Why were so many Japanese lives lost in the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa?

Japanese commanders often ordered their forces to fight to the death rather than surrender, even when defeat was certain. This meant many Japanese soldiers continued fighting until they were killed in the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The correct choice is that Japanese commanders refused to surrender, even when the battle had been lost.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.