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The Southampton History Museum is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and incorporated under the New York State Education Department.
Our mission is preservation and education: We preserve and educate about local history and culture through our unique historic sites, archives, collections, and engaging public programs.
The End of the Pacific War (Free Lecture)
Sat, Jul 12
|Veterans Memorial Hall
A lecture by Professor Steven Fuchs, unpacking the dramatic final chapter of World War II in the Pacific. From island-hopping campaigns and firebombing raids, to the atomic bomb and Soviet intervention, discover the critical choices that shaped Imperial Japan’s surrender—and the world that followed.
Time & Location
Jul 12, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Veterans Memorial Hall, 29 Pond Ln, Southampton, NY 11968, USA
About the Event
By 1945, Imperial Japan's defeat in World War II was all but certain—yet the path to surrender remained fraught with uncertainty and profound consequences. What price was Imperial Japan willing to pay to secure better terms? And what price was the United States willing to pay to ensure total victory?
This compelling lecture examines the final months of the Pacific War, focusing on the U.S. island-hopping campaign, the devastating effects of the naval blockade and aerial bombardment, and the strategic calculations behind America’s planned invasion of the Japanese mainland. We will also explore the seismic impact of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as the Soviet Union’s sudden entry into the conflict. Together, these events shaped one of the most pivotal decisions in modern history: Imperial Japan’s surrender.
Presented by Steven Fuchs, Professor of History and Director of the Office of Military and Veteran Services at St.…