Internet Resources
- The Battle of MidwayOne of Japan’s main goals during World War II was to remove the United States as a Pacific power in order to gain territory in east Asia and the southwest Pacific islands. Japan hoped to defeat the US Pacific Fleet and use Midway as a base to attack Pearl Harbor, securing dominance in the region and then forcing a negotiated peace.
- Battle of MidwayExamine how the U.S. Navy defeated Japan's fleet to check Japanese expansion in the Battle of Midway
- Battle of Midway: 4–7 June 1942Strategic background and the role of communications intelligence.
- Jun 4, 1942 CE: Battle of Midway BeginsOn June 4, 1942, the Battle of Midway, fought between American and Japanese fleets in the Pacific Ocean, began.
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway took place June 4-7, 1942.
Image: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/thisday/jun4/battle-midway-begins/
Streaming Media
- 1942 Midway—Four Minutes Change EverythingThe advent of aircraft carriers brought a significant new era in naval warfare. Witness the most dramatic and pivotal of the “carrier versus carrier” battles, where the events of a short span of minutes permanently tilted the balance of power in the Pacific to the United States.
- Battle of Midway Tactical OverviewSeven months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, American and Japanese forces clashed over Midway Atoll, a dot of land in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The Battle of Midway tested intelligence and combat capabilities on both sides – while decidedly altering the outcome of World War II.
- How Did the Battle of Midway Change WWII?Six months after the attack of Pearl Harbor came The Battle of Midway. Here the US would come up against a formidable Japanese navy and make Midway one of the most famous battles of WWII. In this episode of Battles Won & Lost we investigate both sides tactics and why despite being outnumbered the US were able to come out victorious.
- Midway: 10 Minutes That Changed the WarWhy were the Japanese determined to capture an American base on a tiny atoll in the middle of the Pacific? The surprising answer has to do with the changing nature of naval warfare, and recognition of the important role carriers played. Go inside this astonishing battle, minute by minute, and reflect on how critical decisions affected the outcome.
Perspectives
The Battle of Midway
There are few moments in American history in which the course of events tipped so suddenly and so dramatically as at the Battle of Midway. At dawn of June 4, 1942, a rampaging Japanese navy ruled the Pacific. By sunset, their vaunted carrier force (the Kido Butai) had been sunk and their gripon the Pacific had been loosened forever.In this absolutely riveting account of a key moment in the history of World War II, one of America's leading naval historians, Craig L. Symonds paints an unforgettable portrait of ingenuity, courage, and sacrifice. Symonds begins with the arrival of Admiral Chester A. Nimitz at Pearl Harbor afterthe devastating Japanese attack, and describes the key events leading to the climactic battle, including both Coral Sea - the first battle in history against opposing carrier forces - and Jimmy Doolittle's daring raid of Tokyo. He focuses throughout on the people involved, offering telling portraitsof Admirals Nimitz, Halsey, Spruance and numerous other Americans, as well as the leading Japanese figures, including the poker-loving Admiral Yamamoto. Indeed, Symonds sheds much light on the aspects of Japanese culture - such as their single-minded devotion to combat, which led to poorly armoredplanes and inadequate fire-safety measures on their ships - that contributed to their defeat. The author's account of the battle itself is masterful, weaving together the many disparate threads of attack - attacks which failed in the early going - that ultimately created a five-minute window inwhich three of the four Japanese carriers were mortally wounded, changing the course of the Pacific war in an eye-blink.Symonds is the first historian to argue that the victory at Midway was not simply a matter of luck, pointing out that Nimitz had equal forces, superior intelligence, and the element of surprise. Nimitz had a strong hand, Symonds concludes, and he rightly expected to win.
Return to Midway
Provides an account of the 1942 battle of Midway and the high-tech hunt for the lost ships fifty-six years later.
Research & Reference
- Battle of Midway: Credo ReferenceA Credo Reference landing page on the Battle of Midway. This page includes links to reference works, journal articles, and a mind map.