Pearl Harbor Conspiracy Theory
Nik Brozovich
International Politics
Presentation Outline
1) Background
2) Conspiracy theory
My hypothesis is there were people in the government who did know about the planned Pearl Harbor, which permitted the US to intervene in WWII.
3) Works Cited
WWII: 1938 to 1945
Axis Powers- Germany, Japan, Italy,
Austria, etc.
Allied Powers- Britain, France, USSR, USA, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, etc.
Victorious
Axis and AlliesAxis- Orange
Allies- Green (light green-entered war after attack on Pearl Harbor)
Reasons for Attack on Pearl Harbor
US embargo was placed on Japan (September 1940), after Japan’s takeover of Northern French Indochina
Prohibited exports of steel, scrap iron, and aviation fuel
Reasons for Attack on Pearl Harbor
US, Britain,and Netherlands froze Japanese assets, because Japan took over Southern Indochina
Japanese unable to buy oil
Japanese planned attacks on Indochina
Attack on Pearl Harbor
December 6, 1941Japanese planes showed up on radar at
Pearl Harbor- mistaken as American B-17s
Two waves of Japanese attack3, 500 Americans killed or wounded350 aircrafts destroyed or damaged18 ships badly damaged or sunk
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Fuel storage, submarines, intelligence centers, and maintenance centers escaped with little damage
American Aircraft carriers were untouched
The attack on Pearl Harbor was not very successful for Japan, even though thousands of Americans died
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Aftermath of Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941- the United States of America declares war on Japan
USA joined the allied powers, fighting the Japanese as well as the Nazi Germans
Speculation regarding the Attack On Pearl Harbor
Franklin D. Roosevelt was a supporter of the Allies prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor
FDR was against the Neutrality Act, which stated the US could not send arms to any combatant nation
Americans were isolationists, and did not want to interfere with other countries affairs
The Conspiracy Theory
Many people believe that FDR and the government allowed the Pearl Harbor attack to occur to gain the public support for WWII
This theory states the US government sacrificed Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was a single piece in an intricate game of chess
FDR Wanted To Go To War
On August 14, 1941, British Prime Minister Churchill noted FDR longed for war
In diary entry by Harold Ickes, US Secretary of Interior, stated "For a long time I have believed that our best entrance into the war would be by way of Japan."
FDR Planned For War
Navy analyst McCollum wrote a memo containing 8 points on how to force Japan into war with the US
FDR put all 8 points into effect over a period of time
FDR Exposed the US Fleet
FDR moved the fleet from the West Coast to Hawaii in 1940
Admiral Richardson stated there was inadequate protection- he was replaced when he told FDR of his concerns
Admiral Kimmel, Richardson’s replacement brought up similar concerns to FDR
FDR Ignored Warnings
There were multiple warnings that FDR received that the Japanese were going to attack the fleet at Pearl Harbor
It was reported the Japanese were practicing torpedo attacks in Ariake Bay
A British agent told the FBI of the attack on Pearl Harbor- FBI said his information was too precise
FDR ignored Warnings
Kisloo Haan, a Sino-Korean People's League agent, had proof the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbor before Christmas
Haan told Senator Gillette, who told FDR of the planned attack
FDR Was Not Surprised
When FDR learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Harry Hopkins, a close adviser of FDR, wrote that FDR did not seem surprised, but rather expressed “great relief”
FDR had a Declaration of War on Japan ready, as if he expected a surprise attack
Cover-up
The Navy court and Army court found FDR and Washington responsible for Pearl Harbor attack
Most of the men who did not warn Hawaii of the surprise attack were under the control of FDR
FDR protected the conspirators, rather than punishing them
Questions
Was Pearl Harbor just a pawn in a game of chess?
If Pearl Harbor was a pawn, did FDR play the game of chess correctly?
Works Cited
"Countries Involved in World War Two." Century of Flight. Web. 20 Aug. 2010. <http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation history/WW2/involved.htm>.
"Pearl Harbor - Mother of All Conspiracies." What Really Happened. Web. 20 Aug. 2010. <http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/pearl/www.Geocities.com/Pentagon/6315/pearl.html?q=pearl /www.geocities.com/pentagon/6315/pearl.html>.
Works Cited
Stiles, Kendall W. "Intelligence: Pearl Harbor." Case Histories in International Politics. 6th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. 185-200. Print.
"The Truth About Pearl Harbor." The Independent Institute. Web. 20 Aug. 2010.<http://www.independ ent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=445>.
"World War II." The Map Database. Web. 20 Aug. 2010.<http://www.themapdatabase.com/category /wars/world-war-ii/>.