Battle of Peleliu, 1944: Three Days That Turned into Three Months

The capture of the Philippines was General MacArthur's next objective after the Allies defeated the Japanese in the Solomons and the Dutch East Indies. To secure his eastern flank, MacArthur seized control of the Palau Islands, including Peleliu. Despite a devastating US preliminary bombardment, the island's garrison of 10,000 men fought fiercely. The Marines went ashore on 15 September 1944, but Japanese resistance stiffened, and the real battle for possession of Peleliu was fought in the woods, swamps, caves, and mountains inland. It took two months, one week, and five days of appalling fighting before the Battle of Peleliu came to an end on 27 November.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 05 August 2021
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

After the Allies had defeated the Japanese in the Solomons and the Dutch East Indies, the capture of the Philippines became General MacArthur's next objective. For this offensive to succeed, MacArthur felt compelled to secure his eastern flank by seizing control of the Palau Islands, one of which was Peleliu. The task of capturing this island, and the enemy airfield on it, was initially handed to Admiral Nimitz. The Palau Islands, however, formed part of Japan's second defensive line, and Peleliu's garrison amounted to more than 10,000 men. Consequently, when the US preliminary bombardment began on 12 September 1944, it was devastating. For two days, the island was pounded relentlessly. Such was the scale of the destruction that the commander of the 1st Marine Division, Major General William H. Rupertus, told his men: "We're going to have some casualties, but let me assure you this is going to be a fast one, rough but fast. We'll be through in three days - it may only take two. At 08.32 hours on 15 September 1944, the Marines went ashore. Despite bitter fighting, and a ferocious Japanese defense, by the end of the day, the Marines had a firm hold on Peleliu. But rather than Japanese resistance crumbling during the following days as had been expected, it stiffened, as they withdrew to their prepared defensive positions. The woods, swamps, caves, and mountains inland had been turned into a veritable fortress - it was there where the real battle for possession of Peleliu was fought. Day after day, the Americans battled forward, gradually wresting control of Peleliu from the Japanese. Despite Major General Rupertus' prediction, it was not until 27 November, after two months, one week, and five days of appalling fighting, and a final, futile last sacrificial charge by the remaining enemy troops, that the Americans finally secured Peleliu.

Weight: 738g
Dimension: 189 x 246 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526778215