Over 6,000 american troops died capturing a small island in order to prevent japanese aircraft from attacking american bombers.

The Battle of Iwo Jima

Explanation:

The US invasion, called Operation Detachment, aimed to conquer the island, including its three airports, to use the region as a base to launch more effective attacks on the main Japanese islands. Disregarding the controversies behind this invasion, the Battle of Iwo Jima is one of the most bloody conflicts in the War of Pacific.

the soviet union wanted to impose communist governments in eastern europe.