The Tragic End of Guadalcanal

The Misery of Starvation and Retreat

※ This is the 7th part of a 9-part series on the Pacific War.

Shortage of Supplies and Soaring Deaths

These Japanese prisoners were among those captured by U.S. forces on Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands, shown November 5, 1942. (AP/Atlantic)

The U.S. military could freely use Guadalcanal’s airfield, allowing them to relentlessly attack Japanese supply ships by sea and air.

For the Japanese, sending cannons or machine guns was nearly impossible as their ships were sunk before reaching the island.

Isolated on an island where even breathing was a struggle, the Japanese suffered heavy combat losses, but far more died from starvation and disease.

Of the approximately 20,000 Japanese deaths on Guadalcanal, about 5,000 were from direct combat, while an estimated 15,000 succumbed to illness and hunger.

The Misery of Retreat

After six months of fighting in dire conditions on Guadalcanal, the Japanese command finally ordered a withdrawal to regroup and lower the front line.

However, the retreat was far from smooth. The plan involved stealthily bringing ships close to the shore to evacuate troops gathered on the beach, but with a U.S. airfield on the island and American naval ships swarming the surrounding waters, launching ships was a life-or-death gamble.

The US’s Victory and Japan’s Decline

The six-month struggle for Guadalcanal ended in a U.S. victory, providing a foothold for the conquest of the Solomon Islands.

Despite heavy losses, Japan failed to reclaim Guadalcanal, losing the momentum they had at the war’s outset. After peaking with Pearl Harbor and the Malayan campaign, Japan expanded across the Pacific, but defeats at Midway and Guadalcanal marked the beginning of their decline.

Establishment of the Absolute National Defense Zone

Consecutive losses cost Japan many soldiers and warships, prompting a major strategic retreat. Unable to defend every occupied Pacific island due to shortages of ships and troops, they abandoned some islands to fortify a minimal defensive perimeter called the “Absolute National Defense Zone.”

The US’s Assault on the Mariana Islands

Japan anticipated the U.S. would target the Caroline or Palau Islands next, aiming for the Philippines. However, they miscalculated.

The U.S. instead struck the Mariana Islands, prioritizing bombing the Japanese mainland over securing a foothold in the Philippines.

The Start of Strategic Bombing

U.S. Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers rained destruction on major Japanese cities.

The U.S. focused on “strategic bombing,” aiming to destroy weapon factories and bomb major Japanese cities to incite anti-war sentiment. The B-29 bomber, designed for this purpose, made the Mariana Islands sufficient for striking Japan’s mainland without needing to conquer the larger Philippines.

In the final Part 9, I will cover the Battle of Saipan and Japan’s last stand.

The Pacific War 8/9