Aleutians: The Forgotten Battlefield of World War II

In mid-1942, while the world was distracted by the major theaters of war in Europe and the Pacific, Japan launched a little-known yet strategically significant offensive in the Aleutian Islands, a remote archipelago extending southwest from the Alaskan Peninsula. Aimed at diverting Allied attention from an imminent attack on Midway, Japanese forces occupied the islands of Attu and Kiska on June 6 and 7, 1942. Initially, the Japanese planned to abandon the islands before winter, but the opportunity to establish an airbase and possibly impact American morale led commanders to stay.

The occupation of these islands, though seemingly insignificant, represented both a symbolic and practical threat to the United States. American leadership recognized the importance of quickly retaking Attu and Kiska, but the treacherous geography and adverse weather conditions made the task extremely challenging. Before launching a direct offensive, the Americans needed to establish forward bases on nearby islands. In August 1942, American troops landed on Adak Island, about 250 miles east of Kiska, with the mission of building an airfield. In a remarkable engineering feat, the runway was completed in just two weeks, allowing B-24 bombers to begin attacks by mid-September.

However, success did not come without cost. Severe weather conditions, including constant fog, snowstorms, and hurricane-force winds, caused significant damage to ships and aircraft. The long nights and short days typical of high latitudes increased psychological pressure on soldiers, sailors, and airmen. Logistical difficulties, exacerbated by rugged terrain and treacherous bogs known as muskeg, resulted in numerous non-combat casualties. The isolation of bases and the need to transport supplies on foot through hostile terrain made the campaign in the Aleutians one of the most difficult and forgotten of the war.

Despite these adversities, American air and naval forces managed to isolate the Japanese garrisons on Attu and Kiska, cutting off their supply lines and sinking enemy vessels. The largest naval battle of the campaign, known as the Battle of the Komandorski Islands, occurred on March 26, 1943. A strong Japanese detachment escorting three transports encountered an American naval squadron. Although the Japanese inflicted more damage, they feared American airpower and withdrew. After this battle, the Japanese could only resupply their Aleutian garrisons by submarine, a clearly insufficient solution.

By spring 1943, the U.S. 7th Infantry Division was training to retake Attu and Kiska. While several thousand Japanese occupied Kiska, only about 500 soldiers defended Attu. Despite Attu being farther from the nearest American base, U.S. leaders decided to attack this island first, and then use its newly constructed airstrip to blockade Kiska. On May 11, 1943, American forces landed simultaneously on both the north and south sides of the Attu peninsula. However, inaccurate maps and severe weather hampered support from artillery, naval bombardment, and airstrikes. It took a week for American troops, through challenging terrain, to unite and encircle the Japanese, who were entrenched in well-camouflaged positions on elevated ground.

After the encirclement, the Japanese retreated toward Chichagof Harbor. On May 29, the Attu Japanese garrison sent a message to Japan announcing their defeat. That night, in a final desperate act, the Japanese launched a suicide attack on American positions, resulting in the capture of only 28 Japanese survivors. The battle for Attu claimed the lives of 549 Americans, with another 1,148 wounded. Additionally, 2,100 American soldiers fell victim to the harsh weather and treacherous terrain, resulting in non-combat casualties.

The brief but intense campaign forced American command to reassess its plans for Kiska. Assault and support forces were increased, and the planning was revised for Operation Cottage, the codename for the attack on Kiska. From June to August, Allied forces bombarded Kiska relentlessly by air and sea. With nearly 30,000 American troops and 5,000 Canadian troops committed to the operation, the landing occurred in mid-August, only to discover that the Japanese had secretly evacuated the island weeks earlier. Victory on Kiska had thus been secured through the painful experience on Attu. The lessons learned in one battle were applied to another, contributing to the planning of subsequent Pacific island campaigns.

The fall of Kiska provided American air and naval forces with secure bases from which they could patrol and conduct raids in the North Pacific. American bombers occasionally began conducting long-range raids on Japan’s northern Kuril Islands. Although remote, the conquest of the Aleutians had far-reaching effects. This victory aided the war in Europe. Russian Lend-Lease cargo ships passed through Kiska and Dutch Harbor en route to Vladivostok, and aircraft bound for Russia flew through Nome, bringing crucial materiel to the Eastern Front and the fight against Germany.

The campaign in the Aleutian Islands, often relegated to obscurity, was a testament to the harsh realities of combat in extreme terrains. The battles at Attu and Kiska were small compared to the titanic campaigns in Europe and the Central Pacific, but the sacrifices made and the lessons learned had significant implications for the Allied war effort. Looking back, it is clear that the hard-won victory in the Aleutians was an important piece in the global puzzle of World War II.

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