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| Pearl Habour
Pearl Habour
December 7, 1941
The attack on Pearl Harbor was the culmination of a
decade of deteriorating relations between Japan and the United States over the
status of China and the security of Southeast Asia. The breakdown began in 1931
when Japanese army extremists, in defiance of government policy, invaded and
overran the northern-most Chinese province of Manchuria. Japan ignored American
protests, and in the summer of 1937 launched a full-scale attack on the rest of
China. Although alarmed by this action, neither the United States nor any other
nation with interests in the Far East was willing to use military force to halt
Japanese expansion.
Over the next three years, war broke out in Europe and
Japan joined Nazi Germany in the Axis Alliance. The United States applied both
diplomatic and economic pressures to try to resolve the Sino-Japanese conflict.
The Japanese government viewed these measures, especially an embargo on oil, as
threats to their nation’s security. By the summer of 1941, both countries
had taken positions from which they could not retreat without a serious loss of
national prestige. Although both governments continued to negotiate their
differences, Japan had already decided on war.
The attack on Pearl Harbor was part of a grand strategy
of conquest in the Western Pacific. The objective was to immobilize the Pacific
Fleet so that the United States could not interfere with these invasion plans.
The principal architect of the attack was admiral Isoroku Yamamoto,
Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet. Though personally opposed to
war with America, Yamamoto knew that Japan’s only hope of success in such
a war was to achieve quick and decisive victory. America’s superior
economic and industrial might would tip the scales in her favor during a
prolonged conflict.
On November 26, the Japanese attack fleet of 33 warships
and auxiliary craft, including six aircraft carriers, sailed from northern Japan
for the Hawaiian Islands. It followed a route that took it far to the north of
the normal shipping lanes. By early morning, December 7, 1941, the ships had
reached their launch position, 230 miles north of Oahu. At 6 am, the first wave
of fighters, bombers, and torpedo planes took off. The night before, some 10
miles outside the entrance to Pearl Harbor, five midget submarines carrying two
crewmen and two torpedoes each were launched from larger "mother" subs. Their
mission: enter Pearl Harbor before the air strike, remain submerged until the
attack got underway, then cause as much damage as possible.
Meanwhile at Pearl Harbor, the 130 vessels of the U.S.
Pacific Fleet lay calm and serene.
At 6:40 am, the crew of the destroyer USS Ward spotted
the conning tower of one of the midget subs headed for the entrance to Pearl
Harbor. The Ward sank the sub with depth charges and gunfire, then radioed the
information to headquarters.
Before 7 am, the radar station at Opana Point picked up
a signal indicating a large flight of Planes approaching from the north. These
were thought to be either aircraft flying in from the carrier USS Enterprise or
an anticipated flight of B-17s from the mainland, so no action was
taken.
The first wave of Japanese aircraft arrived over their
target areas shortly before 7:55 am. Their leader, Commander Mitsuo Fuchida,
sent the coded messages "To, To, To" and "Tora, Tora, Tora," telling the fleet
that the attack had begun and that complete surprise had been achieved.At
approximately 8:10 am, the USS Arizona exploded, having been hit by a 1,760
pound armor-piercing bomb that slammed through her deck and ignited her forward
ammunition magazine.
Ships, named like USS Oklahoma, USS Utah or USS Virginia
hit by several torpedos and rolled coompletely over.
After about five minutes, American anti-aircraft fire
began to register hits, although many of the shells that had been improperly
fused fell on Honolulu, where residents assumed them to be Japanese bombs. After
a lull at about 8:40 am, the second wave of attacking planes focused on
continuing the destruction inside the harbor, destroying the USS Shaw, USS
Sotoyomo, a dry dock, and heavily damaging the Nevada, forcing her aground. They
also attacked Hickam and Kaneohe airfields, causing heavy loss of life and
reducing American ability to retaliate.
Army Air Corps pilots managed to take off in a few
fighters and may have shot down 12 enemy planes. At 10 am the second wave
withdrew to the north, and the attack was over. The Japanese lost a total of 29
planes and five midget submarines, one of which was captured when it ran aground
off Bellows Field. The commander of this midget submarine, Ensign Sakamaki,
became the first US captured prisoner of the pacific war.
The attack was a great, but not total, success. Although
the U.S. Pacific Fleet was shattered, its aircraft carriers (not in port at the
time of the attack) were still afloat and Pearl Harbor was surprisingly intact.
The shipyards, fuel storage areas, and submarine base suffered no more than
slight damage. More importantly, the American people, previously divided over
the issue of U.S. involvement in World War II, rallied together with a total
commitment to victory over Japan and her Axis partners.
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December 7, 1941 Losses*
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United States
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Japan
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Personnel Killed
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2388
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Navy
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1998
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64
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Marine Corps
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109
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Army and Army Air Corps
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233
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Civilian
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48
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Personnel Wounded
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1178
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unknown
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Navy
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710
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Marine Corps
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69
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Army and Army Air Corps
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364
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Civilian
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35
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Ships
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Sunk or Beached**
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12
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5
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Damaged*
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9
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Aircraft
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Destroyed
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164
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29
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Damaged
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159
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74
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Congressional Declaration of War on Japan
December 8, 1941
Declaring that a state of war exists between the
Imperial Government of Japan and the
Government and the people of the United States and
making provisions to prosecute the same.
Whereas the Imperial Government of Japan has
committed unprovoked acts of war against the Government and the
people of the United States of America: Therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United
States of America in Congress assembled, That the state
of war between the United States and the Imperial Government of
Japan which has thus been thrust upon the United States
is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby
authorized
and directed to employ the entire naval and military
forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to
carry
on war against the Imperial Government of Japan; and, to
bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources
of
the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the
United States.
Approved, December 8, 1941, 4:10 p.m.
E.S.T.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Infamy Speech
December 8, 1941
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.
The United States was at peace with that
nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with
its
Government and its Emperor looking toward the
maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese
air
squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese
Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to
the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent
American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to
continue
the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no
threat or hint of war or armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of
Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately
planned
many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time
the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the
United States by false statements and expressions of
hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands
has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces.
Very
many American lives have been lost. In addition American
ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San
Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday the Japanese Government also
launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong
Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces
attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise
offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday
speak
for themselves. The people of the United States have
already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very
life and safety of our nation.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I
have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
Always will we remember the character of the
onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome
this
premeditated invasion, the American people in their
righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe I interpret the will of the Congress
and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to
the
uttermost but will make very certain that this form of
treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the
fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces - with the
unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so
help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the
unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December seventh, a state of
war has existed between the United States and the Japanese
Empire."
Originaldokument enthält an dieser Stelle eine Grafik!
Original document contains a graphic at this position!
Originaldokument enthält an dieser Stelle eine Grafik!
Original document contains a graphic at this position!
Originaldokument enthält an dieser Stelle eine Grafik!
Original document contains a graphic at this position!
Originaldokument enthält an dieser Stelle eine Grafik!
Original document contains a graphic at this position!
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