A CONCISE, THOROUGHLY ILLUSTRATED GUIDE INTO THE ISLAND BATTLE THAT WOULD END WORLD WAR II By the spring of 1945 the Allies were sweeping all before them in the Pacific War against Japan, and a series of victories had reclaimed many of the islands and territories seized by the Imperial Japanese forces in the early months of the war. The dark days of humiliating defeat were far behind; the unstoppable Allied juggernaut victory was now assured. The question was where the last battle would be fought. That place was the island of Okinawa. With black and white as well as colour illustrations throughout, this book details the struggle for the island as US Marines and Army units battled determined Japanese defenders in the final moments of the war.