Why Japan lost the Battle of Midway

by Imperial War Museums
published on 07 August 2026

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Has the balance of power ever changed so much in so little time than at the Battle of Midway? In the space of just 5 minutes, American dive bombers scored hits on three Japanese aircraft carriers, dramatically turning the tide of the war in the Pacific. But this pivotal moment was a product of more than chance. It was the culmination of decisions made not only in the heat of battle but in the preceding weeks and months. To truly grasp the significance of this critical juncture and how it happened, we have to go right back to the beginning of the pacific war. In this video, IWM curator Adrian Kerrison examines the timeline of events that lead to the Battle of Midway and the crucial decisions that doomed the Japanese to defeat. Explore and licence the film clips used in this video from IWM Film: https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/collections/4508 A short history of the Pacific War: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-short-history-of-the-war-in-the-pacific-during-the-second-world-war What happened at Pearl Harbor?: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-happened-at-pearl-harbor A guide to Japan's role in WW2: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-quick-guide-to-japans-role-in-the-second-world-war Follow IWM on social media: https://twitter.com/I_W_M https://www.instagram.com/imperialwarmuseums https://www.facebook.com/iwm.london #history #ww2 #aircraftcarrier