The Battle of Guam is the battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II , which took place on the island of Guam , one of the Mariana Islands , from December 8 to December 10, 1941. This battle allowed the Japanese to capture Guam , build fortifications and organize a base to control the surrounding territory.
| Guam operation | |||
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| Main Conflict: World War II / Pacific War | |||
 December 1941, Japanese soldiers land on Guam. | |||
| date | December 8 - December 10, 1941 | ||
| A place | Guam , Mariana Islands | ||
| Total | Japan decisive victory | ||
| Opponents | |||
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| Commanders | |||
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| Forces of the parties | |||
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| Losses | |||
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The forces of the parties
An American garrison of about 550 marines, lightly armed (4 Thompson , 3 assault rifles, about 160 small arms: Browning M1918 and Springfield M1903 ).
The Japanese offensive forces of the Imperial Navy of Japan consisted mainly of the forces of the 55th Infantry Division, but only 370 men of the 5th company of the Marine Corps of the Imperial Navy of Japan , based on Saipan, participated in the battle.
Guam Attack and Capture
At 04:45 on December 8, 1941, Governor George McMillin was notified of the attack on Pearl Harbor . At 08:27, Japanese planes from Saipan attacked Guam, destroying the ship USS Penguin. The raids lasted until 17:00 hours.
On December 9, at 08:30, no more than 9 aircraft simultaneously resumed Japanese air raids. In the evening, the Japanese fleet sailed from Saipan to Guam.
At 02:15 on December 10, 370 men of the 5th company of the Marine Corps of the Imperial Navy of Japan attacked and quickly captured Hagatna . Then took Petey and Sumei. At 06:00, Governor George McMillin officially surrendered the island to the Japanese.
Consequences
Guam became Japanese-controlled territory until 1944.
The Japanese lost only one soldier killed. Most Americans were captured, of which at least 18 were later executed.
See also
- Guam operation (1944)
Notes
Sources
- Tony Palomo, “The Defense of Guam” (US National Park Service) Access date: June 11, 2007.
- Lodge, Major OR USMC Historical Monograph: The Recapture of Guam , Historical Branch, United States Marine Corps, 1954.
- Hough, Lieutenant Colonel Frank O. History of US Marine Corps Operations in World War II. Volume I: Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal , Historical Branch, United States Marine Corps.
- Rottman, Gordon L .; Guam 1941 & 1944: Loss and reconquest . Osprey Campaign series # 139. Osprey Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1841768111
- Burton, John. Fortnight of Infamy: The Collapse of Allied Airpower West of Pearl Harbor. - US Naval Institute Press, 2006. - ISBN ISBN 159114096X .
- Roster of guam personnel