The reason Japan attacked Pearl Harbor
Japan attacked the U.S Pacific Fleet at its base at Pearl Harbor on the 7th of December 1941, but what led to that decision? Why did the Japanese attack the USA? - The answer is oil.
Japan had been modernising its economy throughout the 20th century and wanted to build an empire of its own. However, Japan lacked the natural resources to make it a reality, with all but 6% of its oil supply being imported. After capturing Manchuria, Japan became bogged down in a full-scale war with China in 1937 and had to look elsewhere for the resources it needed to fight. Meanwhile, the USA was slowly awakening from its isolationism.
When Japan occupied French Indochina in 1941, America retaliated by freezing all Japanese assets in the states, preventing Japan from purchasing oil. Having lost 94% of its oil supply and unwilling to submit to U.S demands, Japan planned to take the oil needed by force. However, striking south into British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies would almost certainly provoke an armed U.S response. To blunt that response, Japan decided to attack the U.S Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, hoping that the U.S would negotiate peace.
The attack at Pearl Harbor was a huge gamble, but one which did not pay off. Though Japan took its objectives in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, the U.S did not respond as expected. Instead of reverting to isolationism, the U.S geared up for total war and Japan's fate was sealed.
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00:00 Introduction
00:29 Japan's ambitions
01:29 Second Sino-Japanese War
02:37 American isolationism
04:01 Japan's oil problem
04:35 Northern vs Southern Strategies
05:54 U.S embargoes
07:10 Japan's crisis
08:36 The attack on Pearl Harbor
11:12 The attack on Southeast Asia
12:08 U.S response
13:10 Conclusion
My Filipino great-grandfather signed up as a soldier at 14, which was actually not allowed; He fought the Japanese in our province. I remember my mom telling me that the only thing he shot that day was coconuts so he could eat and drink during the fight. While he did this, he met a young Japanese kid, who might have been the same age, looking at him while eating. They both looked at each other but they didn't shoot each other instead, they ate coconuts together while all the fighting was going on lol...
Maybe the real enemies were coconuts all along
@@-LTUIiiin those damned imperial coconuts i tell u
That's awesome... I could have done the same in hunger... these courage and determination worked well when you have filled stomach. After all when fighting for someone's fight ... it's cool to be friends.
@@-LTUIiiin falling coconuts do kill a substantial number of people.
So he literally did nothing good job why even sign up 😆 🤣
There's an interesting alternative history to consider. The Japanese could have left America alone and just attacked the Dutch East Indies, Malaya & Singapore to secure the oil and other resources they needed. It is possible that the American public would not have wanted to go to war with Japan essentially to protect the Colonial interests of Britain and France.
True. But people expect others to react as they would. Japan would expect the invasion of Indo-China and the Dutch East Indies as a potential risk/threat to the Philippines. The Philippines were a US possession at the time. If a possession of Japan was threatened like this they would react, so they expected the US to react. That meant knocking out the US first. No-one knows what the US would have done if Japan had not attacked Pearl harbor or the Philippines and left the US alone. Would the US have accepted Japan as the new Empire on the block. Now with independent resources? Or a threat best prevented before they got too big? In the end the Japanese misunderstood the American people. When attacked the people of the US put their differences aside and come out swinging, and swinging hard. Secondly the capacity of the US to repair and build. Especially when they put their mind to it. One of the major difference between the Japanese navy and the US navy is the importance placed on damage control and repair. IIRC (and I may be wrong), but I think that this can be seen in the battle of Midway. The lack of damage control in the Japanese fleet doomed ships. While the impressive damage control in the US fleet saved ships or kept them in the fight longer.
@@Kailhun - That sounds very sensible! When you look at the economic power of the axis and allies then its clear axis could not win, only a question of how long the war lasts. Reminds me playing a computer game of US Civil war. Whatever I did Confederates always lost.
The Japanese well knew they couldn’t sustain a war with the industrial might of the USA. They basically said that for 6 months to a year they would have victory after victory, but after that the victories would stop and they would lose. They wanted to hit hard enough and fast enough that they could dig in and wait for surrender. Germany really wasn’t that different. When they invaded Russia, they expected them to collapse within months as the French and Polish had collapsed, and the Russians collapsed early in WWI. When they met stiff opposition, the Germans were pretty much done.
@@Kailhun that is true, the impressive damage control the US got had made the Japanese navy to believed that they have damage and sunk more US ships when in actually.. they have only been attacking the same vessel over and over.
@@robertb6889 - Basically right except in WW1 Russia had fielded armies of millions for over 3 years. Russia did OK against Austria and Turkey but not Germany. So credit where credit due.
Admiral Yamamoto: "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."
My grandfather was a mechanic in the Dutch East Indias quickly defeated army. He and all his comrades were captured by the Japanese and transported by ship as prisoners to Burma. Whilst travelling the ship was relentlessly bombed by Allied forces leaving few survivors. Once being picked up by a trailing Japanese ship along with other survivors, my grandfather worked on the Burma railroad, which too was bombed by US forces who had no idea that they were bombing their own and inflicting significant casualties. On one occasion my grandfather had a piece of shrapnel from a bomb blasted into his leg which was taken out without any pain relief. As a mechanic my grandfather would often travel with Japanese supply trucks, which he used as a way to smuggle in medicine and food for the other malaria and hunger stricken prisoners. Throughout his stay in the atrocious conditions of Burma my grandfather recalled one escape which took place. Three Americans made their way past the guards and into the jungle, never to be seen again. The guards, recruited from Korea, were cruel bullies who enjoyed torture and prisoner mistreatment for their own amusement. Upon Japanese defeat my grandfather caught a serious case of Malaria which kept him bed stricken for over a year. After his recovery he traveled to Holland where he met my grandmother.
You are spitting some facts here thank you… I hate when Korea try to blame all the atrocities on Japan only when there were many Korean soldiers in Japanese military back then who also committed atrocities…
@@YUTAB-ck9rp wtf??? Japan forced them to fight for them? Trust me there were no Koreans who volunteered and wanted to fight for the Japanese imperial military.
The strangest thing about WW2 is that the high commands of both Japan and Germany knew that if they didn't deal a knockout blow to their opponents, they would lose. Their inability to produce enough weapons, train enough pilots, and have enough fuel to wage war, made Pearl Harbour, The Battle Of Britain, and Operation Barbarossa the brash and audacious campaigns they were. The Axis mentality was strike first and overwhelm. It's great when it works, but when it doesn't, you get nuked, or have the Soviets run a third of your country for 55 years.
The Germans tried to assassinate Hitler, too bad that failed. Hitler's dream of "libensraum" or "living room" was to create a vast region of Germanic people in Europe, pushing out the other ethnicities. Hitler's famous/infamous "guns or butter" comment backfired. The Germans attacked with ferocity, and with high casualties. They could never be a version of The Imperial Roman Empire. Instead, if Germany just sold goods to the rest of the world, their industrial work ethic would have made them wealthy. Hitler's obsession with the Jewish people was a leftover of the Eugenics wave of thought, and the old Crusades religious persecution culture. Germany's loss in WW1, much like CSA Dixie's loss against Lincoln & The Union created the "Lost Cause" culture of vindictive grumblers. Book burning, marches, and violence followed. Osama bin Laden had his run, but with a vast religion instead of a purely racial/Ethnicity "purity" basis. The internet replaces all that, people get swept up into dangerous thinking today. Radicalization, or the mental sociopaths adopting blueprint ideas of hate & violence, launching copycat attacks. When I was on Guam, I spoke with elders who survived the 3 year Japanese Occupation, it was Hell. Many of their stories never were published. One lady told me she was 5 years old, put into a group of female Islanders, and used as a live human target for cave-clearing training by Japanese Army. Of 16 females, she was only survivor. Rosa Garrido.
The Axis mentality was strike first and overwhelm. But they forgot that the _overwhelm_ part works for both side
They were going up against much larger enemies. It was an underdog fight. Also Patton said he was ordered to give Berlin to the Soviets, and strongly regretted it.
@@pinetree5184 Germany lost both wars as much in the factories as on the battlefield. In World War II in particular, American industrial might made an Axis victory impossible. Artillery alone made the superior marksmanship of German soldiers a moot point.
It wasn't like they wanted to go to war, but every major Allied nation leader was dead set on getting elected/power and receiving funding from the bankers to go to war.
As Yamamoto reportedly said: " In the first six to twelve months of a war with the United States and Great Britain I will run wild and win victory upon victory. But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success. "
Yeah he was a smart guy and advised the emperor not to attack the US
Yamamoto knew the US and was well aware of the immense industrial capacity of the country.
yamamoto is a brilliant tactician and visionary but war mongers in japan prevailed with their hot heads and ambitions..
Lesson to be learned ... Don't start wars you can't finish.
@Anglo Saxon Who are these Americans you speak of? And, how many Japanese forces could have been landed so far away from Japan? There are many mountains and rivers to cross before arriving in Chicago. Even if the Japanese could have landed a force of comparable size to the Normandy landings, I think, at best, they would made it not further than the Rocky Mountains. The US may not have been an amazing superpower back then. But much like the Soviet Union, there is a lot of land to conquer.
My grandmother is a 1940's World War 2 survivor. She's 96, and still alive, no cane, no walker, no wheelchair.
I hope your grandmother is doing well. God Bless you and your family.
That's incredible
Ok
Incredible.
@@gamewizardks she's doing good.
I never learned about this in school. Completely facsinating. Thankyou! Great video!
I thought every middle/highschool taught this in social studies and us and world history class
@@Zayb3lll Outside of USA there isn't really all that much emphasis of pearl harbor when going through WW2 history. The only reason it gets mentioned at all is because it's a reason for USA joining the war.
My dad was at Pearl Harbor on the USS Nevada. My Aunt often told me if a Japanese bomber had zigged instead of zagged I wouldn't be here. Dad had extreme PTSD, and I sometimes go wandering on the internet looking for explanations and answers for the pain my family and I went through. This video sums things up pretty well, I feel like I finally have a solid understanding of the "why." Rest in peace, daddy, I'm sorry you had to go through all that.
Why would your dad have PTSD from Pearl Harbor when he wasn't harmed? PTSD is falsely attributed to mental health issues that people had LONG before they entered the military.
Jane, I hope that at time your father appreciated that however badly he was affected by his experiences, (1) he was still better off than those who died or were horribly disfigured in the experience; and (2) it had to be done for the salvation of the country and there are still many people around who salute people like your father. I have always thought of it as "the last good war" meaning a war which had to be fought and which we fought not out of choice or malicious intent but to resist a country that brought savagery to war in many nations other than us. His life was meaningful - never forget that. At one time in a medical unit in the Army, I saw the result of war - and if you see enough of it, it brings out the pacifist feelings that lurk within us all.
@@stevenwolfe7101 Whether or not he was better off than others is debatable. I wasn't kidding when I said "extreme" PTSD. It filtered all the way down through all of us, his kids and grandkids. There are 14 people who exist because of dad, 3 of us have extreme mental disorders, and all but 2 have a very difficult time functioning. One committed suicide. Only dad was at Pearl Harbor, but he brought the war home with him, and spread it to the rest of us. I have forgiven him ... but it took a very, very long time.
@@janeaustin3479 That is terrible to hear. But hearing the story, my own reaction is that your father may have also suffered from something else and his wartime experiences just set him off. I think in any event, you are best served by turning the page. Many people have problems with one or both parents covering a wide variety of disorders, some of which have a genetic effect upon children. Nothing is guaranteed to us in life. I have always thought about my own family and concluded that I must play the hand I am dealt. By and large they wee good parents but there were points of conflict that I had to work out - and I did. What would Elizabeth Bennett have done?
America stole a lot of Japanese resources. Japan had no choice but to go to war
Excellent video. Rare to hear the reasons / motivation of Japan to take such a drastic step. In 99% of publications the attack itself is covered, not the thinking behind the assault.
I feel the same thing about the War of 1812. We hear about it in terms of impressing sailors, trade, and Britain treating the US like a colony. It was really because the USA were trading with the French under Napoleon, the British were trying to blockade Europe, and it’s a minor side-theater to the napoleônicas wars in Europe. I was 30 before I finally learned the war of 1812 was mainly about Napoleon.
Note what you have just realized is that there are two sides to a war. Both are accurate from their point of view, the British were attempting to control American trade, did impress many American sailors and board their ships with force, and they did so in part because of the wars with France and blockades.
Oil. It's always about the oil.
@@faithnfire4769 - it's important to talk about both sides and world context. Similarly to talking about the Winter War in Finland or the Japanese invasion of China, they all tie into the larger global context of WW2. I just found it odd how much the USA glosses over Napolean in its curriculum when the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars are one of the most historically significant events in world history, and even our involvement in them in the war of 1812 was framed in a very narrow field of view and out of context, which is why it never quite seemed to make sense as a war.
@@robertb6889 neither the French revolution or rise of Napolean make America look heroic or good in any way, so they are not relevant for US education.
Essential information for history students, great job.
Outstanding video, subscribed! 👍
Admiral Yamamoto told the Japanese war council, " I shall run wild for 6 months, after that I have no hope for success." He nailed the timetable almost exactly.
Well, Midway was on June 4th which was almost 6 months to the day.
The Japanese wanted to attack the US because they thought the US would enter the war eventually so they did a preemptive attack. I don’t think they would have attacked the Japanese until much later. I think the US would have been more focused in Europe than in the pacific. Well, at least more than how it happened
@@AnTunZee This is all idle speculation. The Japanese did not think about the US entering the war against Germany. In fact, if they had, they would have waited until after we were already at war with Germany before attacking us. In fact, they propelled us into war by bombing Pearl Harbor. Moreover, they knew it was not a pre-emptive strike and Yamamoto famously predicted that its effect would last for only six months. Let's see: Pearl Harbor was December 7, 1941 and Midway was June 4, 1942, almost six months to the day. And after Midway, the Japanese fleet could not even protect the possessions the Japanese had acquired before the war (China excepted) and soon began to face bombing close to home and then on the home islands. Hardly pre-emptive. They thought, because this is what they would have done, we would sue for peace immediately. Bad guess. The might of the strongest industrial nation on the planet was turned against them, first on their possessions and then at home.
StarCraft noob after a failed zergling rush
@@nachonachoman I am not certain to whom this was directed. Cam I be enlightened?
My great grandmother was 13 during ww2, she was alone with her baby siblings while her big brother was out to look for food. A japanese soldier was around the area and saw the hut where our great grandmother was staying, and went inside. He only saw my great grandmother and her infant siblings. She told us how scared she was for all of them and thought her big brother was killed. But the japanese soldier only left food for them, she said they must have assumed she and her siblings were abandoned. When her big brother came back and learned about the food, they agreed to feed it to a dog cuz they didnt trust it. Surprisingly the dog didnt die, so the food wasnt poisoned. She's still alive today, but has a habit of hoarding canned good cuz she's afraid to starve to death. Which we understand is a trauma from her experience in ww2.
After learning what Japan did wtf…. Reading that history was like taking a glimpse into eternal hell of torture snd powerlessness against torture. I think it was right for the USA to bomb Japan. It was for the greater good because if you read the history in detailed and fully, your mind will crack into insanity. If I was in that time and the Japanese invasion was successful, would kill myself and my children so we don’t have to experience horrors that awaits us. I rather be dead than become a slave or be tortured and brutally raped
How old was your great grandmother?
You are a lair, shame on you.
Sorry but I couldn't help but notice. They thought the food was poisoned so they fed it to the dog? Thank goodness that Japanese had kindness.
@@dbronx347 Another self-proclaimed animal right activist. Had u been in their place, you would have done the same. Don't assume moral high ground.
this was nicely broken down. easy to understand.
What's crazy is we trained Japan's pilots years prior to this. Even an army air corps officer predicted it. I remember seeing an old documentary in my rotc class
We didn't train Japanese pilots, dude- and the Army Air Corps general who predicted an attack on Pearl Harbor claimed that it would come from Japanese land- based bombers operating out of the Marshal Islands. Just sayin...
crazier still USA sold arms to iran iraq and isreal and many more.
@BasicDefense care to provide a source for this? A quick google search doesn't say anything about the U.S. training Japanese pilots prior to Pearl Harbor. If you have a link or any info about the old documentary you mentioned that'd be good too Edit: Given that he still hasn't responded, I'm gonna have to say this is fake news
What's even crazier is we never did anything like that. The closest thing we did to that was training Filipino military but those were our allies.
@@ThePersistentKoala yeah that compulsive need to add to "USA created it's enemies" myth making . The only such case of "train thy enemy" i know was Russia training German pilots and tanks . Those trainees would later train the entire Luftwaffe and Wermacht that invaded Russia.
For anyone interested in the essential story on Japan and its inner circle of leadership leading up to Pearl Harbor, I'd highly recommend Eri Hotta's book 1941. It's a fascinating account of how Japan essentially stumbled its way into a war that many if not most of its leaders knew that it could not win. This video is a good start to understanding it, but the deeper story is really fascinating. Just thought I'd add this comment at a WWII history lover wanting to share the goods . . .
Thanks!
@@Jack-id4qm Yep there's an audiobook version too
You could say the entire Japanese empire 'kamikazed' itself into America
You can cite this and that but it doesn't change the fact that it was a false flag. Look no further than the fact we dropped two nukes on civilian locations and purposely avoided leadership and the emporer. People go to war. Nations don't exist. If so, put it in my hand. Not to mention they magically avoided all radar and detection on the initial attack on PH. I know a thing or two about ww2 but all that matters is the beginning and the end and it appears the card dealers won and got away with their plan. I'm no stranger to hated and lies
Thanks, Tom.❤
The commanding officer of the Japanese fleet that hit Pearl Harbor, Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto, did not want to undertake that mission because he knew the US very well, having spent some time here in the 1920s and 1930s. He knew what the true score was. He told the powers that were in Japan a short time before Pearl Harbor something like "We will be attacking a country that is ten times better than Japan in a large variety of ways." But that pack of idiots ignored that and told him something like "If you do not follow our orders, it'll be Sepukku for you." And when the fleet returned to Japan after the attack, he told his superiors something like "I fear all we have done is to have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve." Again, that same pack of idiots ignored him. And that terrible resolve turned out to be Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Ten times better boy was he wrong only reason we won was because we were getting fked up and had to use nukes
Contrary to US propaganda the Japan was pretty much completely destroyed by conventional bombing. Bomber pilots didn't even have targets anymore because nothing was left. There was virtually no threat and the idea that "invading the mainland would have been bloody" is nothing more than a myth. All the men were on the front lines anyway and Japanese leaders and the emperor were simply looking for a way out that allowed the emperor to remain the figure head. The US insisted on "unconditional surrender" and then allowed the Japanese to maintain the emperor system anyway. The point of Hiroshima And Nagasaki was sending a message to Russia. We WILL use these things if we have to so take note. The use of the nukes was a crime. Plain and simple.
@@bigdoinks8325 actually, carpet and firebombings killed more than the nukes combined, the nukes were just an experiment from physicists and chemists that were skeptical, but the Gov. still gave it a shot and that leads to an endless energy source only that environmentalists are not awake yet as to the potential of it.
@@doublestrokeroll "The use of the nukes was a crime. Plain and simple." - I don't know what planet you are living on, but the US military was predicting 1,000,000 US casualties in an an invasion of Japan!!! The Japanese were the most fanatical & devoted fighters back then & would have stopped at nothing to resist a US invasion and occupation in 1945!!!!! And the use of The Bomb affected me and my familly directly!!!! I am past 78 years of age, born August 16, 1943!!!! My father & my uncles were in the armed forces then & facing what could been the most terrible battle of all time!!!!! The Little Boy and the Fat Man prevented that!!!! Although they were not human beings, I consider them to be the greatest superheros that ever existed!!!!!
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because the US was financing China
I like the interim summary of each main point.
My Japanese grandfather fought against the Russians in Manchuria… his squad was captured and became POWs. Many of his colleagues were sent to Siberia never to be seen again. My grandfather never spoke about the war again…
😂😂🎉
Common for POW's to not speak about their experience. My uncle didn't speak about it. All men are created equal. My uncle was American.
Too bad and he got off easy
How many innocent civilians your grandfather had killed? Don't play victim, Japanese chose this.
HOW MANY BABIES DID HE KILL?
Admiral Yamamoto studied in America. He advised the Emperor to not go to war with the US. He knew all too well the sleeping industrial might of the US. However other admirals saw Yamamoto's advice as weakness and an opportunity to take his title. Yamamoto caved in and came up with the idea to attack Pearl Harbor. Yamamoto stressed to his fleet admirals that the destruction of oil storage, submarine docks and drydocks were vital to the operwtion. The fleet admirals instead issued orders to focus destroying airstrips and battleship row. Knowing that the vital target were left untouched Admiral Yamamoto was noted as being quietly stern faced as his officers celebrated after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Why are there so many arm-chair historians that are fanboys of Yamamoto? I understand he was right in many of his predictions but the way his fanboys talk over exaggerate his thoughts and achievements. Yamamoto considered Pearl Harbor a success and lamented his vice admiral for not being able to destroy the airship carriers. The entire fleet was under his command and his men were loyal to him. Considering the beef between the Army and Navy. Both were made up of strong unity and loyalty. So the idea that his men did things on their own over his plans is wrong. On a unrelated note, I find the idea that Japan is known for honor but the past wars they have fought were started on their stealth attacks on their opponents.
@@profile1172 if you are accusing me of being a fanboy, you are amputatedly mistaken
He only considered pearl harbor a success due to politics, Yamamoto wanted to replace Nagumo for the longest time, but due to Nagumo's senority in the navy he had no shot, so when Nagumo never got to the U.S carriers, he was obviously frustrated to a degree, but didn't want to ruffle any feathers since japan already had enough internal political turmoil.
I remember he even told the higher ups, that if they want to open hostilities with the US, they should prepare themselves to invade the west coast, if they don't have that resolve they shouldn't attack the US half heartedly
@@profile1172 the American also did sneak-attack the Spainish in the Phillippines. The Spainish saluted the Americans' ships. But the American fired several guns....killing the Spainish.
My grandfather and his brother both volunteered for the war from Canada, my grandfather fought the Germans through Italy and his brother fought Japan. he was captured and spent a couple years in a Japanese prison camp. They tried starving the prisoners to death, they survived off of mice, urine, and birds. My Grandfather rose through the ranks in Italy but was eventually demoted because he met a beautiful Italian women and failed to report for duty a couple of times lol. he was demoted to private after spending one too many nights with her. His Commander asked him if it was worth it. and he responded "absolutely" lol
chad energy right there
@@youthawe123 nah he died for nyash he fumbled the bag for some hoe
Yup he must’ve been infantry
so was she your grandmother?
@@slam5 Nah, when he returned from war he met and married my grandmother and had a bunch of kids.
My grandfather was a Naval officer & squadron commander. He was awarded the Bronze Star that day for organizing resue efforts while still under strafing fire & then going up & then conducting a successful recon of 1 of the Japanese fleet. Almost got killed doing so.
This video is worth watching as it points out Japan's resource problem after Second Sino-Japanese War, which is way more convincing than some views based on conspiracy theory. As a Chinese, I also glad to see the video admits the war efforts during WWII by China. Besides, another worth mentioned factor was the Two-Ocean Navy Act, passed after the defeat of France in 1940, which aimed to increase the size of the U.S. navy by 70%. This meant that Japan's power advantage over the U.S. Pacific Fleet during the naval holiday would cease to exist within two years.
Well done, you cover most of the topic, but one slight detail; the Japanese hadn't developed a brand new torpedo, they modified their existing air-dropped torpedoes by attaching a wooden fin, braking the dive, and making it stay shallow when dropped.
@@YT97898 what’s your source? candy wrapper perhaps.
@@davidestillore5942 doesnt sound unrealistic to me
@@YT97898 Yes this is true. Not surprising that it was the president who also decided to start selling weapons (as he mentions in the early part of the video) to other nations found a way to go to war which lead to all of our tax money going to these same weapons manufacturers.
@@hc3657 Obviously, English is not your first language because your comment is grammatically incorrect. 🤭🤭🤭
@@davidestillore5942 Lol poking fun at someone's grammar just because you can't refute their statement. Grow up, manchild.
Those Amphibian assaults retaking those islands were about as brutal as it gets.
But with their sneak attack they’d stirred up a national anger where the USA wasn’t going to back down. They thought that they’d balk at the brutal meat grinders of those assaults, but were wrong.
@michael boultinghouse and they treated their fellow Asians very nobly as well
@michael boultinghouse the noble cause of conquering everyone else because they thought themselves as superior? The “noble” treatment they gave to chinese, korean, philippine etc civilians was horrific.
@michael boultinghouse BS, their goal was Asia for Japan. We didn't owe them the resources to butcher everyone else.
@michael boultinghouse They were inside China and other nations shooting up their soldiers resisting invasion by their 'rescuers', and murdering their civilians.
I remember learning about this back in high school. Here I am learning about it for the fun of it :D
Folks tend to forget that in July, 1940, the US passed the "Two-ocean Navy Act," which funded eight Essex-class aircraft carriers, and other ships in proportion. The first of these fleet carriers went into service in July, 1942, and the others dribbled into service over the next several years. Everyone (including Japan) knew that the US Navy was going to be massively reinforced soon, and it MAY have influenced a "now or never" attitude among the Japanese. What no one realized was that the "window of opportunity" (if there was any window of opportunity!) was going to close very soon for other reasons. Once the Allies had good ship-borne radar, it would be much more difficult for the Japanese to sneak close to Oahu without detection. The VT fuse (proximity fuse) was coming soon, and would make antiaircraft fire much, much more effective.
I always was just told that Japan attacked for basically no reason... This really cleared up the real reason. Thanks for the insight 👍
Nobody ever said they attacked for no reason. 🙄 They attacked because their stupid. If you come to any other conclusions after watching this video you are stupid. 🙄
They are no winners in war. Only a loser and a dictator who just got the world's guns pointed at them.
being japanese american and born close to 1960, i had classmates who teased me about Pearl Harbor and why my ancestors bombed it.....it still hurts til today. Abit off topic but kinda similar.....for me also as still being single, i fret alot of times when I SEE the popularity of now, japanese mixed couples (japanese woman with white man)....I often think back of how white americans would put down and criticize japanese people......YET, its alright and fine for the men to marry japanese women. I honestly feel.....by the time i am in my grave, no japanese woman would find interest in me. You may want to tell me hows about dating white women.......fyi, alot of white women are jealous of asians because their "man" is NOT interested at all about dating their own......they strickly seek and desire of asian women only. And white women also do criticize japan about the Pearl Harbor issue.
@@lonelypigeon7562 Don’t feel bad about the bombing. None of it was your fault and that goes for anyone. Its like telling a German should be blamed for the Holocaust, even if they were not even born
As far as I know....this was a setup by the American government, to get into the war....! The president knew this was going to happen....and let it.
This helps me to better understand what happened to my grandparents and great grandparents in the Philippines. My grandfather witnessed his baby brother get bayoneted to death by the Japanese. When the Japanese invaded their village, my great grandfather knew how to strategically grow food and keep it hidden from the Japanese, and that's how our family survived. They moved to the US successfully approximately 25-30 years later.
Do you know what their thought process was behind killing a child? The terror aspect? BTW Philippines is a great place and I have worked with and have a lot of respect for the people. The women also respect femininity and it's very hard to not admire them. Good Day.
@@jamesandrews568 ok......
@@jamesandrews568 nobody mattered if they were not Japanese. Their idea if "master race" made the Germans look like children.
@@jamesandrews568 Yes It was a Initiation for toughening up young soldiers an new recruits. I am named after one such victim.
The Filipinos, like the Chinese, were constantly victimized by the Japanese during the war. The atrocities committed by the Japanese against these people were brutal. so much for the so-called "Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere".
Very helpful! insight!
Really good overview that is seldom presented. 80 years later somebody puts things into a sensible perspective
Thank you. That’s the first time I’ve understood this. It’s quite a complex story, but you’ve managed to drill down to its essence. Great video. Thanks again!
Thank you for this one!
very interesting, thank you!
Excellent. Even for a history buff who has done a lot of reading, this piece offered detailed analysis of factors not usually covered in histories intended for general audiences. Congratulations!
Are your flags correct??
This is a great video. I learned a lot more from this video than I had in high school and college. Thank you for sharing this video.
Kids at college now don't learn much about anything worth knowing.
I found this very interesting. Now I have a better understanding of what got us into WW2.
"I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant." And they did...
Great content & an even greater museum!
Thank you very much!
@@matpk soon it might be to late
This video is an excellent "nutshell" lesson and a fine summation. Kudos to the researchers, writers, military film experts and the host's presentation. Most well done!
but with the usual NERVING, DISTURBING MUZAK, making me close after 2 minutes. Can't TAKE it.
Thanks for the explanation. Ive often asked why but responses always seem too worried about politics to give a clear answer.
Thank you for this excellent video. You do a fine job of succinctly describing Japan's motivation for attacking Pearl Harbor, as well as its overall objectives in Asia. This was very helpful.
LIES THE US GOVERNMENT BOMBED PEARL HARBOR TO GET THE PUBLIC INTO THE WAR 3 DAYS BEFORE THE "BOMBING" JAPAN HAD FORFEITED THE WAR
@@jacobnazarian1147 again... they lied to the public to trick them into joining the war
America stole a lot of Japanese resources. Japan had no choice but to go to war
@@username12954 are you smoking crack? or just buying the lies they told you
@@jacobnazarian1147 japan was brutal raping any woman no matter the age and killing and torturing babies and making experiments on. Them
Outstanding video. I learn more here that the 4 years in college.
One of the most honest historical summation I have seen anywhere! Well done!
very well described.
i think ur not quite right about japans long term thinking. there WAS a 3rd strike planned for oil storage and dry docks but the commander was nervous, cancelled the planned strike and withdrew.
Nagumo was willing to sacrifice half of his carriers to carry out the attack. Once the first two waves were so successful with minimal losses he decided not to press his luck. If he had carried out those 3rd and 4th wave he would have significantly delayed the US getting back into the fight. Imagine if the Yorktown was not able to put into to Pearl Harbor after Coral Sea. She would not have been at Midway. Her planes sank a carrier, and she absorbed all the blows from the Japanese air strikes.
No, a third wave was not planned. Nagumo's oilers were not in position to support a 3rd wave. Genda (and others) did indeed urge Nagumo to strike again; Yamamoto later admitted that a third strike probably should have taken place, but that he could not have ordered Nagumo to do so without a serious loss of face. Nagumo had succeeded in doing what the original plan envisaged, and his orders were to inflict as much damage as possible on major warships (on which naval thinking at the time was centered, to the exclusion of much else) then get the hell outta Dodge and preserve his strike force for upcoming operations in the south. Since most admirals (worldwide) still believed in the primacy of the battleship, the PH attack was viewed as a sort of high-stakes commando raid, not the opening salvo in a brand-new form of naval warfare. Over the next 12-18 months, of course, a brand-new naval paradigm asserted itself quite vigorously.
@michael boultinghouse .... from the (very flawed) perspective of the Japanese leadership at the time, it was a gamble but by no means a suicidal one. Most did not think that US industrial power could be brought to bear as quickly and energetically as in fact it was. (Many in the US might have agreed.) The thinking was that by the time the US got its act together, Japan would have seized everything it needed to resist US retaliation.
No, any further strikes would not have targeted the oil storage or the dry docks. Oil storage and dry docks were not on the target list AT ALL. The target list was: 1) sink 1 or more battleships, for propaganda and strategic purposes. (7 available, 4 sunk, 2 badly damaged, 1 lightly damaged) 2) sink the carriers in port, if possible. This was because they are expensive capital ships and the fleet scouts of US doctrine (which they partially knew, as we published it in country). None were in port. 3) sink any cruisers you find (8 were in dock during the attack, 3 were damaged) Destroyers, submarines, auxiliaries and infrastructure were never on the target list, but auxiliaries ate a sizable percentage of the ordinance deployed, as did a few destroyers.
This information is often overlooked. Inspiration for the plan to attack Pearl Harbor may have been books published in 1921 and 1925 written by Hector C. Bywater a British journalist and military writer who was the naval correspondent for the London Daily Telegraph. The title of the first book was “Sea Power in the Pacific.” Part of the book was later expanded into another novel, “The Great Pacific War.” In that book, Bywater describes a surprise attack on the U.S. Asiatic Fleet at Pearl Harbor, with simultaneous attacks at Guam and the Philippines. The Japanese Navy General Staff had “Sea Power in the Pacific’ translated and distributed to their top naval officers. They also adopted “The Great Pacific War” for the curriculum at the Japanese Naval War College. The U.S. Navy started using Pearl Harbor as a mid-Pacific resupply and refueling point in 1899. The Naval Shipyard at Pearl Harbor was established in 1908. From 1899 onward there were always Navy ships at Pearl Harbor.
Can you imagine if the US found out about this too and distributed the book too? The Japanese fleet was vulnerable to detection as it travelled through half the Pacific Ocean in open water. All it would take is for US officials to be fully aware of the possibility of a simultaneous strike and give Hawaii's bases the order to do to reconaissane to the west, not just a 'sabotage' war warning that they actually got. If the news got out this Bywater guy could have accidentally designed and dismantled the Pacific war before he realised what happened.
But, it was only in 1940 that the Pacific fleet moved to the naval base at Pearl Harbor.
I know the Battle Force(part of the Pacific fleet) moved to Pearl Harbour in 1931 so that doesn't seem to be true.
The Japanese took a lot of inspiration from the British airstrike against the Italian fleet at the naval base of Taranto en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Taranto
What i have read the generals knew about the attack and some people in the industrial complex wanted it to happen so that they could stay in the war.
My grandad was at pearl harbor and he hated Japanese people till he died, I cant imagine the stuff they would of all seen of the aftermath
My father fought the Japanese during WWII. He never hated “the Japanese people,” and for him it was easy to separate his contempt for Japan’s war-making government and military, from the general population. After the war he became friends with many Japanese, and those I came to know were wonderful people. This is no disrespect to your grandfather who felt differently.
great video but the audio levels are all over the place
The more you learn, the more you understand Japan had little chance.
Japan lost the war when it attacked Pearl Harbour ie they lost the war by starting it
Actually if they sunk the aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbour and managed to win the Battle of Midway, Japan might have achieved a draw.
@@paulvirgo9798 america started it by enforcing embargos on Japan and wanted Pearl harbor to have an exeuse to go to war. If america did not enter ww2 it would not be a superpower
American was trying to use its economic power to influence the war without having to actually send people to die. Applying it so forcefully gave the stubborn Japanese an ultimatum: yield or go to war. It was a game of chicken on both sides that resulted in a collision when neither would budge. A good lesson for today with Countries like China and Russia and the US. If you push too hard against either side’s interest, it’s likely to go the same way, with Taiwan looking to be a likely spark.
@@sdgvscrwogs2483 no draw, the US can always build more ships. Japanese decisive victory will only prolong the war in the pacific with Japan losing in the end.
You missed the main reason why Yamamoto opted to attack Pearl Harbour in the first place. Yes, Japan decided to risk war with the U.S. in pursuit of the natural resources it desperately needed. No question about that. And the original military campaign involved a move south - ONLY. But when Roosevelt moved the Pacific fleet to Pearl Harbour from its original base in San Francisco, Yamamoto knew full well that such a move put the U.S. fleet within closer striking distance to the attacking Japanese forces in the south. Hence he devised the plan to cripple the fleet at its berthings.
failamoto
@@arcadeslum5882 Yamamoto was a pawn played by Roosevelt to wake the sleeping giant.
That is what I deduced. A pre-emptive strike before U.S. hit them first.
They should have went after the aircraft carriers.
@@DANTHETUBEMAN They did not know where they were.
Excellent history lesson. I had no idea.
Thank you for the upload
My grandfather Joseph G Bodie ❤ a Choctaw native from Mississippi was at pearl eating breakfast when the attack happened he said and I quote I could see the faces of the Japanese pilots and they were smiling. He was then posted to Midway Island ( yes that one ) and survived that as well, he finished up the war going into the Philippines. My grandfather gave his life to Christ Jesus the day of Pearl Harbor and became a preacher after the war. My mom was his first child and I his first grandchild he and I were very close. I like my grandfather before me am a preacher in the ministry of Christ. I loved him very much and miss him everyday. He was a brave man with true resolve, he lived just shy of his 93rd birthday. That generation of Americans is a very special one and I respect them greatly, may they all rest in peace.
Do you feel proud that your people fought for the same white supremacists that nearly wiped out your people?
As you should be Randall. Pride in our greatest generation is slipping away as each of those soldiers passes on! God Bless your Grandfather! And God Bless you!
@@themarbleking I agree with you the military should be only white no POC.
@@porothashawarma2339 wtf I'm agreeing with our fellow liberal up there
@@themarbleking 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I was worried that the oil embargos would be blamed, without explaining why the oil embargos were emplaced. But the video addressed this point well. So while yes, one may say this was simply about oil, the phrase "unwilling to give up [Japan]'s imperial ambitions" was important. Japan could have walked away from the coming storm at any time, had their perception of "honor" allowed it.
Exactly, cult-like imperialistic mindset results in an unreasonable and delusional sense of superiority. Essentially, it’s just as racist as what was going on in Germany.
Let's face it. Japan hoped it could outsmart the US and the West. But the Nuclear bomb though a game changer was out right cheating and chicken shit beyond compare especially considering it was irresponsible to have been carelessly deployed on civilian areas! Nobody had seen such savagery, then again modern wars are perhaps standoff's between so called civilised savages.
Maybe but you're forgetting one minor detail. A japanese diplomat could have easily asked 'Why are our imperial ambitions bad but yet you tolerate the english and the french with their empires. Nevermind how even you have conquered some territories close to us.' Its hard to say 'empire for you but not for you for some reason'. One rule for thee but not for thee is never a good idea.
@@florinivan6907 interesting point, thank you. Initial thoughts: a) we did throw Britain and France out of what would become USA, so it’s not exactly correct to say we tolerated it. b) By the time we had the economic and military strength to make any pressure meaningful, the Indo-Pacific colonies were pretty well established, so it wasn’t really a US interest to try to revert to an earlier status and go to war (again) with Britain. c) There was sufficient US presence in the region to ensure that the news of the brutal and murderous incursion into Manchuria was known among US policy makers. Probably that fact alone is enough to say, “we will apply some economic pressure so you’ll hopefully not do that again.” All of this coming as some of the first policy decisions emerging after the League of Nations was formed, where a good number of countries had espoused the principles of “global order” and shunning territorial conquest.
If Iran attacked the straight and managed to block oil, the US would attack Iran.
Resources aside, Hawaii makes a pretty good staging ground for their war with the U.S. And also it's very close to Japan. The radio intercept station on Whidbey Island in Washington picked up the attack 12 hours before it happened, but by the time the bombs started falling the message still hadn't made its way through the system. Bureaucracy, am I right?
As one of the many victim nations of Japan's war crimes, it's always funny to us how the world see Japan as victim due to Hiroshima Nagasaki. Like the whole world suddenly forgot the atrocities Japan committed to innocent civilians.
An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind
@@thehomelander1776 Soooo insightful. Lol. Also, not defending against imperialistic nations turns the world into slaves!
@@thehomelander1776 repeating outdated maxims will do you no good here.
It was the last atrocity of WWII and the first and only time a nuclear bomb was used so it did leave a lasting impression. You're right though, the other atrocities tend to be unfairly overshadowed like Unit 731 as it was kept mostly secret.
Nobody forgot those atrocities and many Japanese military personnel were executed because of them.
The British Navy's attack on the Italian fleet, at Taranto Itally, one year before Pearl Harbour, provided the Japanese with the idea on how to attack the US fleet, when Swordfish Planes, took off from HMS Carrier, 'Illustrious'' , in the MED, with special shallow water Torpedos, and sank 3 Battle ships and put out of action 5 other major ships. The Americans studied the British attack, and talked of installing anti-Torpedo nets, to protect their ships, at Pearl ; but did nothing about it. But the Japanese, it is said, learned a lot from the Taranto raid.
The success at Taranto would have been even greater if the second carrier had been available.
While this is often repeated, I have to note that there is evidence that it's not the case. First and foremost, Japan had been working on how to stabilise air-dropped torpedoes for years prior to either Taranto or Pearl. The Kyoban modifications (breakaway wooden stabilisers) make their first appearance around 1936/37 and are different to the British solution to the problem (a wire running between the torpedo's nose and the aircraft, essentially forcing it to bellyflop into the water). The implication is that the Japanese had been working on the technical side of such an attack long before Taranto and thus it had at least been vaguely contemplated. It might not have been Pearl and it probably wasn't - plenty of other potential adversaries in the area had shallow anchorages as well and Pearl wasn't the Pacific Fleet's main base but just its forward anchorage until summer 1940 - but the basic scenario was presumably under consideration. The other elephant in the room is Fleet Problem 13. This was a US Navy exercise held in 1932, simulating a "militaristic, Asian, island nation" (sound familiar?) attacking Pearl Harbour. The definitely-not-Japanese commander, Rear Admiral Yarnell, pointed out that the positively-not-the-Japanese had a preference for surprise attacks. He therefore left his battleships behind and sprinted the carriers Saratoga and Lexington to a position NNE of Pearl. And on the morning of Sunday, February 7, 1932 (a date that did not live in infamy...although perhaps it should have done, at least in the USN), 152 planes roared into the attack. The immediate result? White flour. White flour everywhere along Battleship Row and pretty liberally spread everywhere else, since the planes had been dropping sacks of the stuff to simulate bomb hits. Quite how much of a cleanup job the enlisted had afterwards is not recorded. The umpires declared Yarnell the winner and the USN learned a valuable lesson...no, of course they didn't. The exercise was barely over before the top brass were complaining to the umpires. Yarnell had attacked on a Sunday (the sacrilegous cheek of it!). He'd come in from the NNE, mimicking planes arriving from the mainland (and if you're wondering about that, since Pearl is to the west of the contiguous states - Alaska) which was distinctly unsporting. And most importantly of all, apparently everyone knew - just knew - that Asians didn't have the hand-eye coordination to accurately drop bombs at low level. The fact that the IJN had been operating carriers for 5 years at this point and the Japanese naval aviation service - which you'd think would have been an interesting collection of lawndarts were that the case - remained distinctly un-crashed seems to have passed them by. The entire episode, however, did not pass by the Japanese who had a consulate on Oahu. If there was foreign inspiration behind December 7, 1941 then it is to be found here. Taranto might have served up a few fine details for the IJN but the core idea had been around long before 1940.
Sounds like BS to me. The attack on Pearl Harbour was totally different and across a vast ocean, not an inland sea.
@@Yuzral that’s an excellent analysis, and completely new to me, having grown up with the Taranto theory it’s interesting to get some facts into the conversation, thank you.
@@tancreddehauteville764 What does the size of the body of water have to do with anything? You launch a torpedo from a few thousand yards, not a few thousand miles...
Australia sorted Japan out when it recaptured Borneo and its oil fields. It was easily the best amphibious attack of WWII, and a thankless task when the island was handed back to the British and Dutch at no cost to them.
Arguably Japan’s biggest mistake to date. Turn them into anime loving folks
"Never get involved in a land war in Asia." "Never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line." "Never pick a fight with the US over oil."
You forgot to put.. " -Sun Tzu the fart of war" at the bottom.
Never call a Sicilian a German Lebanese man. Lesson #6.
No! Don't sanction Russian Oil! "But they invaded a neighboring country and are killing people there. We need to sanction their oil to starve their war machine and save innocent lives!" Wait a minute, are you talking about Russia in Ukraine 2022, or Japan in China and Korea in the 1930s/40s?
"A Princess Bride"
Make sure to watch out for the 2nd knife when fighting a guy from Jersey.😄
I will never forget that day in history who will ever forget the lives that were lost it’s personal to me
Great video...👍
My great-grandfather was a vet of WWII he didn't fight the Japanese he ended up fighting the Germans he stormed the beach in Normandy there and I heard a couple of stories of things that happened and I'll put it this way we couldn't even wake that man up from a nap without risking Our Lives is PTSD was so bad
Sad he had to fight his brother’s. Same with my great grandfathers
How did the Emperor keep his life after the end of WW2? Crazy.
As I understand it, the Allies felt that Hirohito remaining alive, as a figurehead, would have great value as a stabilizing influence on post-war Japan.
Just came across your wonderful channel and subscribed right away. So far, I’ve only watched a couple of videos, but really enjoyed them. They are beautifully done, with just the right amount of video footage and commentary. I’ll certainly be watching many more over the coming weeks. Great channel. Thx.
What's often left out of this conversation is the fact that the Philippines was a US colony at the time and hosted a US troop presence. Japan had to take the Philippines. If they didn't the islands would be a natural wedge in the heart of the co-prosperity share, positioned to cut off any sea traffic between the japan and the southern half of its empire. The Japanes knew that if they attacked the Philippines - a US possession - they would be at war with the US, and naval reinforcements would be dispatched immediately from Pearl Harbor. It is not a coincidence that the Japanese landed in the Philippines the day after Pearl Harbor. Their only real play was to try to do as much damage as possible to the US Navy and try to consolidate their holdings before the US could mount an effective response.
Lies again? Gun Oil Pah Lawan
@@NazriB Gun Oil Pah Lawan? What are you talking about?
this was a great video. I am Indian and my grandfather fought in Burma & Kohima against Japan, along with his brother. He spoke little of it. I just returned from a 12 day trip to Japan & wanted to challenge my views on WW2. I visited Hiroshima & the Yushukan Museum/Yasasuni Shrine which significantly covers the war. I understand Japan's perspective, though I have now become more a centrist than agreeing unilaterally with the Allied view
Maybe if you'd study other historical outlets of knowledge other than those of the Japanese you might learn a little more. My father was a US Marine in the Pacific. He took two Jap bullets and was a POW. The torture inflicted upon him was unspeakable. I don't know how he survived. Learn about what the Japs did to the Chinese before the war. If you truly understand "Japan's perspective" perhaps you can help explain the mass murder of Chinese civilians, the Bataan Death March and the other atrocities they perpetuated. And don't forget the warnings they were given by the Truman administration before the atomic bombs were dropped, which they chose to ignore.
I believe that, in truth, good and evil are just words shaped to mean different things by different people in different times with different intentions. What really moves the world is power, and the pretty much universal desire to secure it, to subdue others. There's really no innocents in history, no one without blood in their hands, which is why we should learn with our past mistakes and their consequences.
So you thought it was kind of great for Japan to invade China.
you're insane
The Japanese were mad about being cut off from scrap metal and petroleum sales when we ruled some of those markets. It was said we were penalizing them for the Chinese invasion. This led to hostility, but Pearl Harbor was attacked for two reasons: 1-the British had effectively attacked a somewhat similar anchorage at Taranto(Italy); 2-the Japanese thought we were not made of stern stuff, so if they sank most of our Pacific fleet's capital ships, we'd be out of the war for months...or years. Had they sunk some of our carriers and made that additional attack on Pearl Harbor facilities, that might've been the case. Instead, we made a remarkable recovery and in only 6 months, we basically won the Pacific war at Midway...
That's makes sense
I know why Pearl Harbor was attacked as I have just watched the video.
so you admit that usa provoked the war with japan leading to increase in brutalities among the Chinese citizens. Also japan went to war with china in the first place cause of the spread of co**unism within it's lands and isn't some random event that happened as your history books teach you. So what you think this was a good thing that usa did or should they have tried an alternate route?
Isnt it ironic that China funded the Vietcongs on their campaign against US military invasion in Vietnam years later
@@MGrey-qb5xz These are complex issues that defy one-sentence answers. Japan had a disdain, and fear, of China for ages; note the symbol of 'the rising Sun'. This moment in history, Japan had the technology perhaps to finally strike back at the giant off their shores. Your comments somehow invert the events so we(US) are to blame for Japanese actions in China. The truth in the event was they attacked Pearl Harbor and we recovered and fought back. We didn't even make it our top-level concern; we agreed with the UK that Hitler was the no. 1 threat...
Having worked with the Japanese for many years I found a couple of consistencies. They are more reactionary then proactive. Their plans tend to lose strength over time. Look at how Fukushima has been handled. They are very loyal to the team, company and/or government. They tend to fight amongst themselves but not show it to an outsider. Again these are one persons observations.
Did you mean They are more reactionary than proactive. ?
It's called 'showing two faces'.
That's Asian countries in general.
One of the big problems the Japanese military had in WW2 was that their Army and Navy disliked each other. This led to and lack of cooperation between the two in the Pacific War.
@@ziggy2shus624 They still fight over everything.
How does storing planes wing tip to wing tip prevent sabotage? Can anyone further elaborate please? I'm referring to the 9:02 mark.
It's easier to guard a smaller area than a larger one.
It's harder to destroy a larger area than a smaller one.
Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita said how amazing his troops were taking Singapore with only 30K men against 85K Allied men. Yamashita failed to mention his Japanese advanced fighters that faced no opposition because Churchill had withdrawn all advanced fighters back to Britain for the defence of Britain against Nazi Germany. The allies at Singapore faced constant bombing and strafing from Japanese planes as is testified in eyewitness accounts, that was why Singapore fell. A fleet of aircraft carriers and battleships had been promised for the defence of the east was reduced to a single squadron centred around one battleship, HMS Prince of Wales, and one battlecruiser, HMS Repulse. Japanese aircraft sunk both ships north of Singapore on 10 December 1941. The Fall of Singapore showed just how powerful air superiority is.
This is such a good "Channel", I am so pleased I have found it!
The embargo that lead to the Pearl Harbor attack was brutal, but multiple US newspapers stated that an attack was expected; the US was negligent and that lead to the deaths of many soldiers (including my grandmother's brother.) One interesting note, you hear about the internment of the Japanese; but rarely ever about Italian and German internment. While Joe DiMaggio was serving his country (USA) his parents fishing boat was burned by the government and they were interned.
You don't hear about German internment because it was much smaller scale and much more selective only targeting nationals. They were shipping off entire families into camps with the Japanese and even just normal citizens and American born Japanese Americans
The Americans also conscripted German Americans, and put them at the front of the battlefiedls to take all the bullets and shelling.
@@ExtraEcclesiamNullaSalus It was terrible. But on the other side of the coin, thousands of "Americans" went back to their ancestral homes to fight for Japan and Germany. We have so many examples of this when these "Americans" were used to translate propaganda on the radio, or help interrogate allied POWs. Who's to know how many more were spying on the country or attempting to start pro-axis movements from inside the nation. That's war in a diverse Nation of immigrants. Hell, my own great grandmother donated thousands to her German homeland, causing her to forever be disowned. You never knew what any of them back home could also be up to. War is terrible for all involved, especially if you are an immigrant from a current enemy.
@@ExtraEcclesiamNullaSalus Man, the crazy thing people just make up, lol.
This is such an intellectually dishonest statement and it's absolute bullsh*t. The "embargo" didn't lead to the Pearl Harbor attack, Japan's imperialistic behavior led to the attack. We don't have to sell to anyone, let alone murderers & war criminals. They were sociopathic imperialist warmongers and they got EVERYTHING that came to them in the end.
This is a really good video for those who are history buffs, Thank you.
This short form stuff really leaves alot of stuff out
That was one of the most amazing videos I have ever seen. Explains so much about what in chess would be labelled a ???!!! move.
Amazing video really enjoyed this and a few things learnt
It was inevitable after the Hull note, as Roosevelt himself confirmed.
Similar to the allies and the Germans in WW1, it's the age-old human dilemma of "if we don't arm up and get strong first, the tribe across the river will, and so we have to try to enslave them before they can enslave us" (in this case China/UK/US).
I like the Japanese pilots boarding their planes with their swords. Japan was the very definition of old-school and they found out the hard way that approaching things like it's the year 1640 doesn't work. It's really disturbing even today to see how sadistic the Japanese were in the 1940s, that was a society that needed a serious reboot and they got one.
I recently read that the Japanese didn't believe that the U.S. had a second bomb. Hence Japan's refusal to surrender unconditionally after the Little Boy bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. (Heck, it was at least three if you count the "Trinity" test bomb.)
The Japanese emperor had to be sadistic to want to ally with the 3rd Reich. Seems like he had a lot in common with Napoleon.
The problem here is, Japan started their plans and training to go to war with the US in early Spring 1941. Months before the embargo. And they could not go to war with the UK and Dutch and leave a strong US astride their supply lines. Once they committed to the Southern Strategy, they were locked in and war was coming. With or without the embargo.
You have to understand that many of these academics have modern political agendas. Many are trying to blame the US for the war and so on.
@@bighands69 and have little to no understanding of early Showa Era Japan.
There were many other things that drove Japan into a frenzy way back before 1931. One of which was their Racial Equality proposal at the Treaty of Versailles. Guess which country rejected their proposal? US.
@@JinKazama92 wrong. It was not the US that rejected it but the UK and France. That was because both had colonies in the region and elsewhere. But the issue goes beyond that, to at least 1900 and what Japan did after that.
@@0311Mushroom US did reject it. This infuriated Japan.
"They didn't attack repair shops or fuel depots" This is an interesting point that I have never heard or thought about myself.
Ya not hitting the dry docks was one of the biggest missed opportunities, had they destroyed those it would have significantly slowed down the push into the pacific.
Until today Japan has not apologized to the world for its atrocities during World War 2!
and other crimes too
Has British Empire apologised for what they did to the Indians ?
There is a reason. China and Korea tend to lie about their issues and bash Japan. Even the enemy of Japan the United States have actual documents that debunk the so called atrocities and also written documents from the Roosevelt administration being a totalitarian government. Being a Japanese American I was always told Japan was the villain and they did all of this crap. Don’t take my word for it since I’m Japanese and deny allegations. This video talks about a false narrative about Japan invading China when in reality its the Kuomintang that did all of this. Mad Monarchist on his KZhead video called “The Politically Incorrect Truth About Japan in WWII” he discusses three parts of Japan’s involvement and talking about whether they are the actual aggressors or misunderstood. John Tolland an American journalist who wrote “The Rising Sun” didn’t claim Japan or the Kuomintang for causing it rather its not so clear cut. The ones that were deescalating the issue was Japan and the Kuomintang for some reason decided to escalate the situation. The only reason the Marco Polo Bridge was an issue was because both sides were being assassinated and they don’t know who caused it and they both were fighting each other. The book called “Behind the News in China” written by Fredrick Vincent Williams a journalist from the left L.A. Times and from San Francisco News went and discovered the lifestyles of China and Japan while the conflict was going on before and during the issues of Manchuria, Nanjing, and Shanghai. He even has been to the safety zones and went over to many Chinese trials to report the so called claims made by many Christian missionaries and din’t provide proper evidence and even Chiang Kai Shek didn’t say a word since he committed much of the atrocities. Even the IWG investigated the issue for the Global Alliance ran by the CCP and even the Korean Comfort Women gang members that also include possible North Korean spies. They spent $30 million U.S. and 7 years of research to not find anything. They will later apologize to the CCP and South Korean agencies since they couldn’t find any evidence that goes with the narrative. This program was ran under the Clinton and Bush administration to soil Japan. SoobTV(湿) a former Anti-Japanese propagandist talks of his experience in Korean and Japanese about what changed him and also explains the minds of the Koreans. He debunks the left and the right if why they hate Japan and why they make everything a Japan issue with insulting other cultures across the globe. Kim Byung-Heon a South Korean historian is even protesting to deface the Comfort Women and so called slave labor of Japan. Another South Korean known as Chunghee Sarah Soh went into great detail of the complexity and how the Comfort Women protestor’s narrative goes far from what she discovered in talking to the many Koreans that went to the Japanese brothels. An American Professor John Mark Ramseyer of Harvard University wrote a paper that got the South Korean Anti-Japanese protestors riled up because it doesn’t match their narrative. Before we blame Japan for everything we continue this research. Even the IWG that has declassified over 9,000,000 pages of Nazi and Japanese war crime documents there is still many more that haven’t been documented or translated. The IWG have found issues with Japan in WWII like the Dutch East Indies where 15 Dutch women were raped. Its unfortunate, but there is no such thing as a perfect military group. The IWG has documents from the U.S. military from the Army, Navy, Marines, and their Air Force that kept many documents from the Pacific. Even the secret agents from the FBI and CIA went to investigate the issue. America may have done a lot of things that people can argue over, but what they are fair with even though they were enemies of Japan they allowed an investigation to go over whether they are right or wrong. I’m still learn a lot from WWII with many other discoveries, but we need to be more transparent before putting the blame on other nations in particular. The current conflicts of today can also distort history such as supporting Israel making someone a Nazi when that is factually incorrect. If that were to be so then Hitler wouldn’t go on a massive genocide killing many Jews through concentration camps.
Most didn't, Russia included
My dad and uncles on both sides of my family, numbering about eight persons, joined up and fought the battles. My paternal grandmother worked in a munitions factory, my maternal grandmother volunteered for the Red Cross.
Your story is remarkably similar to mine except all my Aunts joined my Dad and the Uncles to serve in some capacity--so there were 12 of them. One Uncle actually witnessed the mob that mauled Mussolini and his mistress and has the pictures to prove it. My mom served as well. Thematic to this discussion, she was stationed in Hawaii in the Coast Guard, although after Pearl Harbor.
@@boxsterman77 That's quite a story! Thanks for sharing it with me.
My grandpa fought on Oki in WWII and was in the Army. Iwo is more famous but Oki was more brutal. Ironically, my dad, an Army officer, spent several weeks on Oki, for processing, before heading to Vietnam. My daughter's first duty station in the Marines was Camp Kinser on Okinawa.
Both of my uncles on my Mom's side, my late Father, and my next-youngest Uncle on that side were too young for WW II. ALL of the remaining 8 Uncles and Aunts served (One uncle in the Merchant Marine, rest in various Military/aux branches). My paternal Grandfather died during the war, *apparently* as a Merchant Marine sailor likely on a North Atlantic convoy, but that's supposition from what little I've ever been able to dig up about Grandpa from my uncles. My maternal Grandpa was both a farmer, *AND* worked at the Indianapolis Uniroyal plant both during and for decades after the war (retired around 1974) - essential occupations so did not serve in the Military. Of my "too young" uncles, 2 of the 3 served during Korea - as did my late Father.
Really interesting and well done! In Germany we don't learn that much about this side of WW2 (well, I mean there also is a good reason why we focus more about our own role, so no complaint here), so I really learned a lot by this well made video. Thanks IWM
I worked with a number of WW2 vets from America, and know and did business with a few German veterans of WW2. I find that this sentiment is often felt: m.kzhead.info/sun/ZLSDm7KSamKNiWg/bejne.html
Have you ever heard of the greatest story never told- Adolf Hitler in Germany?
I admire Germany for telling the truth to its people about wwII and Hitler’s crimes unlike the United States for hiding our misdeeds for 246 years and continues to cover it up. This will all end badly I’m afraid. We seem bent on creating Hitler’s world.
@@dianemitchell1717 They didn’t exactly have a choice, It’s illegal to deny the holocaust.
@@emimtz3040 Who are you? It is well known Germany is open about its past. What are you talking about?
Actually the Japanese Imperial Navy, especially Admiral Yamamoto, considered Pearl Harbor a failure because the priority targets were the aircraft carriers, and they weren’t even there.
One of the first documented cases of f*** around and find out.
Really enjoyed watching this. Well done!
It's so ironic that the USA adopted Japan's isolationist policy after destroying Japan's isolationism by forcing Japan to open its national security using threat of Gunships.
Different sort of isolation. The US still traded with anybody for the most part. Japan prevented foreigners from even talking to it's citizens. And wouldn't even take back their own if they were contaminated by being overseas.
@@joseph1150 That seems even worse. It's not like any American trade was affected since Japan didn't trade with anyone. I guess gunboat diplomacy came full circle bc Japanese Imperialism didn't emerge from a vacuum
the usa was only isolationist to keep Europeans and Japanese away. FDR knew what was about to happen, but he had to play to the peaceful sentiments of the USA. He played everyone like a fiddle in ww2 my bro.
@@joseph1150 If the U.S. wants to trade with you, you don't get to say no.
@@nicholaslee5473 Oh wow, you found out what hegemony means. No country is an island, even when they are an island lol.
I am Japanese. Thank you for such a thoughtful, neutral, and non-racist video. because it's so rare and good
I've read many books on our war with Japan. My favorite (I've read it twice) is "Japan's War" by Edwin P. Hoyt. I don't know if it's still in print but it tells the war from the Japanese perspective. Not to justify their actions, but to better understand them. One point he makes is that our conflict with Japan didn't begin in December, 1941; it began July 8, 1853 - the day Commodore Perry sailed his black ships into Tokyo bay. Hoyt paints a picture of how that one act lead inexorably, like dominoes falling, to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and on through to the end of the war and its aftermath; how the army and navy hated each other and even were known to work against each other; how poor officer discipline was. JIA Officers commonly decided for themselves if their orders were aggressive enough and if they felt they weren't they often ignored them. This in fact, helped us to win. A GREAT read.
I feel like suggesting a link between Perry sailing his ships into Tokyo Bay in 1853 and Pearl Harbor is a massive stretch. The two events were in no way connected. In fact, Japan gained from opening up to the world so I fail to see how they would be pissed off about that nearly 100 years later.
@@AsymmetricalCrimes There might be a case to be made in Japanese national pride being hurt because they had to bend a knee to the Western powers at the time. Though they gained a lot, it took a while before their power was acknowledged, in the form of their defeat of the Russian Empire, an old bear in decline. Even then, they were forced to give up much of their territorial gains by Western powers, mostly because Japan couldn’t afford to hold them. This however caused outrage at home as the public thought the government was being weak and had bent the knee to foreign influence again. It caused a period of violent unrest where the Army and Navy fought each other for control of the government by assassinating the other’s politicians. It stopped finally when the Emperor stepped in, but it left the main issues unresolved, those issues which helped cause partially Japan’s willingness to go on a conquest war in South East Asia and join World War 2.
@@Kaebuki I wouldn't say Japan lost alot of territory. They still gained a bunch of islands from Germany after World War I and still controlled Taiwan and Korea by the time WWI ended. To me, the their origins of their resentment of the west came from how they were treated at the Treaty of Versailles and how European powers refused to see them as equals. Also President Woodrow Wilson being a massive racist and being super condescending with Japan.
@@AsymmetricalCrimes Forced to open at gunpoint because they could not keep the foreigners out through force of arms..Americans love to downplay that fact. Also, Japan was driven by a fear of being beaten and then colonized as was happening to to several of its neighbors during that time. So, I think that a line can be drawn directly from Perry's uninvited and unwanted intrusion to the Pacific war. Japan was attempting to defend itself by copying the behaviors of the westerners which including conquest and colonialism, which in spite of a lot revisionist history to the contrary were nasty, destructive, and quite wasteful of non western lives.
@@AsymmetricalCrimes America and the west as a whole were massively racist. Woodrow Wilson was not an aberration of some kind his mentality was mainstream. The League of Nations was doomed to fail because it was premised on a global racial hierarchy which would never have been sustainable.
My Paternal Grandfather served in the US Army 1931 to 1941, Honorably discharged as Staff Sargent Aug 1941 from Hickman Air Field. Married my Grandmother while in Hawaii (1939) They both went back to the main land. (My Dad born May 1940} Next day along with 3 other family members were on line at the recruiters office. He was told to go home and he will be called for soon. Spent February 1942 through out 1944 working for OSS in Europe. We found many letters to Grandma that were officially blackened out/cut out from him. Sorry for the drawn out typing. Looking at his Pre Attack old photos of Pearl Harbor. Amazing I am holding in my hands real 80 year old photos. God bless that Greatest Generation. They were children of the depression, and as Adults fough the greatest fight.
A tragedy that the values, love of country, God and fellow Americans of that generation has evaporated into what will soon face a much greater threat. For some time our current leaders have grown unacquainted with the meaning of resolve. The brave young men of today's military are as likely to be shot from behind by political correctness as to be shot by the enemy they are facing.
I would say the greatest fight was the great war.
My paternal grandparents and my Dad(2months)his brother and sister was there in hawaii.my Dad later on joined the USA Air force and manned the communication Tower s.my Aunty died Dec 7 2019.. RIFP
It was Hickam not Hickman. Just trivia.
One's comment section is invalid, until blessed by: Steve Wolfe.
Dan Carlin’s podcast series “Supernova in the East” was absolutely amazing. A detailed history on the Empire of the Sun.
this felt like a lecture instead of a simplified video.
Thanks for sharing this!
"The Sleeping Giant" was coined by Yamamoto after Pearl Harbor, he said "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve", And boy was he right : ).
I love that quote. Never mess with USA.
@@milesskillman256 I have Never mess with the US with uncle Sam painted on it hanging by my toolbox : )
For there unwarranted attack on pearl harbor the US government let japan off way too easy. Unconditional surrender should have been the only acceptable end for the USA. 🤔🤔✌✌
Why was the US financing China in 1937?
@@actualideas8078 Because we have a streak of stupidity sometimes. 🤔🤔✌✌
Detailed, concise and comprehensive. It's analysis of this kind that allows a person to understand why an event occurred, instead of simply demonizing it for emotional payoff. Not to mention, the Japanese were concerned about getting colonized the way the Chinese were by the British. Holland was claiming Indonesia and Taiwan. The French took Indochina. They didn't want to go down that road. But technology is a force that is hard to defy
You and everyone else who believes the absurd propaganda that the people in charge of the US government and military did not know the Japanese were going to attack Pearl harbor are flat out ignorant.... They ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY knew & allowed it to happen so as to have the perceived moral High ground of defending themselves against Japan's aggression.... The attack on Pearl harbor was provoked and WANTED to obtain the support of the citizenry of the United States for the war they wanted but needed an event like that so that people like you would foolishly believe and write history as it's been written.
@@cullenreynolds745 Thank you for your insights. What you say is true.
@@cullenreynolds745 nice to hear from someone who knows what really happened
How many schools teach history any more? What a shame 😔
Japanese was strong during the war kzhead.info/sun/mdalfdNucKpsrJs/bejne.html
'in 1931 Japan took its first steps towards empire building' Korea is like 🤔 what are we? Morning mist. Have a good one