Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

On 7 December 1941, a Sunday morning, Japanese carrier planes attack the American military base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, without warning. The brunt of the air raid is directed against the airfields and battleships – the backbone of the US Pacific Fleet. The torpedoes and bombs put five battleships completely out of commission and damage three others. More than half of the 300 planes are destroyed. The attack unites all Americans behind their president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. On the following day the United States declares war on Japan. Tokyo follows with declarations of war against Canada, Australia and Great Britain.

© Caen Rescue of a surviving marine in front of the burning USS West-Virginia

On his part Adolf Hitler surprises the world public on 11 December: Totally overestimating Germany’s strategic and military potential – he declares war against Washington. With its nearly inexhaustible resources America’s entry into the war on the side of Great Britain and the Soviet Union will be decisive for victory against the „axis powers“ Germany, Italy and Japan.