Pacific Footsteps

First broadcast July 2005

In Europe, World War Two ended in May 1945, but in the Pacific region, it continued until August when Japan surrendered.

Pacific Footsteps, a co-production between the BBC World Service and ABC Radio National, marks the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two in the Pacific.

Presenter Brent Clough follows the battles and examines contemporary life in four countries touched by the war in this region.

Part 4: The Northern Marianas

These tiny islands in the Western Pacific were the first Japanese territory to be invaded by the US and they have kept them ever since.

PICTURE GALLERY Northern Marianas

We look at how the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian populations on the island of Saipan have fared under US rule, how this has brought them enormous wealth but perhaps not happiness.

We visit tiny Tinian, home to only 1200 people. It was from here that two planes left in August 1945 to drop nuclear bombs on Japan.

The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is seen as ending World War Two, as Japan then surrendered, but it also ushered in the nuclear age and hence the Cold War.

---

Terms of Use
The BBC Podcasts are for your personal non-commercial use only.

All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the BBC Podcasts shall remain the property of the BBC or third parties.

You may not edit, alter, adapt or add to the BBC Podcast in any way. The BBC Podcasts are made available by the BBC on an "as is" and "as available" basis and the BBC gives no warranty of any kind in relation to the BBC Podcast.

To the maximum extent permitted by law the BBC will not be liable for any loss or damage which you may suffer as a result of or connected to the download or use of the BBC Podcasts

See the full BBC Podcast: Standard Licence Terms here.