When discussing the timeline of World War 2 we simply cannot forget to include the Battle of Iwo Jima. The Battle of Iwo Jima involved ground fighting for about thirty-five days spanning between 19 February 1945 and 26 March 1945. This infamous battle that took place near the end of the timeline of World War 2 occurred after the Imperial Japanese Navy had already lost much of its power and was since unable to prevent American landings. The Japanese military had suffered many losses by this point in the war.

During World War 2, the island of Iwo Jima served as a warning station to mainland Japan. Military personnel on the island would radio reports of incoming bombers and any other activity to the mainland. This allowed Japanese air defenses to be prepared against any enemy bombers. Because the island was such an integral part of the protection of Japan, it was a heavy loss when the Americans won the battle of Iwo Jima.

More than 70,000 United States Marine troops fought at the Battle of Iwo Jima from the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions. As the troops arrived, Japanese forces withheld fire for quite some time to allow the Allied forces to build up equipment and troops on the island. It was after some time that the Japanese opened hostile fire. The U.S. troops took quite a hit but in the end defeated the Japanese. The infamous image of the U.S. marines raising the American flag will forever be burned in the memory of the world.

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