Battle of Peleliu
Peleliu island, Palau
What happened
The US 1st Marine Division under Major General William Rupertus, later relieved by the Army's 81st Infantry Division, fought the Japanese garrison under Colonel Kunio Nakagawa. US forces landed on the small coral island of Peleliu on 15 September 1944, expecting a fight of a few days. Instead, the Japanese defenders fought from caves and tunnels in the central ridges. The airfield was taken in September, but fighting went on for over two months, and Nakagawa died before the island was declared secure on 27 November.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The island turned out to have little strategic value, and its airfield did not play a key role later. Its very high cost led many Americans to question whether the battle had been necessary.
What came next
The 1st Marine Division did not fight again until Okinawa in April 1945. A small group of Japanese soldiers stayed hidden in the caves until April 1947.
Did you know?
Japanese holdouts surrendered in 1947 only after a former Japanese admiral convinced them the war was over.
Timeline
- 15 September 1944US Marines land on Peleliu.
- 30 October 1944The Army's 81st Division takes over from the Marines.
- 27 November 1944The island is declared secure.
- 22 April 1947The last Japanese holdouts surrender.
- 1978Palau becomes independent; Peleliu becomes one of its states.