O attack on pearl harbor, which took place in 1941, represented Japan's offensive against the United States during World War II (1939-1945).
The event's name is related to the name of the attacked US base called Pearl Harbor. It is located in Hawaii on the Pacific Ocean.
After the event, the United States enters World War II while declaring war on Japan.
This document declaring war on the Japanese was signed by the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, the day after the naval air attack.
Germany and Italy, which were on the side of Japan, supported and also declared war on the United States.
Summary
On the morning of December 7, 1941, Japan decided to attack the US naval base by surprise, that is, without any declaration of war.
Chuichi Nagumo, Admiral of Japan's Imperial Navy, was the one who led the attack.
Both the United States and Japan already disputed the hegemony of the Asian continent. Dissatisfied with the US intrusion and the expansion of US imperialism, Japan decides to attack the United States.
At the time, Japan was expanding rapidly, waging war with several Asian countries such as China (1894-95); and from Europe, for example, Russia (1904-05).
With that, the United States decided to block the supply of essential products in Japan, also putting a stop to the export of oil. The Japanese empire's response was a surprise attack consisting of more than 350 planes.
This event, for the Americans, resulted in the death of approximately 2400 soldiers, 70 civilians and 1170 wounded.
In addition, 11 ships and 188 planes from the American base were destroyed. On the Japanese side about 30 planes were destroyed, 74 damaged and 5 submarines lost.
The American response to the Pearl Harbor attack was to declare war on Japan. In 1945, the United States launched the Atomic bomb in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This event ended World War II.
Understand more about the Hiroshima Bomb.
Know all about Second World War, with the reading of the articles:
- Second World War
- Causes of World War II
- Aftermath of World War II
- Brazil in World War II
- Questions about World War II
Film
Based on the story of the attack, in 2001 the film was released pearl harborproduced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Michael Bay.
