Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Pashure pokurwiswa kwePearl Harbor, mukati meHondo Yenyika II, Butaritari neTarawa, uye vamwe veboka reNorthern Gilbert, vakanga
rakagarwa neJapan kubvira muna 1941 kusvika muna 1943. Betio yakava nhandare yendege uye nzvimbo yokuchengetera zvinhu. Kudzingwa kweuto reJapan mukupera kwa 1943 kwakabatanidza imwe yehondo dzine ropa zvikurusa munhau yeU.S. Marine Corps. MaMarine akasvika muna November 1943 uye Hondo yeTarawa yakatevera. Ocean Island, uko kwakanga kune dzimbahwe rekoloni, yakarwiswa, kubviswa uye kubatwa neJapan muna 1942 uye yakasunungurwa bedzi muna 1945, pashure pokuurawa kwavagari vose veGilbert pachitsuwa nemauto eJapan. Funafuti yakava dzimbahwe renguva pfupi rekoloni kubva muna 1942 kusvika muna 1946, apo Tarawa akadzoka kuzogamuchira dzimbahwe, achitsiva Ocean Island.