The Battle of Okinawa: A Tragic Climax

The Battle of Okinawa was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of World War II's Pacific Theater,

fought from April 1 to June 22, 1945. Codenamed Operation Iceberg,

its goal was to capture the strategically vital Ryukyu Islands, providing the Allies with a base for

a planned invasion of mainland Japan. This battle involved more than 60,000 American soldiers

and Marines from the Tenth Army facing fierce Japanese resistance.​ Unlike other Pacific

battles, the Japanese forces did not engage heavily on the beaches but withdrew into the

rugged, fortified caves and hills of Okinawa. This strategy led to a brutal,

prolonged battle of attrition characterized by intense ground combat, especially around