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During World War II, the Aleutian Islands were a minor secondary front. However, Alaska could have played a larger role in the conflict for either side. For example, the United States could have used bases in the Western Aleutian Islands to carry out air raids against Japan earlier in the war. Conversely, Japan could have attempted to seize areas of Alaska (perhaps even the Alaskan mainland) to serve as bases for sustained air and naval operations against the West Coast of North America. Although Japan would have been fighting in North America, Alaska was a remote territory at the time and could only really be accessed by air and sea, which is why the Alaskan Highway was urgently constructed soon after the outbreak of war.
What is the feasibility of Alaska playing a larger role in World War II, and how might it have changed the course of World War II and the early Cold War?