Mopping-Up Operation by the U.S. 6th Marine Division in Okinawa (1945)

In the final phase of the Battle of Okinawa in June 1945, the U.S. 6th Marine Division undertook a series of intensive mopping-up operations to eliminate the last pockets of Japanese resistance scattered across the island’s southern terrain. Following the collapse of the main Japanese defensive line around Shuri and the death of General Mitsuru Ushijima, the remaining defenders—many entrenched in caves and ravines—continued to resist with desperate ferocity. Color film footage shot by U.S. combat cameramen vividly captured these final operations: Marines advancing cautiously through the devastated hills, using flamethrowers, demolition charges, and grenades to clear fortified cave positions, while medical teams tended to the wounded amid the smoke and debris. The scenes reveal the grim reality of the battle’s aftermath—burned-out vehicles, shattered villages, and the somber burial of fallen comrades. By late June, the 6th Marine Division had secured the island’s northern and southern sectors, marking the end of organized resistance and the completion of one of the Pacific War’s bloodiest campaigns.

Source :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDT16kJgH1M