Question 376: See posting for question(see Mehlsack's answer).

2

2054172

Guest
1] On the same day as the attack of Pearl Harbour the Japanese invaded what Islands?

2] The people of these islands used weapons made from a creature of nature, what was it ?

3] Provide a picture of it.

4] What part did Marines play in these Islands?
 
1.) Gilbert Islands

2.) shark-tooth swords

3.)

4.)
On 17 August 1942, 221 U.S. Marines of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion raided Makin from two submarines. The raid was intended by the Americans to confuse the Japanese about US intentions in the Pacific. It is instead believed to have alerted the Japanese to the strategic importance of the Gilbert Islands and led to their reinforcement and fortification.

Marines captured during this operation were subsequently summarily executed by the Japanese, in gross violation of the laws of war. The Japanese were at this point under no logistical pressure nor had significant atrocities by the Allied been committed on the Japanese. Per a video on YouTube, 19 Marines who died were left behind for the villagers to bury. In 1999, a Marine Honor guard was sent to recover the bodies and found them after a villager showed them where to dig. All were exhumed and brought back.

Tarawa and Abemama were occupied in force by the Japanese in September 1942 and during the next year garrisons were built up on Betio (Tarawa Atoll), and Butaritari (Makin Atoll). Only nominal forces were placed on other islands in the Gilberts.
On 20 November 1943, the United States Army and U.S. 2nd Marine Division landed on Makin and Tarawa, initiating the battles of Makin and Tarawa, in which the Japanese were defeated. The Gilbert Islands were then used to support the invasion of the Marshall Islands in February 1944.
 
Mehlsack your the man...good job. Spot on. Did you find it a lot of work?
 
Leader Board updated Mehlsack is now 2 points from being a Grand Quiz Master. Keep up the good work
 
2054172 said:
Did you find it a lot of work?
Click to expand...
Searching for answers of the FGM-club is never work but a great pleasure!:D

My first guess was Wake Island and I could answer 3 of 4 pretty quickly. But no trace of a weapon made of natural parts. Btw: Did they use these swords in combat? I guess they were for some kind of ritual dancing.

I always use a lot the Google picture search and by looking for ancient weapons on Wake I stumbled across a picture of the shark-tooth sword. Suddenly everything did fit.

I really enjoyed this quiz as I did learn a lot. (The war in the pacific was never in my focus I have to admitt.)

@Numbers: Keep up your good work as the quiz moderator! Thumps up!
 
I believe from other reading in the past that it was used in battle....it was thrust in and when pulled out made quite a mess of the poor sod that received the thrust. I would say as with any weapon why make it if you never use it?
 
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