A CHRONICLE OF JAPANESE AGGRESSION AND FAILURE

Pearl Harbor

Japan and Aggression

Japan continuing to acquire territories in the Pacific.

Indochina 1940Japan’s “offer” 1940America insults Japan: 1941

Why?

“Japan could not hope to win an all out war against America and Britain” Admiral Yamamoto (head of Japanese Military”

Deficits per Japanese estimates: Steel production capabilities: 20:1 Oil production capabilities: 100:1 Coal production: 20:1 Aircraft production (prewar) 5:1 Shipping: 3:1 Overall: 10:1

General Iwakuro

Did FDR know?

From Chief of Staff: George Marshall“the Oahu fortress complex (Pearl Harbor) is

the strongest in the world, a seaborne attack is out of the question”.

Part of the surprise was how outrageously ambitious the plan was.

Quick stats

First planes hit: 7:55 AMAll but 29 Japanese planes returned½ of America’s military fleet destroyed8 battleships destroyed3 cruisers2323 servicemen killed

Yet a total failure

Ships were quickly raised and repairedThe American carriers the key—were out oat

the time and remained safe.Submarine pens and oil storage tanks

unharmed“limited success was a woefully small military

return for the political risk of attacking the United States before a declaration of war” Paul Johnson.

The result?

America rallied and mobilized as quickly and as dominantly as any nation in human history.

Consider the numbers… Total growth:

By the end of the first year of the war…the US was now production as much as all the enemies and allies put together. By 1944 they had doubled their lead in that stat.

Tank growth: 1940: 24,000—1942: 58,000

Numbers

Soliders Enrolled:

11,260,000 troops 670,000 marines 4,200,000 sailors

An increase from an over at just over 2,000,000 in 1941!

Production US factories built by wars end

298,000 planes 102,000 tanks 88,000 ships

Growth at a miraculous pace

USS Yorktown 3 month job to repair, after Pearl Harbor—that was

moved up slightly…48 hours.Pentagon

7.5 year building plan—shaved to a yearShip building

1940 US building a ship in 196 days By 1942: 10.3 hours 52% of all ships produced in factories that were not

even there before Pearl Harbor!!!!

Japanese perspective…

Hirohito: “Why is it that it took the Americans only a few days to build a complete airbase and the Japanese more than 40 days?”

Admiral Nagano: “I am very sorry”

Conclusion

Pearl Harbor created a surge of nationalism that has not been equaled in human history. That nationalism led to a growth of industry and productive capacity that still baffles economists and smashed the depression literally overnight.