The United States recently returned twenty-two historic artifacts to Japan that were taken following the Battle of Okinawa during World War II

• The United States has returned twenty-two historic artifacts to Japan that were looted following the Battle of Okinawa during World War II, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The Battle of Okinawa

• The final major clash of World War II, raged for over 80 days in 1945.
• US forces fought to capture Okinawa, a strategically located island close to mainland Japan, from a determined Japanese defense.
• The intense fighting resulted in horrific casualties on both sides and ultimately helped shape the decision to use atomic bombs to end the war.
• Code named Operation Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa and other islands in the Ryukyus began on April 1, 1945.
• The immense size of the invasion forces made it the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War.
• The United States secured Okinawa on June 22, 1945.
• The enormous casualties and the brutal fighting that occurred on Okinawa forced military planners to reconsider the invasion of Japan.
• It directly influenced the American decision to use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Prelims Takeaway

• Hiroshima and Nagasaki
• Map based question