The Attack on Pearl Harbor

The Attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 is one of the most famous events of the Second World War. Led by the Japanese admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the offensive caused the USA to join the Allies in their fight against the Germans, the Italians and the Japanese. In just 50 minutes, you will find out how this brutal attack played a decisive role in the outcome of the war and understand its profound influence on Japanese-American relations to this day.

This straightforward and informative book provides a thorough discussion of the key moments in the unexpected assault on the Pearl Harbor naval base, including the Japanese expansionism that preceded the assault, the preparations for the attack and the two waves of the offensive. It also features a full biography of the key protagonists, a valuable introduction to the political, social and economic context and an evaluation of the impact of the attack, giving you all the essential information about this bloody event in American history.

About the attack on Pearl Harbor

The attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the bloodiest and most unexpected events of the Second World War. Although the Japanese sent a declaration of war to the Americans a short time before the assualt, it was encrypted and the Americans were unable to decode it. As a result, the harbor was taken completely unawares: Over 2400 Americans were killed, while the Japanese escaped almost unscathed, taking fewer than 100 casualties. Although, from a purely human and material point of view, the attack was a resounding success for the Japanese, it ultimately failed to achieve its goal, as it left the Americans with enough resources to rebuild.

This clear and accessible 43-page book is structured as follows:

• Introduction to the attack on Pearl Harbor
• Social and political context
  • The beginnings of the Second World War
  • Japanese expansionism
  • The United States and the Second World War
• Key protagonists of the attack on Pearl Harbor
  • Husband Edward Kimmel, American admiral
  • Walter Campbell Short, American general
  • Isoroku Yamamoto, Japanese admiral
  • Mitsuo Fuchida, Japanese commander
• Analysis of the attack
  • The preparations
  • The objectives and strategy of the attack
  • The attack
• Impact of the attack
  • On the way to a global conflict
  • The reactions of the Axis and Japan
  • Controversy: was Roosevelt guilty?
• Summary