Asked by: Zdenek Avellanas
news and politics war and conflicts

Was the attack on Pearl Harbor a surprise?

12
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise, preemptive military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States (a neutral country at the time) against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, just before 08:00, on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941.


Considering this, why was the attack on Pearl Harbor a surprise?

Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor would drive the United States out of isolation and into World War II, a conflict that would end with Japan's surrender after the devastating nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. At first, however, the Pearl Harbor attack looked like a success for Japan.

Similarly, how long did attack on Pearl Harbor last? By 0800 hrs the majority of US fighter planes were destroyed. They had been lined up on the airfields to prevent sabotage. The torpedo planes inflicted most of the initial damage to the ships at Pearl Harbor. The torpedo attack lasted about 11 minutes and was followed by bombers.

In this way, why did the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor?

As war was inevitable, Japan's only chance was the element of surprise and to destroy America's navy as quickly as possible. Japan wanted to move into the Dutch East Indies and Malaya to conquer territories that could provide important natural resources such as oil and rubber.

What events led to the attack on Pearl Harbor?

  • 1937.
  • July: Japan invades North China from Manchuria.
  • 1940.
  • July: U.S. imposes trade sanctions, followed by an embargo, aimed at curbing Japan's military aggression in Asia.
  • 1941.
  • January: Adm. Yamamoto begins communicating with other Japanese officers about a possible attack on Pearl Harbor.
  • Jan.
  • February: Adm.

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Why did Japan declare war on the US?

On this date, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, addressing the nation in a Joint Session in the House Chamber, asked Congress to declare war against Japan in response to the surprise attack against American naval facilities in and around Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, a day earlier.

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What was Pearl Harbor used for?

Pearl Harbor, naval base and headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Honolulu county, southern Oahu Island, Hawaii, U.S. In U.S. history the name recalls the surprise Japanese air attack on December 7, 1941, that temporarily crippled the U.S. Fleet and resulted in the United States' entry into World War II.

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Why did US attack Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Rushay said that Hiroshima was one of four potential targets and that Truman left it up to the military to decide which city to strike. Hiroshima was chosen as a target because of its military importance. Nagasaki was bombed a few days later. The U.S. remains the only country to have used nuclear weapons.

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Why did America drop the atomic bomb?

President Harry S. Truman, warned by some of his advisers that any attempt to invade Japan would result in horrific American casualties, ordered that the new weapon be used to bring the war to a speedy end. On August 6, 1945, the American bomber Enola Gay dropped a five-ton bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

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What is the Arizona a memorial of today?

The USS Arizona Memorial, at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, marks the resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and Marines killed on USS Arizona during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and commemorates the events of that day.

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Why did we bomb Japan?

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Why didn't Japan invade Hawaii?

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Why did the Japanese attack China?

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How many survived Pearl Harbor?

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Why were Hiroshima and Nagasaki chosen for the atomic bombings?

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What did Roosevelt say about Pearl Harbor?

“Yesterday, December 7th, 1941…a date that will live in infamy.” So began President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in a speech to Congress the day after Japan bombed the military base at Pearl Harbor. In this speech he asked for a declaration of war which was approved almost unanimously by both houses of Congress.

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How many planes did us get in the air at Pearl Harbor?

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