Island hopping was a strategy employed by Allied forces during World War II to gradually capture Japanese-held islands in the Pacific by bypassing heavily fortified ones, allowing them to establish bases closer to Japan.
Related terms
Iwo Jima: A critical island captured by American forces through intense fighting as part of their island-hopping strategy.
Battle of Okinawa: One of the bloodiest battles fought between American and Japanese forces during World War II, also part of island hopping.
Bataan Death March: After surrendering on April 9, 1942, thousands of Filipino and American prisoners were forced to march 65 miles by Japanese captors - this event demonstrated some reasons why US wanted victory against Japan.