The Strategic Importance of a Volcanic Wasteland

Iwo Jima, a small volcanic island measuring just 8 kilometers long and 4 kilometers wide, was an inhospitable place covered in black volcanic ash and sulfurous fumes. With no natural freshwater sources and vegetation limited to sparse banana and pineapple plants, the island was nearly uninhabitable. Japan claimed the unoccupied island in 1890, and by World War II, its population stood at around 1,000.

However, Iwo Jima’s location—midway between Saipan and Tokyo—made it a critical strategic outpost. After the U.S. captured Saipan, Guam, and Tinian, B-29 bombers gained bases to strike Japan. But Iwo Jima’s radar stations could alert Tokyo of incoming raids, making it a dangerous obstacle. Capturing the island would allow American P-51 fighters to escort bombers, provide emergency landing sites for damaged aircraft, and serve as a refueling and rescue hub. For Japan, despite knowing the island was indefensible, military doctrine demanded a desperate last stand.

The American Assault: Preparation and Initial Strikes

In October 1944, Admiral Chester Nimitz ordered the invasion of Iwo Jima, appointing Admiral Raymond Spruance to lead the operation. The U.S. assembled a massive force: 75,000 Marines, 495 ships, and over 1,000 aircraft. Originally planned for December 1944, the attack was delayed until February 1945 due to ongoing fighting in the Philippines.

For 75 days prior to the invasion, U.S. bombers and naval artillery pounded the island, dropping 6,800 tons of bombs and firing thousands of shells. The bombardment turned the surface into a wasteland of craters and ash, but Japanese forces, hidden in an elaborate underground network, remained largely intact.

The Japanese Defense: A Fortress Beneath the Ash

Under Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, Japan transformed Iwo Jima into a subterranean fortress. Tunnels stretched over 13 kilometers, connecting bunkers, artillery positions, and command centers. Soldiers endured unbearable conditions—49°C (120°F) heat, sulfur fumes, and severe water shortages—while constructing these defenses.

Kuribayashi’s strategy was unconventional: rather than contest the beaches, he allowed U.S. forces to land before unleashing devastating fire from hidden positions. However, some Japanese units prematurely revealed their artillery, allowing American forces to neutralize them before the main assault.

The Bloody Landing and the Fight for Mount Suribachi

On February 19, 1945, U.S. Marines stormed the beaches under heavy fire. Flame-throwing tanks and infantry advanced through a hail of bullets and mortar shells. The Japanese fought tenaciously, using tunnels to ambush American troops and launching desperate banzai charges.

The battle for Mount Suribachi, the island’s highest point, was especially brutal. After days of close-quarters combat, U.S. forces raised the American flag on February 23—an iconic moment immortalized in Joe Rosenthal’s photograph. Yet fighting raged on as Japanese troops, refusing surrender, launched suicidal counterattacks from their underground strongholds.

The Final Stand and Legacy of the Battle

By March, organized Japanese resistance had collapsed, but isolated holdouts continued fighting. Kuribayashi, refusing surrender, committed ritual suicide. The battle officially ended on March 26, 1945, after 36 days of carnage.

Casualties were staggering:
– Japan: 22,000 dead, 1,000 captured
– U.S.: 6,800 dead, 19,000 wounded

The battle’s significance was profound. Iwo Jima became a vital base for U.S. air operations, enabling relentless bombing of Japan. The extreme brutality of the fighting foreshadowed the even bloodier potential invasion of Japan’s home islands—averted only by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Today, Iwo Jima stands as a symbol of sacrifice and the ferocity of war. The lessons of its underground warfare influenced future military tactics, while its legacy endures in memorials, films, and the enduring image of the flag-raising on Suribachi.