Battle of Peleliu

A 1944 battle in which U.S. forces captured Peleliu from Japanese defenders during the Pacific campaign of World War II. Its prolonged fighting in fortified terrain caused heavy casualties.

Operation Stalemate II: A U.S. operation to capture islands in the Palau group in September 1944. Peleliu was the central objective of this wider operation.
Pacific War: The Second World War conflict fought across East Asia and the Pacific from 1937 to 1945. Peleliu formed part of the U.S. campaign to advance across the Pacific toward Japan.
William H. Rupertus: A U.S. Marine Corps general who commanded the 1st Marine Division during the Battle of Peleliu. He led the principal U.S. ground force during the initial assault and fighting.
Battle of Angaur: A 1944 battle in which U.S. forces captured Angaur, an island in the Palau group. It was fought during the same Palau operation as Peleliu.
Peleliu: An island in Palau, notable for its airfield and rugged coral terrain. Its airfield, ridges, and caves shaped the battle’s objectives and tactics.
Palau: An island country in the western Pacific, including Peleliu and other islands of the Palau archipelago. The battle was fought in the Palau archipelago, then under Japanese control.
Roy S. Geiger: A U.S. Marine Corps general who commanded the III Amphibious Corps in the Pacific War. He commanded the corps responsible for the Peleliu landing and ground campaign.
Battle of Iwo Jima: A 1945 battle in which U.S. forces captured the Japanese-held island of Iwo Jima. Its costly fighting against fortified Japanese defenses echoed Peleliu’s tactical challenges.
Amphibious warfare: Military operations that move forces from sea to shore and sustain them on land. U.S. forces began the assault with a seaborne landing on Peleliu’s beaches.
Peleliu Airfield: An airfield on Peleliu built by Japanese forces before the 1944 battle. Capturing this airfield was a principal U.S. objective.

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History of PalauBroader topic: The battle brought devastating combat to Palau near the end of Japanese rule.