Navy, so that it would not be able to fight back as Japanese forces began to advance on targets across the South Pacific. At first, however, the Pearl Harbor attack looked like a success for Japan. Its bombers hit all eight U. But the Pearl Harbor attack had failed in its objective to completely destroy the Pacific Fleet. The Japanese bombers missed oil tanks, ammunition sites and repair facilities, and not a single U.
In June , this failure came to haunt the Japanese, as U. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us!
He took over at a time of rising democratic sentiment, but his country soon turned toward ultra-nationalism and militarism. Though Hirohito later portrayed himself as a virtually powerless constitutional monarch, many scholars have come to believe he played an active role in the war effort. According to custom, imperial family members were not raised by their parents. Instead, Hirohito spent his early years in the care of first a retired vice-admiral and then an imperial attendant.
From age 7 to 19, Hirohito attended schools set up for the children of nobility. He received rigorous instruction in military and religious matters, along with other subjects such as math and physics. In , Hirohito and a man entourage traveled to Western Europe for a six-month tour; it was the first time a Japanese crown prince had ever gone abroad.
Upon his return to Japan, Hirohito became regent for his chronically ill father and assumed the duties of emperor. That December, Hirohito survived an assassination attempt, and the following month he married Princess Nagako, with whom he would have seven children.
At around the same time, he ended the practice of imperial concubinage. Hirohito officially became emperor when his father died in December When Hirohito assumed the throne, a universal male suffrage law had just passed, and political parties were near the height of their prewar powers. However, a plunging economy, rising militarism and a series of political assassinations soon caused a crisis for the pro-democracy movement.
The next prime minister was shot and mortally wounded, and in yet another prime minister was assassinated by naval officers upset about a treaty limiting the number of Japanese warships. Led by Captain Mitsuo Fuchida, the pilots spotted land and assumed their attack positions around a. For nearly two hours, Japanese firepower rained down upon American ships and servicemen.
While the attack inflicted significant destruction, the fact that Japan failed to destroy American repair shops and fuel-oil tanks mitigated the damage. Even more significantly, no American aircraft carriers were at Pearl Harbor that day.
Within days, the Japanese were masters of the Pacific. But a communications delay prevented a warning from reaching Pearl Harbor in time. The Americans missed another opportunity when an officer discounted a report from an Oahu-based radar operator that a large number of planes were headed their way. At the White House, Roosevelt learned of the attack as he was finishing lunch and preparing to tend to his stamp collection. He spent the remainder of the afternoon receiving updates and writing the address he intended to deliver to Congress the following day asking for a declaration of war against Japan.
As he drafted and redrafted the speech, Roosevelt focused on rallying the nation behind a war many had hoped to avoid. The discovery of a Pearl Harbor veteran in the family tree leads to discovery of service and sacrifice. Commanders of troops guarding the South Manchurian Railway faked a piece of railway sabotage as an excuse to occupy the chief Manchurian cities. This was done without the consent of the cabinet then in office, which resigned as a result.
In a government headed by Admiral Saito approved the seizure of Manchuria by formally recognizing Manchukuo, a dummy empire set up by the army.
The militarists followed up their gains by the occupation of a large slice of north China in , forcing the Chinese government to sign a humiliating truce.
In February , Japan quit the League of Nations, burning its most important bridge with the outside world. In February , after two years of deceptive quiet, the army volcano erupted again, this time in a mutiny almost within the shadow of the imperial palace.
Only about 1, troops, led by their captains and lieutenants, were involved. But there is good reason to suspect that some of the highest ranking generals were in sympathy with the mutineers. The fascist-minded young officers were not in rebellion against their military superiors, but against the government. They had prepared a long death list of prominent men whose principles and actions they disapproved. Actually they succeeded in assassinating only three high officials. The chief result was greater power for the supreme command.
The outbreak of a large-scale war, in China rallied the people to the support of the militarists. All opposition to the war was suppressed.
The army took over the conduct of affairs in China, allowing the politicians little or no say. The state, which had always exercised strong controls over industry, trade, education, religion, and the press, tightened its grip. On September 27, , Japan concluded a military alliance with Germany and Italy. By the beginning of , for all practical purposes the army and the state were one. Even big business, since an uneasy partner in the wartime economy, could no longer offer effective opposition to the fascists in uniform.
On the other hand, a powerful army and navy tuned to a high pitch of enthusiasm and efficiency are a strong temptation to a war-minded government in time of crisis. Japan had the best army, navy, and air force in the Far East. In addition to trained manpower and modern weapons, Japan had in the mandated islands a string of naval and air bases ideally located for an advance to the south.
From to the Chinese war had cost Japan many billions of dollars and at least a million casualties. In return for this heavy investment, the Japanese expected great gains. Economic resources were at a low ebb; this was the chief weakness. Nonetheless, in the fall of Japan was at the peak of its military and naval strength.
France and Holland were in no position to come to the rescue of their Eastern possessions. They knew that they must strike soon, or give up forever their dream of conquest. Certain events of the years between and Pearl Harbor had convinced even the arrogant descendants of the gods that the United States was not going to be pushed around much longer. GI Roundtable Series.
Corey Prize Raymond J. Cunningham Prize John H. Klein Prize Waldo G. Marraro Prize George L. Mosse Prize John E. Palmegiano Prize James A.
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