![]() ![]() Yamamoto had studied in the United States. The Pearl Harbor attack plan was conceived by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander in chief of the IJN. Unless a new source of oil was opened, the Imperial Japanese Navy would be in dry dock within a year and Japanese industries would grind to a halt in 12–18 months.Ī plan was developed to cripple the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor to allow time for Japan to seize the resource areas it needed and fortify them to the point that retaking them would cost more lives than the Imperial High Command thought Americans would be willing to pay. In 1940 the US, Great Britain, and the Netherlands had initiated a total embargo of oil and scrap metal to Japan in response to Japan invading French Indochina. Standing in opposition to Japanese conquest of what Japan’s leaders termed “the Southern Resource Area” was the United States. Since Emperor Hirohito’s Japan wanted to expand in territory and power like some European countries, it needed natural resources, like oil and aluminum found in the Netherlands East Indies. The majority of the Pacific area’s military commands were headquartered there because of growing apprehensions regarding an aggressive Japanese presence. Short of the Army were in command of the fleet and troops on the ground, respectively. ![]() On the southern end of Oahu, Pearl Harbor held a 22,000 acre naval base. That same day, with congressional approval, America entered into World War II. Roosevelt delivered his “Infamy Speech” to American citizens, informing them that this occurred despite the fact that the US was in the midst of talks to keep peace with Japan. On Decemthe Japanese launched a surprise attack on the US Naval Base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, using bombers, torpedo bombers and midget submarines. Importance: The surprise attack on America led to the nation entering World War IIĮxplore the HistoryNet archives about Pearl Harbor Japanese: Chuichi Nagumo and Isoroku YamamotoĬasualties: United States: 3,700 Japanese: 50 civilians: 48-68 The American contribution to the successful Allied war effort spanned four long years and cost more than 400,000 American lives.United States: Husband Kimmel and Walter Short Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war against the United States, and the U.S. The sole dissenter was Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana, a devout pacifist who had also cast a dissenting vote against the U.S. The Senate voted for war against Japan by 82 to 0, and the House of Representatives approved the resolution by a vote of 388 to 1. The day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, President Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of Congress and declared, “Yesterday, December 7, 1941–a date which will live in infamy–the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” After a brief and forceful speech, he asked Congress to approve a resolution recognizing the state of war between the United States and Japan. These giant aircraft carriers would have their revenge against Japan six months later at the Battle of Midway, reversing the tide against the previously invincible Japanese navy in a spectacular victory. Fortunately for the United States, all three Pacific fleet carriers were out at sea on training maneuvers. Japan’s losses were some 30 planes, five midget submarines, and fewer than 100 men. A total of 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 were wounded, many while valiantly attempting to repulse the attack. Much of the Pacific fleet was rendered useless: Five of eight battleships, three destroyers, and seven other ships were sunk or severely damaged, and more than 200 aircraft were destroyed. READ MORE: Why Did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor? Thus, the Japanese air assault came as a devastating surprise to the naval base. At 7:02 a.m., two radar operators spotted large groups of aircraft in flight toward the island from the north, but, with a flight of B-17s expected from the United States at the time, they were told to sound no alarm. It was Sunday morning, and many military personnel had been given passes to attend religious services off base. Roosevelt and his advisers knew that an imminent Japanese attack was probable, but nothing had been done to increase security at the important naval base at Pearl Harbor. With diplomatic negotiations with Japan breaking down, President Franklin D.
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