ATTACK ON PEARL HARBORU.S. INVOLVEMENT IN WORLD WAR II

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

BACKGROUND:

▸ Germany is seeking to establish the Third Reich and taking over Europe little by little

▸ When Germany takes Poland, Britain declares war and World War II officially begins (September 1939)

▸ The United States seeks to remain neutral and avoid involvement in the war.

▸ Allegiances lean toward the allies Britain and France

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

BACKGROUND:

▸ Germany and Japan sign alliance directed at Soviet Union

▸ September 27, 1940; Germany, Italy and Japan sign Tripartite Pact (officially become the Axis Alliance)

HIDEKI TOJO

Prime Minister of Japan

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

JAPANESE AGGRESSION:

▸ France falls (June 1940)

▸ Japan occupies French-Indochina (September 1940)

▸ Great Britain and the United States react with an embargo on “strategic materials” of Japan (airplane fuel, scrap metal, oil, steel, etc.)

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

JAPANESE AGGRESSION:

▸ FDR sends “lend-lease” supplies to China

▸ Freezes Japanese assets in the U.S. and sends Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines to prepare a Pacific Fleet

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

WHY PEARL HARBOR?

▸ Entire Pacific Fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor

▸ Japanese felt it would cripple the United States fleet

▸ Allow Japanese to move freely throughout the Pacific Ocean

▸ Send warning to U.S. to keep them out of the war

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

“NEED-TO-KNOWS”

▸ DATE: December 7, 1941

▸ LOCATION: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory

▸ DEATHS/CASUALTIES: 2,402 killed; 1,282 wounded

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

THE ATTACK!

▸ Morning of December 7th, 183 torpedo bombers and dive-bombers took off from the Japanese fleet

▸ The Japanese attacked in two waves (first wave, primary attack– second wave, the finisher!)

▸ First wave detected by U.S. Army radar, but was misidentified as USAAF bombers arriving from the American mainland!

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

WAR RESULTS

▸ Japanese major victory

▸ U.S. declaration of war on Japan

▸ Germany and Italy declare war on United States

▸ United States declares war on Germany and Italy

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

▸ All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged with four being sunk

▸ Three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft ship, and one minelayer ship were sank or damaged

▸ 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed (Pacific Fleet)

BATTLE RESULTS

“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.”

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR