On December 7, 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces forever changed the course of history. This surprise military strike led to the United States entering World War II, marking a significant turning point in the conflict. Dive into the details of this infamous day and its profound impact.
The Surprise Attack
On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces executed a terrible surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, a U.S. navy station close to Honolulu, Hawaii. On that Sunday morning, just before 8 a.m., hundreds of Japanese fighter planes fell on the base, where they destroyed or damaged almost 300 aircraft and about 20 American navy ships, including eight battleships. Along with another 1,000 people injured, the strike claimed more than 2,400 American lives, including civilian casualties. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to authorize war on Japan the day following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Tensions Leading to the Attack
Although Japan and the United States had been teetering toward war for decades, the attack on Pearl Harbor was unexpected. The United States especially objected to Japan’s progressively hostile approach toward China. Expanding into the territories of neighbors and seizing control of their import market was the only way the Japanese government thought it could address its demographic and financial issues. Japan then declared war on China in 1937, leading to the Nanking Massacre and other crimes.
American Response to Japanese Aggression
American politicians responded to this aggressiveness with a barrage of trade restrictions and economic penalties. They reasoned that Japan would have to curtail its expansionism without access to money and goods, especially vital resources like oil. About 2,000 miles from the U.S. coast and nearly 4,000 miles from Japan, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is situated toward the center of the Pacific Ocean. Nobody thought the Japanese would launch an attack on the far-off Hawaii Islands, therefore triggering a war. This belief made the attack on Pearl Harbor even more shocking.
Execution of the Attack
The naval installations at Pearl Harbor were rather undefended since American military commanders were not anticipating an attack so near. Hundreds of aircraft were crammed onto nearby airfields as almost the whole Pacific Fleet was anchored around Ford Island in the bay. For the Japanese, Pearl Harbor was an obviously easy target. The Japanese started their assault on December 7, following months of preparation and training.
Immediate Impact
Over Pearl Harbor, Japanese planes dominated the skies at 8 a.m. Bullets and bombs poured onto the boats anchored below. A bomb ripped across the battleship USS Arizona’s deck at 8:10 and landed in her forward ammo storage. With about a thousand men imprisoned within, the ship exploded and sank. Torpedoes were then sliced through the USS Oklahoma’s shell. The Oklahoma lost her equilibrium, flipped onto her side, and sank carrying 400 men. Less than two hours later, the surprise attack was complete, and every battleship in Pearl Harbor had suffered major damage.
Aftermath of the Attack
Overall, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor disabled or destroyed around twenty American ships and more than three hundred aircraft. Additionally, there were airfields and dry docks. Above all, more than 2,000 people perished. But the Pacific Fleet had not been totally destroyed by the Japanese. Aircraft carriers were, by the 1940s, the most significant naval warships; battleships were no more significant. The attack on Pearl Harbor also left the most important onshore infrastructure of the base—oil storage facilities, repair shops, shipyards, and submarine docks—in perfect condition. This ensured that, despite the devastation, the U.S. Navy could recover relatively quickly from the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Roosevelt’s Response and America’s Entry into WWII
On December 8, the day following the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke before a combined session of the U.S. Congress. “Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy.” He continued, “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this deliberate invasion, the American people, in their righteous force, will prevail through to total victory.” Congress certified Roosevelt’s declaration of war against Japan on December 8. Germany and Italy, allies of Japan, declared war on the US three days later. The United States had joined World War II more than two years after it began.