We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode 273. The Battle of Okinawa: Part 1 - The Invasion

273. The Battle of Okinawa: Part 1 - The Invasion

2025/4/2
logo of podcast Battleground

Battleground
AI Chapters Transcript
Chapters
Saul David and Roger Moorhouse discuss the Battle of Okinawa's significance as one of the last major battles of World War II. Okinawa, part of Japan, was strategically vital due to its airfields and anchorages, serving as a crucial stepping stone for the anticipated invasion of the Japanese home islands.
  • Okinawa is geographically separated from the home islands but is part of the wider Japanese administrative sphere.
  • It's location is 400 miles south of Kyushu.
  • The Allies wanted Okinawa as a jumping-off point to bomb the home islands and base troops for the final invasion.
  • The battle of Iwo Jima signaled to the Allies that the closer they got to the home islands, the more ferocious the fighting would be.

Shownotes Transcript

In this first of a two-part special, Saul David is joined by Roger Moorhouse to dissect the first phase of the Battle of Okinawa. They explore the island's crucial role in the Pacific theater, the immense scale of the fighting, and the unique challenges faced by both Allied and Japanese forces.

From the initial landings to the fierce defence of the inland, and a dive into the strategic rationale behind the invasion of Japanese territory, this episode looks at a battle that shaped the final months of World War II.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

X: @PodBattleground

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices)