JAPAN STRIKES IN THE PACIFIC
SUMMARY
Motivated by overcrowding, shortage of resources, and the military's desire to spread Japanese power, Japan began their expansion in 1931 by capturing Manchuria, with the hopes of building an empire. When Japanese troops faced unexpected resistance in China, the need for resources led the Japanese to seek the overthrow of European colonies in Asia. To hinder Japan's progress, the United States sent aid to strengthen China, and eventually cut off oil shipments to Japan. However, the Japanese forces led by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto conducted a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, destroying nearly the entire U.S. fleet; war was declared against Japan the following day. In 1942, the Japanese conquered several colonies including the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, and Burma. But when the Japanese targeted Midway Island in June 1942, the Allied forces intercepted the Japanese planes and turned the course of the war in the Pacific against Japan. Furthermore, the Allies, led by General Douglas MacArthur, achieved a major victory against Japan in the Battle of Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942.
TEN BEST ARTICLES
1. PEARL HARBOR IN RETROSPECT - Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor came as a surprise to the United States; the U.S. underestimated the Japanese as a military force, relied heavily on "magic" message transmissions, made assumptions about Japan's line of attack, and was uncertain about the status of U.S. relations with Japan. "Neither factor discussed above -- our underestimate of Japan's war power or our evaluation of the advantages that would accrue to her if she put on us the onus of making war -- neither consideration caused us to ignore the possibility of an immediate Japanese attack on us when the Washington conference terminated, or the probability that we should eventually be involved in her war... It was also abundantly clear that the decision to bring us in initially or to put the onus on us rested solely with Japan."
2. REPORT DEBUNKS THEORY THAT THE U.S. HEARD A CODED WARNING ABOUT PEARL HARBOR - Recent analysis of the coded messages transmitted by the Japanese which supposedly regarded Pearl Harbor, were actually transmitted after the attack. "From a military standpoint, the winds coded message contained no actionable intelligence either about the Japanese operations in Southeast Asia and absolutely nothing about Pearl Harbor. 'In reality,' they concluded, 'the Japanese broadcast the coded phrase(s) long after the hostilities began -- useless, in fact, to all who might have heard it.'"
3. WORLD WAR II IN THE PACIFIC - A concise timeline of the Japanese actions in the Pacific and Europe during World War II. "Faced with severe shortages of oil and other natural resources and driven by the ambition to displace the United States as the dominant Pacific power, Japan decided to attack the United States and British forces in Asia and seize the resources of Southeast Asia."
4. THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY - Andrew Lambert's study of the Japanese faults and American advantages that led to the outcome of the Battle of Midway -- a turning point in World War II. "Now the fundamental flaw in the Japanese plan became apparent. The carriers were expected to strike in Midway and engage the American fleet when it eventually arrived, but Yamamoto had not expected the American fleet to be in position before his forces arrived."
5. THE PACIFIC WAR - A summary of the events that occurred during the Pacific War with the Japanese during World War II. "The attainment of their main goals left the Japanese high command with an opportunity they had to exploit. They knew that the only way to win would be to build a strategic defense in depth, based on numerous fortified belts. This became necessary because contrary to expectations, American public opinion was far from being passive and weak."
6. JAPANESE CONQUESTS, 1939-1942 - A timeline and overview of the territory invaded and or seized by the Japanese from 1939 to 1942.
7. JAPAN'S QUEST FOR POWER AND WORLD WAR II IN ASIA - A look into the background of the war surrounding Japan and the Pacific, and the resulting conflicts and conquests for power. "The Japanese military faced a particular tactical problem in that certain critical raw materials — especially oil and rubber — were not available within the Japanese sphere of influence. Instead, Japan received most of its oil from the United States and rubber from British Malaya, the very two Western nations trying to restrict Japan's expansion."
8. PEARL HARBOR: A RUDE AWAKENING - Theories about the attack on Pearl Harbor are debunked and the preceding conditions in the U.S. as well as relations between the U.S. and Japan are examined. "In 1941 America was not ready for war. With US forces queuing for arms alongside Britain and Russia, Roosevelt knew he needed more time to build America's military capacity. If war was to come, he wanted Japan to be seen to be the aggressor."
9. BATTLE OF MIDWAY - The Battle of Midway was a major turning point for World War II, and a major advantage for the Allies. "Thanks in part to major advances in code breaking, the United States was able to preempt and counter Japan’s planned ambush of its few remaining aircraft carriers, inflicting permanent damage on the Japanese Navy."
10. THE BURMA CAMPAIGN 1941-1945 - An explanation of the forces behind the Burma Campaign, and how the battle came about in that region. "There followed many months of stalemate, as both sides tried to probe each other's strengths and weaknesses."
AUDIO/VIDEO SOURCES
1. PEARL HARBOR ATTACK - Reporter H.V. Kaltenborn reports on the events that have occurred at Pearl Harbor in 1941.
2. FDR ASKS CONGRESS TO DECLARE WAR ON JAPAN - After the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt tells Congress in a famous speech that the United States must respond to the events of December 7, 1941 by taking up arms.
3. BATTLE OF MIDWAY: THE AMERICAN COUNTERATTACK (2002) - Documentary on the Allies' victory at Midway; a definitive turning point of the Pacific war with Japan.
PRIMARY SOURCE DOCUMENTS
1. FDR FREEZES ASSETS - President Roosevelt orders the freezing of Japanese assets in the United States, so as to prevent any potentially harmful use of U.S. facilities by Japan. "This measure, in effect, brings all financial and import and export trade transactions in which Japanese interests are involved under the control of the government, and imposes criminal penalties for violation of the order."
2. DECLARATION OF WAR - A state of war is declared with Japan, Germany, and Italy. "Resolved, etc., 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."
3. ACCOUNT OF BATTLE OF MIDWAY - Detailed report of the events at the Battle of Midway, and the conclusions and lessons drawn from the battle. "The first bomb hit Midway at about 0633 from horizontal bombers. Dive bombing and strafing continued for about 17 minutes. Considerable damage was done to nearly all structures above ground, the most serious at the time being the destruction of the power plant on Eastern Island."
MAPS
Motivated by overcrowding, shortage of resources, and the military's desire to spread Japanese power, Japan began their expansion in 1931 by capturing Manchuria, with the hopes of building an empire. When Japanese troops faced unexpected resistance in China, the need for resources led the Japanese to seek the overthrow of European colonies in Asia. To hinder Japan's progress, the United States sent aid to strengthen China, and eventually cut off oil shipments to Japan. However, the Japanese forces led by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto conducted a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, destroying nearly the entire U.S. fleet; war was declared against Japan the following day. In 1942, the Japanese conquered several colonies including the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, and Burma. But when the Japanese targeted Midway Island in June 1942, the Allied forces intercepted the Japanese planes and turned the course of the war in the Pacific against Japan. Furthermore, the Allies, led by General Douglas MacArthur, achieved a major victory against Japan in the Battle of Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942.
TEN BEST ARTICLES
1. PEARL HARBOR IN RETROSPECT - Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor came as a surprise to the United States; the U.S. underestimated the Japanese as a military force, relied heavily on "magic" message transmissions, made assumptions about Japan's line of attack, and was uncertain about the status of U.S. relations with Japan. "Neither factor discussed above -- our underestimate of Japan's war power or our evaluation of the advantages that would accrue to her if she put on us the onus of making war -- neither consideration caused us to ignore the possibility of an immediate Japanese attack on us when the Washington conference terminated, or the probability that we should eventually be involved in her war... It was also abundantly clear that the decision to bring us in initially or to put the onus on us rested solely with Japan."
2. REPORT DEBUNKS THEORY THAT THE U.S. HEARD A CODED WARNING ABOUT PEARL HARBOR - Recent analysis of the coded messages transmitted by the Japanese which supposedly regarded Pearl Harbor, were actually transmitted after the attack. "From a military standpoint, the winds coded message contained no actionable intelligence either about the Japanese operations in Southeast Asia and absolutely nothing about Pearl Harbor. 'In reality,' they concluded, 'the Japanese broadcast the coded phrase(s) long after the hostilities began -- useless, in fact, to all who might have heard it.'"
3. WORLD WAR II IN THE PACIFIC - A concise timeline of the Japanese actions in the Pacific and Europe during World War II. "Faced with severe shortages of oil and other natural resources and driven by the ambition to displace the United States as the dominant Pacific power, Japan decided to attack the United States and British forces in Asia and seize the resources of Southeast Asia."
4. THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY - Andrew Lambert's study of the Japanese faults and American advantages that led to the outcome of the Battle of Midway -- a turning point in World War II. "Now the fundamental flaw in the Japanese plan became apparent. The carriers were expected to strike in Midway and engage the American fleet when it eventually arrived, but Yamamoto had not expected the American fleet to be in position before his forces arrived."
5. THE PACIFIC WAR - A summary of the events that occurred during the Pacific War with the Japanese during World War II. "The attainment of their main goals left the Japanese high command with an opportunity they had to exploit. They knew that the only way to win would be to build a strategic defense in depth, based on numerous fortified belts. This became necessary because contrary to expectations, American public opinion was far from being passive and weak."
6. JAPANESE CONQUESTS, 1939-1942 - A timeline and overview of the territory invaded and or seized by the Japanese from 1939 to 1942.
7. JAPAN'S QUEST FOR POWER AND WORLD WAR II IN ASIA - A look into the background of the war surrounding Japan and the Pacific, and the resulting conflicts and conquests for power. "The Japanese military faced a particular tactical problem in that certain critical raw materials — especially oil and rubber — were not available within the Japanese sphere of influence. Instead, Japan received most of its oil from the United States and rubber from British Malaya, the very two Western nations trying to restrict Japan's expansion."
8. PEARL HARBOR: A RUDE AWAKENING - Theories about the attack on Pearl Harbor are debunked and the preceding conditions in the U.S. as well as relations between the U.S. and Japan are examined. "In 1941 America was not ready for war. With US forces queuing for arms alongside Britain and Russia, Roosevelt knew he needed more time to build America's military capacity. If war was to come, he wanted Japan to be seen to be the aggressor."
9. BATTLE OF MIDWAY - The Battle of Midway was a major turning point for World War II, and a major advantage for the Allies. "Thanks in part to major advances in code breaking, the United States was able to preempt and counter Japan’s planned ambush of its few remaining aircraft carriers, inflicting permanent damage on the Japanese Navy."
10. THE BURMA CAMPAIGN 1941-1945 - An explanation of the forces behind the Burma Campaign, and how the battle came about in that region. "There followed many months of stalemate, as both sides tried to probe each other's strengths and weaknesses."
AUDIO/VIDEO SOURCES
1. PEARL HARBOR ATTACK - Reporter H.V. Kaltenborn reports on the events that have occurred at Pearl Harbor in 1941.
2. FDR ASKS CONGRESS TO DECLARE WAR ON JAPAN - After the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt tells Congress in a famous speech that the United States must respond to the events of December 7, 1941 by taking up arms.
3. BATTLE OF MIDWAY: THE AMERICAN COUNTERATTACK (2002) - Documentary on the Allies' victory at Midway; a definitive turning point of the Pacific war with Japan.
PRIMARY SOURCE DOCUMENTS
1. FDR FREEZES ASSETS - President Roosevelt orders the freezing of Japanese assets in the United States, so as to prevent any potentially harmful use of U.S. facilities by Japan. "This measure, in effect, brings all financial and import and export trade transactions in which Japanese interests are involved under the control of the government, and imposes criminal penalties for violation of the order."
2. DECLARATION OF WAR - A state of war is declared with Japan, Germany, and Italy. "Resolved, etc., 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."
3. ACCOUNT OF BATTLE OF MIDWAY - Detailed report of the events at the Battle of Midway, and the conclusions and lessons drawn from the battle. "The first bomb hit Midway at about 0633 from horizontal bombers. Dive bombing and strafing continued for about 17 minutes. Considerable damage was done to nearly all structures above ground, the most serious at the time being the destruction of the power plant on Eastern Island."
MAPS
Battles of the war in the Pacific: 1) Attack on Pearl Harbor, 2) Sinking of British Battleships, 3) Raids into the Indian Ocean, 4) Battle of the Coral Sea, 5) Battle of Midway, 6) Battle of the Komandorski Islands, 7) Destruction of Truk, 8) Battle of the Phillipine Sea,
9) Sinking of Yamato, 10) Final Destruction of the Japanese Imperial Navy