The Japanese brass hoped that the Americans would think that an invasion of the Aleutians would be some sort of pretext towards a move on Alaska and at the same time move attention away from Midway. However, the Americans obviously determined that Midway was the primary target and Attu and Kiska were taken without much resistance in June 1942.

The islands were retaken in 1943 and the Japanese did put up a fight. Approximately 1500 allied soliders died retaking the island.