Why was Pearl Harbor a crime?

The attack on Pearl Harbor is considered a war crime and an act of aggression because it was a surprise military strike launched without a formal declaration of war while the U.S. and Japan were still engaged in peace negotiations, violating international laws like the 1907 Hague Convention that required explicit warnings before hostilities. Japan's attack on December 7, 1941, was a sudden assault on the U.S. naval base, intended to cripple the American fleet, but it was seen as a treacherous breach of diplomacy, leading President Roosevelt to call it "a date which will live in infamy".

Was the attack on Pearl Harbor a war crime?

Yes, the attack on Pearl Harbor is widely considered a war crime, specifically because it was a surprise attack launched without a formal declaration of war or warning, violating international agreements like the Hague Conventions and the Kellogg-Briand Pact that Japan had signed, and this illegality was affirmed by the Tokyo War Crimes Trials after the war. While surprise attacks on military targets are common in warfare, the specific breach of diplomatic protocols before the attack made it illegal under then-existing international law, making it more than just a battle.
 

Did Japan regret attacking the US?

Analysis and hindsight from historians over the years that have followed have led to a view that Japan regretted its decision to attack Pearl Harbor. In 2014, a biography on Emperor Hirohito revealed that the Japanese leader was wary of attacking the USA and that doing so could have consequences for his nation.

Why are 900 men still trapped in the USS Arizona?

Yes, the wreck of the USS Arizona still holds the remains of more than 900 sailors and marines, making it both a war grave and a memorial. Bodies from the USS Arizona were left aboard because many were either vaporized by the intense fires, trapped within inaccessible wreckage, or too badly damaged to be identified.

Why did Japan really attack Pearl Harbor?

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet, hoping to buy time to conquer resource-rich Southeast Asia (oil, rubber) without American interference, believing a swift, decisive blow would force the U.S. to negotiate peace. This surprise attack was triggered by U.S. trade embargoes, especially on oil, imposed due to Japan's aggression in China and French Indochina, forcing Japan to choose between submitting or seizing resources through war.
 

The reason Japan attacked Pearl Harbor

What happens if Japan didn't attack Pearl Harbor?

If Japan hadn't attacked Pearl Harbor, World War II would have unfolded vastly differently, likely with a prolonged conflict, delayed U.S. entry, and a potential shift in power dynamics, as Japan might have focused solely on Southeast Asia for resources, while the U.S. might have eventually entered the European theater anyway due to German aggression, possibly leading to a stronger Soviet Union or a delayed D-Day, fundamentally altering the postwar world. 

How did the Japanese justify such an attack?

Japan justified its attack on Pearl Harbor and expansion by portraying it as a necessary self-defense against U.S. economic strangulation via oil/resource embargoes, aiming to cripple the U.S. fleet to secure resources (oil, rubber) for its empire and force a quick negotiated peace, believing a long war with the U.S. was unwinnable. They saw it as a preemptive strike to secure vital resources in Asia and prevent American interference, leveraging a belief in their military superiority for a swift victory.
 

What was Hitler's reaction to Pearl Harbor?

Hitler's reaction to Pearl Harbor was one of surprise, excitement, and relief, viewing it as a golden opportunity to solidify the Axis alliance and divert American attention to the Pacific, allowing Germany to focus on Europe, culminating in his declaration of war on the U.S. just days later, believing Japan's success against America meant victory was assured. He felt liberated, seeing the attack as freeing him from the need to wait for the U.S. to enter the war and as a chance to unite with an ally that "had never lost a war". 

Are there still bodies inside the USS Arizona?

Yes, the wreck of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor still serves as the final resting place for over 900 sailors and Marines who died on December 7, 1941, with many of their remains entombed in the hull, making it a sacred, undisturbed gravesite where survivors can also choose to be interred. While initial recovery efforts found many bodies, large numbers were left, and the ship is now treated as a permanent memorial.
 

What should you not do at Pearl Harbor?

Bags of any size are prohibited. This includes purses, luggage, backpacks, diaper bags, fanny packs, camera bags, shopping bags, large cameras, or other items that can offer concealment. Because the above items are not allowed at any of the Pearl Harbor sites, it is recommended that you do not bring them.

Did America get revenge on Japan after Pearl Harbor?

Yes, America got revenge for Pearl Harbor through direct military retaliation, most notably the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in April 1942, which struck the Japanese homeland, and later through the assassination of Admiral Yamamoto, the mastermind of the attack, demonstrating the U.S. would not just defend but actively strike back, ultimately leading to Japan's surrender after the atomic bombings in 1945.
 

What was Churchill's reaction to the Pearl Harbor?

Winston Churchill's reaction to Pearl Harbor was one of immense relief and joy, famously stating he "slept the sleep of the saved and thankful," because the attack brought the mighty United States fully into World War II, ensuring an ultimate Allied victory against the Axis powers. He saw it as the turning point, ending Britain's lonely struggle and solidifying the "Grand Alliance," though he also recognized the need to coordinate efforts, particularly urging America to focus on the European theater. 

Did Yamamoto actually say "Sleeping Giant"?

No, Admiral Yamamoto likely never said the famous "sleeping giant" quote, but the phrase captures his actual fears and sentiments that Japan could not win a prolonged war against the U.S. due to its immense industrial power, with the quote gaining popularity from the film Tora! Tora! Tora! despite uncertain origins and no definitive proof of him writing or speaking it. 

Was the attack on Pearl Harbor a mistake?

Yes, the attack on Pearl Harbor is widely considered a major strategic mistake by Japan because, while tactically successful in damaging battleships, it failed to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet's aircraft carriers (which were absent) and vital infrastructure like fuel depots, instead galvanizing American resolve and bringing the U.S. into World War II with overwhelming industrial might, ultimately dooming Japan's long-term war effort. Japan underestimated the U.S.'s ability to recover and its deep commitment to total war, leading to its eventual defeat.
 

What started World War II?

World War II started with Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, triggering declarations of war from Britain and France, but it was rooted in deeper issues like German resentment over the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler's aggressive expansionism (Lebensraum), Japanese militarism, and failures of appeasement. The Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact allowed Hitler to invade Poland without a two-front war, while earlier annexations of Austria and Czechoslovakia emboldened him, leading to this final spark. 

Is Tokyo trial a true story?

Officially known as the IMTFE, the Tokyo Trial took place in Tokyo, Japan, from 1946 to 1948. They were convened to prosecute Japanese leaders for similar crimes as those tried in Nuremberg but specifically focused on Japanese aggression in Asia and the Pacific.

Why can't they remove the USS Arizona?

Dismantling of the USS Arizona began in 1942 and continued throughout 1943. In June of 1942, the navy decided the lost ship's hulk was not a hazard to navigation in the harbor and the ship would remain where she fell.

Does the USS Arizona still leak oil today?

Yes, the USS Arizona is still leaking oil, a phenomenon often called the "Black Tears of the Arizona," with small amounts seeping daily from the sunken wreck at Pearl Harbor, an estimated 600,000 gallons of oil still trapped inside. This slow leak, estimated to continue for hundreds of years, is seen as a poignant symbol of remembrance, though scientists study it to learn from future environmental disasters, as disturbing the site to remove the oil poses risks to the active military cemetery and the ship's fragile structure.
 

Can you touch the USS Arizona?

The USS Arizona Memorial was completed in 1962.

It is accessible only by boat and straddles the hull of the sunken wreck without touching it.

What were Hitler's last words before he died?

Adolf Hitler's final recorded words, spoken to his valet Heinz Linge just before taking his own life on April 30, 1945, were, "For the sake of the one who is still to come," in response to Linge asking which way to break out of Berlin. Before that, he penned political testaments blaming "international Jewry" for the war and appointing successors, while his final moments with Eva Braun involved parting words and the phrase, "It is finished, goodbye," as they went to their private rooms to die. 

Did Japan warn us about Pearl Harbor?

Yes, Japan intended to give the U.S. a warning about breaking off diplomatic relations just before the Pearl Harbor attack, but bureaucratic delays meant the 14-part message was delivered after bombs fell, making it a failed attempt at a formal declaration rather than a timely alert. While the U.S. had warnings about rising tensions and potential Japanese aggression, no clear, actionable message about the specific attack on Pearl Harbor arrived in time to prevent it. 

How did Stalin react to Pearl Harbor?

Stalin reacted to Pearl Harbor with a mix of relief and concern: he was relieved Japan hadn't attacked the USSR but worried that diverting American and British resources to the Pacific would weaken the fight against Germany, a major problem for the struggling Soviets after the German invasion. He viewed the attack as a Japanese diversion that ultimately drew the US fully into the war against the Axis, solidifying the anti-fascist alliance, though his immediate focus remained on survival against Hitler. 

Why did Japan feel the need to attack America?

While there is no single correct or simple reason for the attack, this lesson should help students realize that Japan's motivation for attacking Pearl Harbor was driven by its political self-interests, its scarcity of economic resources and perceived opportunity costs, and America's embargo policy.

Why did Japan start WWII?

Japan was faced with severe shortages of oil and other natural resources. Driven by these shortages and the ambition to expand its empire, Japan decided to attack US and British territories in the Pacific. United States territories at this time included American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the Philippines, and Wake Island.

What if Japan didn't attack Pearl Harbor?

If Japan hadn't attacked Pearl Harbor, the U.S. likely would have entered World War II later, potentially with less public support initially, but the war in Europe and the Pacific would have unfolded very differently, likely with a prolonged conflict, a potentially different outcome in Europe (Soviet dominance), and Japan facing a more unified, resource-rich U.S. eventually, though possibly after securing vital resources in Southeast Asia first, prolonging the war.