The Battle of Peleliu was a World War II military engagement which took place on the island of Peleliu, Palau islands, in the Pacific Theater, from September 15 to November 27, 1944. Codenamed Operation Stalemate II, the Battle of Peleliu was fought between the US Marines and the Imperial Japanese forces. The result of the battle was an American victory.
Between June and August, 1944, the US forces had recaptured the Japanese-held islands of Saipan, Guam, and Tinian in the Mariana islands, Central Pacific, bringing the war closer to Japan as American bombers were now able to strike at the Japanese main islands. Before launching an assault on the Philippines, General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz had agreed that they had to attack the island of Peleliu first in order to gain another foothold from which to continue the Pacific Campaign. The 1st, 5th, and 7th Marine Divisions were assigned to begin the initial assualt on Peleliu. One of the objectives of the US Marines was to capture the airstrip of the island.
The commander of 1st Marine Division, Major General William Rupertus, had predicted the island would be secured within four days. Nevertheless, due to Japan’s well-crafted fortifications and stiff resistance, the battle of Peleliu was extremely vicious and lasted over two months. Taking into account the number of men involved, Peleliu had the highest casualty rate of any battle in the Pacific War. The National Museum of the Marine Corps called it "the bitterest battle of the war for the Marines".
Attack On Peleliu (Documentary Color Footage)
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