Kammala jumla mai zuwa: A lokacin Yakin Pacific (Yakin Duniya na II) an yi amfani da Ellice Islands a matsayin tushe don shirya don hare-haren da aka kai a tsibirin Gilbert (Kiribati) wanda aka yi a lokacin.
sojojin Japan suka mamaye shi. Rundunar Sojan Ruwa ta Amurka ta sauka a Funafuti a ranar 2 ga Oktoba 1942 da Nanumea da Nukufetau a watan Agusta 1943. Jafananci sun riga sun mamaye Tarawa da sauran tsibirai a cikin abin da yanzu Kiribati, amma an jinkirta su saboda asarar da aka yi a Yaƙin Tekun Coral.