Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise Japanese military strike on the U.S.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise Japanese military strike on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. It killed more than 2,400 Americans, damaged or destroyed much of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and led the United States to enter World War II.
Background
The attack came after a period of worsening relations between Japan and the United States and was part of Japan’s wider wartime strategy in the Pacific.
The attack
Japanese carrier-based aircraft launched a surprise strike on Pearl Harbor in two waves, hitting ships, airfields, and other military targets around Oahu. The attack was carried out by the Imperial Japanese Navy on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941.
Casualties and damage
The attack killed 2,403 Americans, including military personnel and civilians, and wounded 1,178. Eight U.S. battleships were sunk or damaged, and more than 300 U.S. aircraft were destroyed or damaged. Sources report 19 to 21 U.S. ships were sunk or damaged.
Aftermath
The attack led to a U.S. declaration of war on Japan on December 8, 1941, bringing the United States fully into World War II. The attack helped draw North America into a fully global war, shaping Canada’s wartime role as a Commonwealth ally of the United States and Britain in the Pacific conflict.
Key facts
- The attack took place on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, and was carried out by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
- Japanese aircraft struck the U.S. Pacific Fleet and nearby military airfields in two waves.
- The attack killed 2,403 Americans, including military personnel and civilians, and wounded 1,178.
- Eight U.S. battleships were sunk or damaged, and hundreds of aircraft were destroyed or damaged.
- The attack precipitated the United States' entry into World War II.
The attack helped draw North America into a fully global war, shaping Canada’s wartime role as a Commonwealth ally of the United States and Britain in the Pacific conflict.
Frequently asked questions
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References
- Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/event/Pearl-Harbor-attackSupports: Date, location, description of the surprise attack, and its role in precipitating U.S. entry into World War II.
- HISTORY — https://www.history.com/articles/pearl-harborSupports: Casualties, damage to ships and aircraft, and the U.S. declaration of war the following day.
- U.S. Department of War — https://www.war.gov/multimedia/experience/remembering-pearl-harbor/Supports: Date, casualties, damage, and immediate wartime aftermath.
- The National WWII Museum — https://www.nationalww2museum.org/sites/default/files/2017-07/pearl-harbor.pdfSupports: Casualties and ship damage from the attack.
- U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command — https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1941/pearl-harbor.htmlSupports: Number of aircraft, two-wave attack description, and casualty breakdown.
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/pearl-harborSupports: Overview of the attack, damage to battleships and aircraft, and its significance as a turning point in the war.