Early in the morning of December 7, 1941, Japanese carrier-based planes
and submarines attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet and nearby military
airfields at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Eight American battleships and ten
other naval vessels were sunk or badly damaged. A total of 64 American
aircraft were destroyed and over 3,400 military personnel were killed or
wounded. The attack marked the entrance of Japan into World War II on
the side of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy and the entrance of the U.S.
on the side of the allies – thus World War II. The attack was always
considered possible but not probable. Were critical judgment errors made
by America’s national leaders and its military that made America so
vulnerable or did motivations by America’s European allies to have
America represented in WW II result in this devastating attack? Listen
to this stimulating presentation to find out.
