USA’s involvement in the Second World War, culminating in the only-time-in-history offensive use of nuclear bombs, was sparked off by Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. The attack bought an end to the role of the USA as a fence-sitting force and paved the way for the perpetration of the historical tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Although the States was on its way to join the war, it had desisted to openly declare it up until the attack. The attack started a chain of reactions: starting with the declaration of war on the USA by Italy and Germany, the beginning of the active role of the USA, and ending with the bombings on Japan.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor: The Casualties
Although the number of casualties at Pearl Harbor pale away in insignificance when compared to the figures of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the attack was still audacious and heinous in that it was executed on a country that had not yet openly declared war nor had it chosen sides. Although, the writing was on the wall and could be seen clearly in light of the fact that the USA was loaning equipment to the Allied forces.
Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor was carried out by airplanes. The base was bombed by aircraft, which killed more than 2,300 people and dealt considerable damage to the present aircraft and ships.
The two major losses sustained by the USA in this attack were the U.S.S Arizona and the U.S.S Oklahoma. A total of eight battleships were, at that time, present at Pearl Harbor. None of them was spared from the deadly onslaught by the Japanese. Arizona was completely destroyed, but from the remaining seven, six were repaired and bought back in use.
More than 180 US aircraft were destroyed in the attack. Other smaller ships at the base were also destroyed.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor: The How and Why?
The attack carried out by Japan at Pearl Harbor consisted of two waves. The hundreds of Japanese aircraft that targeted the base came in two batches, one after the other. The assault was well-planned out by the Japanese. The time chosen for the attack was Sunday morning, as it would mean lesser men at the base.
The US navy did not expect the base itself to be attacked. Although an attack was imminent, it was expected on the fleet or the ships out in the sea. Due to this, the commanding officers at Pearl Harbor were somewhat lax and unsuspecting.
That is, ostentatiously, how the large-scale onslaught was easily executed, with the Japanese sustaining inconsequential damages.
Coming to the ‘why’ of the whole affair, the attack was planned by Japan to incapacitate the Pacific Fleet of the US. The former wanted to carry out its plans in the Southern Pacific, and the presence of the American force in Pearl Harbor was a deterring factor. Another purpose of the attack was to break the spirit and morale of the US forces and prevent them from moving against the Japanese.
It is also worth noting that tensions among the USA and Japan increased for quite a time before the attack. Trade restrictions and severing of ties in other diplomatic departments had led to a somewhat apprehensive and aggressive stance for both these countries. Hence, the incident at Pearl Harbor was an effect of bottled-up agitation. The relationships between the USA and Japan were, in summation, deteriorating even before they became war enemies.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor: The Consequences
After the attack, the USA openly came out on the battlefield. Pearl Harbor attack brought in its wake the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombings were retaliation from the US for the incident on 7th December, the date that President Roosevelt called a ‘date which will live in infamy.
