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When did the Battle of Okinawa take place during World War II?

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U.S. Marines on Okinawa — Battle of Okinawa U.S. Marines battling for control of a ridge near Naha, Okinawa, May 1945.

The Battle of Okinawa took place from April 1 to June 21, 1945, during World War II.1

While the main ground campaign concluded on June 21, 1945, the operation officially ended on July 2, 1945. This conflict, often referred to as the "Typhoon of Steel," served as a critical precursor to the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands.21