Historical Context
'A date which will live in infamy,' was how then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt described Japan's sudden and undeclared attack on the US naval station at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941.
Japan sought to prevent the US Pacific Fleet from interfering with its military adventures in Asia. On the same day as the attack, Japan invaded Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong and attack the Philippines, Guam and Wake Island.
The air assault killed 2,403 Americans and destroyed a number of battleships and other vessels, as well as important facilities on Pearl Harbor. It shocked the American public and directly led them to declare war on Japan the following day. Adolf Hitler responded by declaring war on the US on 11 December, firmly bringing America into both fronts of the war.
Photo Info
Date taken: December 7, 1941
Location taken: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA
Source: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library
Related Events
- 1941-01-16 US vice admiral Bellinger warns of an assault on Pearl Harbor
- 1941-01-27 Peruvian ambassador Ricardo Rivera-Schreiber warns American Ambassador of Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor
- 1941-11-01 Japanese naval staff offiicers Suzuki & Maejima arrive at Pearl Harbor
- 1941-11-03 Japanese Admiral Osami Nagano presents a complete plan for the attack on Pearl Harbor to Emperor Hirohito
- 1941-11-05 Japanese naval staff officers Suzuki and Maejima leave Pearl Harbor
- 1941-11-26 Japanese naval carrier force left its base & moves east toward Pearl Harbor
- 1941-12-02 Japanese Marshal Admiral Yamamoto sends his fleet to Pearl Harbor
- 1941-12-05 US aircraft carrier Lexington and 5 heavy cruisers leave Pearl Harbor
- 1941-12-07 Imperial Japanese Navy with 353 planes attack the US fleet at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii, killing 2,403 people
- 1941-12-24 First ships of admiral Nagumo's Pearl Harbor fleet return to Japan
- 1942-09-14 US Navy Admiral Chester Nimitz presents the 1st Medal of Honor of WWII, for courage and valor beyond the call of duty during the attack on Pearl Harbor, to sailor John William Finn; ceremony took place in Pearl Harbor aboard USS Enterprise
- 1943-04-18 Operation Vengeance: US Army Air Force P-38G fighter aircraft from Kukum Field on Guadalcanal ambush and shoot down the transport bomber aircraft of Isoroku Yamamoto, commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy and mastermind behind the Pearl Harbor attack
Related Articles and Photos
'Infamy' as Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor
Japan launched its shock attack against the American Navy base at Pearl Harbor on this day – a date to “live in infamy,” according to the US President.
December 7, 1941
FDR’s Day of Infamy Speech
President Roosevelt delivers the "Day of Infamy" speech to a joint session of Congress
December 8, 1941
Battle of Los Angeles
Anti-aircraft guns and spotlights comb the sky above Los Angeles during the rumored Japanese attack
February 24, 1942
Victory over Japan
Kissing the War Goodbye on VJ Day
August 14, 1945
Surrender of Japan
Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signs the Instrument of Surrender to formally end World War II
September 2, 1945
Related Famous People
32nd US President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Emperor of Japan
Hirohito
WWII Admiral who Led the Attack on Pearl Harbor
Isoroku Yamamoto
