Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima — photograph taken during the Battle of Iwo Jima of World War II
Rosenthal's photograph of Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima became one of the most reproduced images of World War II and won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Photography.
Key Facts
- Photographer
- Joe Rosenthal, Associated Press
- Date taken
- February 23, 1945
- Award
- 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Photography
- Marines in photograph
- Six members of the 5th Marine Division
- Marines killed in battle
- 3 of the 6 depicted (Strank, Block, Sousley)
- Memorial inspired
- Marine Corps War Memorial, dedicated 1954
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Battle of Iwo Jima in the final stages of the Pacific War, U.S. Marines of the 5th Marine Division assaulted and captured the summit of Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945. A smaller flag had been raised that morning, but commanders requested a larger, more visible replacement.
Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal captured six Marines raising a large U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi in the early afternoon. The photograph was published in Sunday newspapers two days later and reprinted in thousands of publications worldwide, instantly becoming an emblem of American sacrifice and determination.
The image won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in 1945 and became one of the most recognized photographs of World War II. It served as the model for the Marine Corps War Memorial, sculpted by Felix de Weldon and dedicated in 1954 near Arlington National Cemetery to honor all Marines killed in service since 1775.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent