, intending to fight the Japanese troops on Kiska. Yet, to the surprise of the Allies, they found the island abandoned. The USS Abner Read hit a mine on Kiska, resulting in the death of 71 sailors. Over 100 soldiers were killed or wounded by friendly fire during the landing on Kiska due to thick fog and confusion.
The Aleutian Islands Campaign was significant for several reasons. It served as a training ground for the U.S. military in handling amphibious landings, dealing with enemies who refused to quit, and fighting in freezing weather, stormy seas, and brutal terrain. General Billy Mitchell had predicted that whoever holds Alaska would hold the world before World War II, underscoring the strategic importance of Alaska in the Pacific theater.
However, the Aleutian Islands Campaign is often overlooked in history, overshadowed by more decisive and larger-scale battles such as Midway and Guadalcanal. The battles there were fought in smaller forces compared to the major Pacific confrontations, making them less prominent in popular narratives and military histories that focus on pivotal carrier and island-hopping battles more directly tied to the final defeat of Japan.
Despite its smaller scale and peripheral geographic location, the Aleutian Islands Campaign played a crucial role in the Pacific War. It was a rare direct attack on U.S. soil and an element in Japan’s broader Pacific strategy. The campaign also served as a diversionary attack linked to the larger Midway operation by Japan, intended to draw American forces north while Japan attempted to seize Midway Island.
In conclusion, the Aleutian Islands Campaign was strategically important as a rare direct attack on U.S. soil and an element in Japan’s broader Pacific strategy, but it is often overlooked due to its smaller scale, peripheral geographic location, and timing amidst more decisive battles like Midway and Guadalcanal.
- The Aleutian Islands Campaign, despite being less prominent, provides a valuable focus for historians and politicians, as it was a significant example of war-and-conflicts and offered insights into politics, particularly the strategic importance of Alaska in the Pacific theater.
- The Campaign's impact extended beyond its peripheral location, as it played a critical role in politics by serving as a diversionary attack linked to the larger Midway operation, contributing to Japan’s broader Pacific strategy and war efforts.
