The Significance of Pearl Harbor to the Japanese

In 1941, one of the largest American military defeats occurred. An entire naval fleet was destroyed; hundreds were killed, all before 09.00 on a Sunday. The US did not have any knowledge of this attack, partially because of ignorance, partially because of the military strategies of their Japanese opponents. The Japanese attack on the US naval base of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was a classic case of "It will not happen to me!" Although the US suspected …

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