Home
Assignments
Bookmarks
Pearl Harbor attack - USA enters the war
Upgrade for more content
Which country attacked the United States naval base, Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941?
Hawaii 07:55, december 7, 1941 At the American naval base Pearl Harbor, on the island of Oahu, it is calm. It is Sunday and many soldiers have been given time off in the morning to attend church services off base. Suddenly, a bomber emerges from the clouds. The plane has the red Japanese symbol - of the rising sun - on its wings. It is one of 353 aircraft that, within a few minutes, completely without warning, begin to drop bombs and torpedoes over Pearl Harbor.
The aircraft attack warning siren starts to sound at eight o’clock, but by then it is too late. The Americans are not prepared and do not have time to defend themselves. Hundreds of bombs and torpedoes hit the warships in the harbour. On many of the ships, the crew are sleeping and do not understand what is happening. The Japanese planes also bomb all the airfields on the island, so that the US Air Force cannot take to the air and defend itself.
The air strike, led by pilot Mitsuo Fuchida, takes place in two waves and lasts for a little over an hour. The attack is very carefully planned... and deadly. Shortly after nine, it's over. The Japanese planes return to the aircraft carriers they started from.
American losses are great: 2404 die, most of them military. Another 1178 people are injured. Four large battleships are sunk and 12 ships are seriously damaged. 347 aircraft are destroyed. The Japanese losses are small — 64 die and 29 aircrafts are shot down.
Pearl Harbor is not the only place the Japanese attack on this day. Within seven hours, Japan attacks the US-led Philippines, Guam and Wake Island - as well as the British colonies of Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. On December 8, the day after the Pearl Harbor attack, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt calls on the US Congress to issue a declaration of war against Japan. Although most Americans do not want the country to participate in World War II, within an hour Roosevelt gets a 'yes’ At 16:10, the United States declares war on Japan.
In Europe, Hitler soon learns that Germany’s ally, Japan, has bombed Pearl Harbor and then declared war on the United States. Hitler knew that Japan was about to carry out acts of war against the United States, but not that they would attack right there and then. The German invasion of the Soviet Union has gone awry. So, the news of Japan's successful attack pleases Hitler. He believes that the Japanese attacks will force the United States and Britain to send military forces to Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
This would mean fewer allied forces in Europe, and make the war there - easier for the Germans. On December 11, Hitler makes what will turn out to be his biggest mistake of the war. Together with Italy, he declares war on the United States. Roosevelt has long wanted the United States to fight the Nazis in Europe, but he lacked the support of the American people. Now, Roosevelt gets his chance.
On the same day that Germany and Italy declare war on the United States, he asks Congress to issue declarations of war on them. Congress immediately answers yes. It is now, on December 11, 1941, that World War II truly becomes a war that spans the globe.