Why did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor? Documentary
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Date: 2022-07-19
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Comments and reviews: 20
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Can we please stop banging on about Pearl Harbor! While it is significant in that it was the opening move of that war, in context it is only a very minor part of world war two. In Europe war was sparked by the invasion of Poland but that is not talked about endlessly.
The Pacific war was won from day 1, but the European was was quite a different matter. In 1940 Britain stood alone against Germany after France surrendered, and there was a fair expectation that Britain would give up and do a deal with Germany. This was probably the most significant point of the war.
France surrendered along with her huge navy and in German hands Britain would lose her advantage at sea and so probably lose the war. On 3rd July 1940 the British navy attacked the French navy that was in port disabling six capital ships and killing 1, 300 french, similar numbers to Pearl Harbor 18 months later. Most importantly it demonstrated that Britain was fighting on.
The British also put half the Italian navy out of action with an air attack on Taranto in November 1940. This was key to keeping control of the Mediterranean Sea and driving the Germans out of Africa.
I would rate both these events as far more significant that Pearl Harbor but hey it did not involve Americans so you probably have not heard of either!
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Can we please stop banging on about Pearl Harbor! While it is significant in that it was the opening move of that war, in context it is only a very minor part of world war two. In Europe war was sparked by the invasion of Poland but that is not talked about endlessly.
The Pacific war was won from day 1, but the European was was quite a different matter. In 1940 Britain stood alone against Germany after France surrendered, and there was a fair expectation that Britain would give up and do a deal with Germany. This was probably the most significant point of the war.
France surrendered along with her huge navy and in German hands Britain would lose her advantage at sea and so probably lose the war. On 3rd July 1940 the British navy attacked the French navy that was in port disabling six capital ships and killing 1, 300 french, similar numbers to Pearl Harbor 18 months later. Most importantly it demonstrated that Britain was fighting on.
The British also put half the Italian navy out of action with an air attack on Taranto in November 1940. This was key to keeping control of the Mediterranean Sea and driving the Germans out of Africa.
I would rate both these events as far more significant that Pearl Harbor but hey it did not involve Americans so you probably have not heard of either!
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Emmett
Well, at least there was a mention of communism, but nothing of the Anti-Communist International Pact or that Communism was a direct threat to the Emperor of Japan. The Hull Ultimatum, which under the Hague conventions started hostilities because the verbal part was a threat of war if Japan didn't pull out of South East Asia, is given a tangential reference by saying that South East Asia was under US protection, that is, claimed by the US. Not sure why the American war crime of nuking undefended cities when our army wasn't on approach is even mentioned.
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Well, at least there was a mention of communism, but nothing of the Anti-Communist International Pact or that Communism was a direct threat to the Emperor of Japan. The Hull Ultimatum, which under the Hague conventions started hostilities because the verbal part was a threat of war if Japan didn't pull out of South East Asia, is given a tangential reference by saying that South East Asia was under US protection, that is, claimed by the US. Not sure why the American war crime of nuking undefended cities when our army wasn't on approach is even mentioned.
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Kilroy
The Japanese had two inter-related war goals: 1) eject western colonial powers from Asia, and 2) replace them with itself. These war-goals supported the true goal for Japan to become a world power and become independent in regard to obtaining resources. One could actually make a case that although they lost the war and paid a very heavy human price, they clearly achieved war-goal #1 and their overall goal. So, in a political sense, they won.
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The Japanese had two inter-related war goals: 1) eject western colonial powers from Asia, and 2) replace them with itself. These war-goals supported the true goal for Japan to become a world power and become independent in regard to obtaining resources. One could actually make a case that although they lost the war and paid a very heavy human price, they clearly achieved war-goal #1 and their overall goal. So, in a political sense, they won.
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Paul
An interesting point to be made. The Japanese overlooked the petroleum stores at Pearl Harbor. Had the Japanese attacked and destroyed the tank farms containing the petroleum stores it is likely that the US Navy couldn't have gone anywhere for at least a year if not two while the tank farm was rebuilt and restocked. But instead, they fought the last war by attacking the battleships.
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An interesting point to be made. The Japanese overlooked the petroleum stores at Pearl Harbor. Had the Japanese attacked and destroyed the tank farms containing the petroleum stores it is likely that the US Navy couldn't have gone anywhere for at least a year if not two while the tank farm was rebuilt and restocked. But instead, they fought the last war by attacking the battleships.
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Sid
You forgot to say that the reason why Japan was chosing the south was also because the Dutch army (Indonesia was ofc Dutch terratory) was getting back to the Netherlands because of the German invasion. So they could much easier fight for the southern part. Ofcourse that worked the same way with the north but you get the point.
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You forgot to say that the reason why Japan was chosing the south was also because the Dutch army (Indonesia was ofc Dutch terratory) was getting back to the Netherlands because of the German invasion. So they could much easier fight for the southern part. Ofcourse that worked the same way with the north but you get the point.
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Richard
Japan imported 90% of its oil requirements from the USA. The US placed an oil embargo on sales to Japan because of its behaviour in China. This left Japan with the choice of changing its foreign policy or invading S-E Asia for oil. It chose the latter and so had to attack the US Navy at Pearl Harbor. Why the surprise?
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Japan imported 90% of its oil requirements from the USA. The US placed an oil embargo on sales to Japan because of its behaviour in China. This left Japan with the choice of changing its foreign policy or invading S-E Asia for oil. It chose the latter and so had to attack the US Navy at Pearl Harbor. Why the surprise?
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James
Since the Dutch homeland was already occupied and France as well, it would have been easy just to take those Asian possessions without attacking Britain or The US. It would have been very difficult for Roosevelt to declare war on Japan. Britain already had its hands full with Germany as well.
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Since the Dutch homeland was already occupied and France as well, it would have been easy just to take those Asian possessions without attacking Britain or The US. It would have been very difficult for Roosevelt to declare war on Japan. Britain already had its hands full with Germany as well.
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MrWinterHD
I Believe that the soviet union would have capitulated if japan had attacked it, just because the advance of the germans to moscow was stopped closely before it partly because of real soldiers arriving from the eastern side of the soviet union, which werent needed there
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I Believe that the soviet union would have capitulated if japan had attacked it, just because the advance of the germans to moscow was stopped closely before it partly because of real soldiers arriving from the eastern side of the soviet union, which werent needed there
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Vinny
I mean Pearl Harbor was sloppy anyways. They didn't hit any of the repair docks for whatever reason so even had we not enlisted every possible vessel for military use we'd still be up and running in time to eventually deal with them.
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I mean Pearl Harbor was sloppy anyways. They didn't hit any of the repair docks for whatever reason so even had we not enlisted every possible vessel for military use we'd still be up and running in time to eventually deal with them.
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Faithless
The short answer to the question, Why did Japan attack the US Navy at Pearl Harbor in 1941? is that it was their response to Commodore Perry's actions in 1853 and 1854, delivered when they thought they were in a position to win.
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The short answer to the question, Why did Japan attack the US Navy at Pearl Harbor in 1941? is that it was their response to Commodore Perry's actions in 1853 and 1854, delivered when they thought they were in a position to win.
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Slopjaw
These are lies. My professors taught me pearl harbor was a response to centuries of racism and genocide against Japanese people and then the US response was more racism and oppression against Japanese people of color
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These are lies. My professors taught me pearl harbor was a response to centuries of racism and genocide against Japanese people and then the US response was more racism and oppression against Japanese people of color
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Affable
To be fair, the Japanese still did put up one hell of a nasty fight, and would've fought to the last one legged, blind child soldier with wooden planks for arms if their emperor didn't step in.
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To be fair, the Japanese still did put up one hell of a nasty fight, and would've fought to the last one legged, blind child soldier with wooden planks for arms if their emperor didn't step in.
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HyperIon
They actually thought a preemptive strike against American would shock the base so hard that theyd sue for peace rather than retaliate?
Yeah, they hadn't met any Americans had they.
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They actually thought a preemptive strike against American would shock the base so hard that theyd sue for peace rather than retaliate?
Yeah, they hadn't met any Americans had they.
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MegaBrokenstar
If the goal is to cripple US military capacity in the pacific, simultaneously attacking US military bases across the board including the big one in Hawaii makes complete sense.
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If the goal is to cripple US military capacity in the pacific, simultaneously attacking US military bases across the board including the big one in Hawaii makes complete sense.
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Larry
Japan did win. They are friendly towards the US and we made them a democracy and they sell their goods all over the world. They became rich by their friendship with the United States.
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Japan did win. They are friendly towards the US and we made them a democracy and they sell their goods all over the world. They became rich by their friendship with the United States.
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Im
One of another big reason for japan to go to war with the western allies is Burma road which britian use it to give supply and aid to china from other nation like USA and Britian itself
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One of another big reason for japan to go to war with the western allies is Burma road which britian use it to give supply and aid to china from other nation like USA and Britian itself
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Aquarium
What an insane war Japan has launched! Any fool knows the power and might of the United States!
-Yoshio Nishina, Japanese physicist upon haring of the attack on Pearl Harbor
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What an insane war Japan has launched! Any fool knows the power and might of the United States!
-Yoshio Nishina, Japanese physicist upon haring of the attack on Pearl Harbor
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sclSolitarium
I know my elementary history teachers would have given you a C+ simply because this presentation was less than 5 minutes, but that was succinct, and well stated. Bravo.
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I know my elementary history teachers would have given you a C+ simply because this presentation was less than 5 minutes, but that was succinct, and well stated. Bravo.
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Cmdr_Jordan
List of People who these are related to at the start of the video
1. Ghengis Khan
2. 3rd Reich Invades the USSR
3. Japan
4. Unknown
5. Self Explanatory
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List of People who these are related to at the start of the video
1. Ghengis Khan
2. 3rd Reich Invades the USSR
3. Japan
4. Unknown
5. Self Explanatory
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bigjay7433
Try looking up Claire Lee Chennault and the flying Tigers. Basically U. S. pilots and planes fighting against the Japanese with the Chinese in 1939. Maybe that is why?
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Try looking up Claire Lee Chennault and the flying Tigers. Basically U. S. pilots and planes fighting against the Japanese with the Chinese in 1939. Maybe that is why?
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