Pearl Harbor attack

Pearl Harbor attack
Imperial Japanese Navy · Public domain · source
Conflict	Pearl Harbor attack
Part of	Pacific War
Caption	USS Arizona (BB-39) memorial at Pearl Harbor
Date	December 7, 1941
Place	Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, United States
Result	United States enters World War II

Pearl Harbor attack. The surprise military strike by the Empire of Japan on the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor was a pivotal event in World War II, drawing the United States into the conflict. The attack was planned by Isoroku Yamamoto, Hirohito, and other high-ranking officials of the Imperial Japanese Navy, including Osami Nagano and Mitsumasa Yonai. The United States Pacific Fleet, under the command of Husband Kimmel and Walter Short, was caught off guard by the attack, which was intended to prevent the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with Japanese expansion in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean, particularly in Malaya, Singapore, and the Dutch East Indies.

Background

The Empire of Japan had been expanding its territories in East Asia since the Invasion of Manchuria in 1931, and had signed the Tripartite Pact with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy in 1940. The United States, along with the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, had imposed economic sanctions on Japan, including an oil embargo, in an attempt to curb its aggressive expansion. The Japanese government, led by Hideki Tojo and Fumimaro Konoe, saw the United States as a major obstacle to its goals, and began to plan a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. The Japanese Navy had been studying the British attack on Taranto and the Norwegian Campaign, and had developed a plan to use aircraft carriers, such as the Akagi (aircraft carrier), Kaga (aircraft carrier), and Soryu (aircraft carrier), to launch a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The Japanese Army was also involved in the planning, with Tomoyuki Yamashita and Masaharu Homma playing key roles.

The Attack

The attack on Pearl Harbor began at 7:55 AM on December 7, 1941, when the first wave of Japanese aircraft, including Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters, Nakajima B5N torpedo bombers, and Aichi D3A dive bombers, launched from six Japanese aircraft carriers, including the Akagi (aircraft carrier), Kaga (aircraft carrier), and Soryu (aircraft carrier), arrived over Pearl Harbor. The U.S. Pacific Fleet was caught off guard, with many of its ships, including the USS Arizona (BB-39), USS Oklahoma (BB-37), and USS California (BB-44), moored in the harbor. The Japanese aircraft attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet with bombs, torpedoes, and strafing, causing widespread damage and destruction. The USS Arizona (BB-39), USS Oklahoma (BB-37), and USS Utah (BB-31) were among the ships that were sunk or heavily damaged during the attack. The United States Army Air Forces and United States Marine Corps also suffered significant losses, including the destruction of many aircraft, such as the Curtiss P-36 Hawk and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

Aftermath

The attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in significant losses for the United States, with over 2,400 Americans killed and over 1,200 wounded. The U.S. Pacific Fleet suffered significant damage, with four battleships sunk and several other ships damaged. The United States declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941, and subsequently declared war on Germany and Italy on December 11, 1941, following the German declaration of war against the United States and the Italian declaration of war against the United States. The Soviet Union, led by Joseph Stalin, also declared war on Japan in 1945, following the Yalta Conference and the Potsdam Conference. The Chinese Nationalist Party, led by Chiang Kai-shek, had been fighting against Japan since the Second Sino-Japanese War began in 1937, and continued to receive support from the United States and other Allies.

Consequences

The attack on Pearl Harbor had significant consequences for the United States and the world. The United States entered World War II and played a major role in the Allied victory over the Axis powers. The United States also emerged from the war as a superpower, with significant economic and military influence around the world. The United Nations was established in 1945, following the Dumbarton Oaks Conference and the San Francisco Conference, to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars. The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63), marking the formal end of World War II. The Treaty of San Francisco was signed in 1951, officially ending the state of war between Japan and the Allies.

Legacy

The attack on Pearl Harbor is remembered as a significant event in World War II and American history. The USS Arizona (BB-39), USS Oklahoma (BB-37), and USS Utah (BB-31) were among the ships that were sunk or heavily damaged during the attack, and have been memorialized as part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association was established to honor the survivors of the attack, and the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is observed annually on December 7. The Japanese American internment during World War II was a significant consequence of the attack, with over 120,000 Japanese Americans being forcibly relocated and interned. The Manzanar National Historic Site and the Tule Lake War Relocation Center are among the sites that commemorate this period in American history. The Battle of Midway, Battle of Guadalcanal, and Battle of Iwo Jima were among the significant battles fought between the United States and Japan during World War II. Category:World War II