Japan defended Iwo Jima in such a strongly and passionate way because it was considered part of Japanese homeland.
Explanation:
The Battle of Iwo Jima took place between February 19 and March 26, 1945, on the Japanese island of Iwo-jima. The extremely bloody battle was the second last major battle of the Pacific Front of World War II.
The Allied forces had, since the spring of 1943, gradually fought their way through the Pacific island world and approaching the Japanese main islands, being Iwo Jima the first of these. In the beginning of 1945 Japan was basically defeated, but there were still no thoughts of capitulation by the military. The Japanese forces defending the island were led by General Tadamichi Kuribayashi and he had about 21,000 men at his disposal.
The United States lost thousands of people killed and wounded. In the long run, however, the Japanese forces could not resist the American superiority in manpower and equipment.
The Japanese fought heroically as the samurai tradition banned capitulation even in hopeless situations. About two hundred Japanese survived out of the 22,000 garrison. The number of American soldiers killed was just over 7,000 and 20,000 wounded.
