Watch Crusade in the Pacific: Palau - The Fight for Bloody Nose Ridge

Crusade in the Pacific: Palau - The Fight for Bloody Nose Ridge is a documentary film produced by the National Archives in 1945. It is a gripping tale of the heroic struggle between American and Japanese forces during World War II to take Palau's Bloody Nose Ridge. The film aims to educate and inform the American public about the tactics and strategies employed by both sides.

The movie starts with an introduction to Palau Island, its layout, and its strategic importance to the Allies. The viewer is taken on a visual tour of the island, giving them a clear idea of the challenges that lie ahead for the invading forces. The high cliffs, dense vegetation, and numerous bunkers and pillboxes built by the Japanese army make for a formidable defensive wall.

The documentary then launches into the history of the Battle for Palau, which lasted from September to November 1944. The film recounts the initial landing of American forces on the beaches of Peleliu, which was met with intense resistance from the Japanese defenders. The narrow strip of land between the beaches and hills was fraught with danger, with snipers and well-concealed pillboxes raining lead on the advancing American soldiers.

Despite facing a tenacious enemy, American forces managed to carve out a beachhead and establish a supply line, allowing for reinforcements to be brought in. The documentary carefully describes the various tactics employed by the Americans to gain a foothold on the island, including air assaults, artillery bombardments, and ground assaults.

However, the fiercest fighting was yet to come, as the Americans pushed towards Bloody Nose Ridge - a strategic height that controlled the island's south-western perimeter. The Japanese had fortified the ridge with over 500 pillboxes and bunkers, as well as a network of tunnels, making it a near-impregnable defense position.

The rest of the documentary focuses on the brutal, unrelenting battle to seize control of Bloody Nose Ridge. American troops, aided by tanks and flamethrowers, had to inch their way up the hill, taking out pillboxes one at a time. Japanese resistance was stiff, and the fighting was hand-to-hand in some cases. The documentary portrays the sheer courage and tenacity of both sides, as they fought to the last man to gain control of the ridge.

The end of the documentary shows the battle's gruesome aftermath, with the American flag flying on top of Bloody Nose Ridge, and the thousands of casualties on both sides. The film ends on a somber note, memorializing the lives lost in the battle and reflecting on the gravity of the war's toll.

Overall, Crusade in the Pacific: Palau - The Fight for Bloody Nose Ridge is a gripping, sobering documentary that provides a glimpse into the horrors of World War II. It is a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought in the Pacific theater, and a reminder of the importance of remembering their legacy.