What was the Battle of Attu about? Objective 1) To explain the significance of the Japanese occupation and American recapture of Attu. 2) To describe the complexity of even a relatively small-scale military campaign. 3) To discuss both the valor of the American soldiers, who fought under weather conditions considered among the worst in the world, and the loyalty of the Japanese troops to their emperor and their cause. 4) To analyze different sources of information relating to a particular historic site. Background In early June 1942, America had cause for jubilation and despair. The war news t Duration: 90 Minutes.