History
Germany
annexed the Marshalls in 1885. Japan took over in 1914 and colonized
the Marshalls extensively, with the Navy developing some of the
atolls in large bases, The first Micronesian
islands liberated by the Americans in WWII was Kwajalein Atoll
in 1944. Majuro
Atoll
was taken next and quickly developed into a base. Within weeks
some 30 other islands had fallen. At the end of the war, 28 Japanese
officers and enlisted men stood
trial for war crimes in the Marshalls. Four
were exicuted.
Today
After the war, the Americans immediately began to test atomic
bombs on Bikini and Enewetok atolls. Many of the locations
and islands are either off limits, or accessible to only
those living on the islands.
|
Wreck of a B-24 Liberator
"St. Quentin Quail" off shore |
|
First
Hydrogen bomb test November 18, 1952 |
|
Last
Japanese held island liberated by USMC |
| |
Bikini Atoll |
|
Nuclear testing Area |
|
Kwajalein Atoll |
|
Large Japanese and later American base
during the war |
|
Off limits
to most outsiders, this island has many Japanese fortifications |
|
Island in Kwajalein
Lagoon with several seaplane wrecks |
|
Wrecks
are infrequently visited due to their distance from Kwaj
(24 miles) |
|
Several unidentified
WWII ship wrecks off shore. |
|
Sunken coastal
tanker. |
|
Shonan
Maru No. 6 and a Landing craft |
|
Several
sunken wrecks |
|
Site of
the initial landing by US forces in the area. |
|
American
Tank in the shallows |
| |
Wotje Atoll |
|
Japanese occupied
until the end of WWII |
|
Japanese occupied
until the end of WWII |
| |
Maloelap Atoll |
|
Taroa had a
major Japanese airbase developed in the 1930's. |
| |
Majuro Atoll |
|
Japanese built airfield, liberated and expanded by US Navy |
|
Island near Majuro with B-24 wreck |
| |
Mili Atoll |
|
Japanese occupied
for duration of WWII |
| |
Jaluit Atoll |
|
Former German
colonial capital at Jabor |
|
Japanese
seaplane base and fortified island. |
|
Small island
between Jaluit and connected to the SE edge of Emiej |
|
Island in Jaluit Atoll |
| |
|
|
Northern island with sunkne cargo ship
near lagoon |
