One statement that is true about the Pacific Theater in World War II is that the United States and its allies fought against Japan in a brutal and costly campaign that included battles on land, at sea, and in the air. The war in the Pacific lasted for more than three years, from the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 to Japan's surrender in August 1945. It involved numerous key battles and events, such as the Battle of Midway, the Guadalcanal Campaign, the island hopping strategy, and the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The conflict also had significant impacts on the lives and societies of those involved, both in terms of military and civilian casualties and the long-term political, economic, and cultural effects on the countries and regions involved.