Northern Marianas: WWII Memorial Sites
Saipan became part of the Japanese empire in 2013 and by 1943 was over 90% populated by Japanese resettles. Japan considered Saipan s the last line of defense during the WWII and the island was very strongly fortified against incoming US troops. The battle of Saipan was one of the heavier fight in the Pacific Rim. Over 3 thousand US troops, almost 30 thousand Japanese troops, and 20 thousand civilians died in the 3 week campaign, many Japanese committing suicide as the Americans advanced. Today several memorials commemorate this around the island. Many sites have remnants of Japanese tanks and artillery. After the war, all remaining Japanese were repatriated back to Japan.
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