The Raising of the Flag on Iwo Jima

photograph by Rosenthal

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The photograph "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" by Joe Rosenthal captures a pivotal moment during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. The image depicts U.S. Marines raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945. This iconic photograph became one of the most famous images of the Pacific War and has been widely reproduced.12

The Battle of Iwo Jima was a fierce conflict between the United States and the Empire of Japan, fought from February 19 to March 16, 1945. The island of Iwo Jima, now officially known as Iō-tō, is part of Japan and lies in the western Pacific. Its strategic importance lay in its location, which could serve as a base for U.S. fighter planes supporting bomber missions to Japan. The battle resulted in heavy casualties for both sides, with approximately 18,500 Japanese troops killed and around 6,800 U.S. Marines killed and 19,200 wounded.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle
The second flag raising was photographed by Pulitzer Prize-winner Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press, and his photograph became one of the most famous combat images of World War II.
Read More
The second flag raising was photographed by Pulitzer Prize-winner Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press, and his photograph became one of the most famous combat images of World War II.
Read More