- Title: THE WAR WITH JAPAN | OKINAWA CAMPAIGN | Set of 3
- Author: United States Military Academy
- Date/Location: 1956, West Point, New York
- Condition: See description
- Inches: 10 x 13 [Image]
- Centimeters: 25.4 x 33.02 [Image]
- Product ID: 308360
[MAP 163] LANDINGS ON ADJACENT ISLANDS AND OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN OKINAWA FROM 1 APRIL TO 23 APRIL 1945
[MAP 164] Landings 1 April 1945 and Principal Operations to 30 April
[MAP 165] Operations in Southern Okinawa (30 April – 21 June 1945)
The Battle for Okinawa, Three Map Set
Three maps, a general map of Okinawa and outlying islands (163), invasion map showing phase one of the battle through April 30 (164), and a highly detailed map showing the struggle for the southern tip of the island (165).
The Battle of Okinawa, also known as Operation Iceberg, was fought between the United States and Japan from April 1 to June 22, 1945, and stands as the largest and deadliest battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II. U.S. Army and Marine Corps forces, supported by the Navy, launched a massive amphibious assault to capture Okinawa as a strategic base for the planned invasion of Japan.
Japanese defenders, led by Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima, used rugged terrain, fortified caves, and inland defenses—especially around Shuri Castle—to slow the American advance. The battle was marked by intense fighting, including relentless kamikaze attacks against Allied ships, which caused significant damage and loss of life. The Japanese battleship Yamato was sunk during the battle as part of a desperate counterattack. Okinawan civilians suffered immensely, with up to 150,000 killed, missing, or dying by suicide due to coercion or the chaos of war.
In total, the battle resulted in about 50,000 Allied casualties and around 100,000 Japanese military casualties. The eventual capture of Okinawa provided the Allies with a crucial base for operations but also led to a reconsideration of the planned invasion of Japan due to the high cost in lives, influencing the decision to use atomic weapons to bring the war to an end.
Reference
United States Department of Defense website, accessed 22 May 2025; https://www.defense.gov
Condition
Mild age toning, else fine.