Battle of Saipan

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About Battle of Saipan

The history of the Battle of Saipan, one of the most important battles in World War II.

The morning of June 15, 1944, D-Day in the Pacific, wave after wave of American Marines landed on the heavily fortified beaches of south-western Saipan. By the end of the first day the Marines had secured the beach at a heavy cost. This was the start of three weeks of vicious combat to wrestle Saipan away from the Japanese. The battle of Saipan was the first time America invaded an island with Japanese civilians and was a nightmarish preview of how the invasion of Japan would unfold.

The cost of Saipan in lives:
3,500 American soldiers (2,000 on the first day)
30,000 Japanese soldiers (a near total loss)
22,000 Japanese civilians (most were forced suicide by the Japanese soldiers)
1,500 of the local population
Total of 57,000 lives in just three weeks.

Add present day pictures and WWII pictures taken on the island of Saipan.