American History: The War in the Pacific
22 June 2011
Ruins left by the explosion of an atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan, August 6, 1945
STEVE EMBER: Welcome to THE MAKING OF A NATION -- American history in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember.
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American military planners had to make an important decision when the United States entered the Second World War at the end of nineteen forty-one.
American forces could not fight effectively in Asia and Europe at the same time. The military planners decided to use most of their forces to defeat the German troops of Adolf Hitler. Only after victory over the Nazis was clear in Europe would they use all of America's strength to fight Japan in Asia and the Pacific.
Because of this decision, Japan was able to win many of the early battles of the war in Asia. The fighting in the Pacific is the subject of program this week.
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Japanese planes bombed the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December seventh nineteen forty-one.
BROADCASTER: "We interrupt this program to bring you a special news bulletin. The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by air, President Roosevelt has just announced.
"We take you now to Washington. The attack was apparently made on all naval and military activities on the principal island of Oahu.”
The surprise raid marked the first of several major victories for the Japanese.
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