Pearl Harbor: A Day That Lives in Infamy | 5 Minute Video

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Imperial Navy bombed the US Naval base at Pearl Harbor. The surprise attack shocked the nation and brought it into a world war. To this day, it remains seared in America’s historical memory. Renowned historian Victor Davis Hanson explains why.

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Script:

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Imperial Navy bombed the US Naval base at Pearl Harbor. It was one of the most successful—and failed—surprise attacks in military history. 

The attack shocked America and the world. 

President Franklin Roosevelt described it as “a date which will live in infamy.” 

An armada of six-fleet carriers, equipped with some 350 combat aircraft, crossed 4,000 miles of rough winter seas to reach its destination.

Neither American radar operators on the island nor intelligence officers who had broken many of the Japanese naval codes had an inkling of the approach.

Flying out of the bright early morning sun, two waves of bombers sank four battleships of the US 7th fleet, damaged four others, and killed over 2,300 American sailors and soldiers. The Japanese suffered minimal losses of just 29 aircraft. 

The attack was brilliant. 

But it did not achieve its goal—for two reasons:

One: 

By a twist of fate, the three American aircraft carriers based at Pearl—the ships the Japanese most wanted to destroy—Enterprise, Lexington, and Saratoga—were all out to sea on the 7th—and safe.

Two: 

The Japanese didn’t finish the job. 

To put the base out of commission required not two, but three attack waves. This final wave would have destroyed a full six months’ worth of stored naval and aviation fuel, dockyards, and maintenance shops, and truly set the Americans reeling. 

Yet, at the last moment, Admiral Chūichi Nagumo concluded that the risks were too great—his planes and ships too vulnerable to a counterattack. He made his way back to Japan, leaving the Americans bloodied, but not fatally so. 

Why did the Japanese attack at all? What did they hope to accomplish?

The answer is that Japan intended to dominate and control all of Asia: its people and resources. To do that, it believed it had to neutralize America. 

From the hindsight of history, this appears suicidal. But at the time, it almost made sense. 

To begin with, in 1941 the United States was, militarily speaking, in a sorry state. The ships in its Pacific fleet were few and many were outdated. The Japanese fleet, in contrast, was newer, bigger, and stronger. 

Second, America had no appetite for overseas conflict.

Like the rest of the world, the Japanese had watched most of Europe fall to the Nazis while America did little to stop it. If the US wasn’t going to fight in Europe where it had many alliances, why would it fight in Asia where it had few? How much more so if Japan were to destroy most of its Pacific fleet! Surely, the Japanese reasoned, America would sue for peace. 

Other current events also went into their thinking. 

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, it assumed—again, quite reasonably—that Hitler’s forces in Russia would quickly capture Moscow and take the Soviets out of the war. This would remove any threat the Russians might pose to Japan’s conquest of Manchuria and China. 

A new fascist world order appeared to be on the horizon. Germany would rule Europe; Japan, Asia. 

But just as Hitler underestimated Soviet strengths and overestimated his own, the Japanese underestimated American strengths and overestimated their own.

Instead of cowing America, the Pearl Harbor attack enraged it. The nation woke up with a fearsome start. 

Within six months General Jimmy Doolittle led a surprise bombing raid on Tokyo, an astounding feat no one at the time, including the Japanese, considered possible. American carriers simply did not have enough runway to launch a long-range bomber. But somehow Doolittle managed it. The raid did little actual damage, but it boosted American morale and sent a stern message to Japan: America would not be intimidated.

[mafbloggerdanny]

Any opportunity to hear Victor Davis Hanson talk about military history is a treat

[itinerantpatriot]

If you haven't done so I highly recommend a visit to the Arizona Memorial. I was fortunate enough to go there in the 1980s and the two tour guides on board the Arizona that day were both Pearl Harbor survivors, one of them being on the Arizona when the attack occurred. They were very gracious and I had a fascinating discussion with them. The gentleman who survived the Arizona attack told me he was going to have his ashes interred alongside his shipmates, an honor reserved for those who served on the Arizona at the time of the attack. I'm fairly certain his ashes are with his brothers now. I also had the privilege of speaking with a man who survived the Bataan Death March and the trip to Japan on a Hell Ship prior to the Philippine liberation and a Marine who was injured during the landing at Peleliu. One trait all these men had in common was a great deal of dignity, which is quite amazing when you consider how viscous the fighting in The Pacific was. Unfortunately, most of the WWII veterans are gone now, including former Senator Bob Dole who passed away today. I may have had differences with him on some matters of policy but he was a true patriot who did a lot for the WWII Memorial, a project I also did a lot of fund raising for. May he, and all his brothers and sisters in arms rest in peace and may God's light shine on them. They really did save the world.

[IslandBuzzy]

My Mother was a Jr. in high school at Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu. She saw airplanes approaching Hawaii and realized there were "big red dots" on them. Within an hour, she and her classmates were in a makeshift hospital in their school gym, she was given a red cross band to wear.
My Dad was a senior, also in Honolulu and 2 days later he went to find one of his best friends, who was American Japanese, only to find his home and parents business boarded up. They never saw each other again.
My mom is alive and 94 years old. My Dad passed 10 years ago in a VA Retirement home.
To this day, December 7th is a real special day in Hawaii...somber.
God bless our vets! 🇺🇸

[darrylkenes]

My mom was so excited, the next day would be her 12th birthday. The next afternoon December 7th as they prepared for a little party that evening the mood in their home grew somber. As news came over the radio of the attack on Pearl Harbor mom remembers her dad sitting close to the set with tears on his cheeks. He had 4 sons of-service age and he was fearful. His fears were realized in 1944 as news arrived of Bob ‘s death. He rests on the French coast. Mom never enjoys her birthday.

[zacharyballif]

Also don't forget the battle of Midway. That was considered the turning point in the pacific. A mere 6 months after Pearl Harbor the Japanese were officially on the Defense for the rest of the war.

[MeLancer]

Thank you for the post giving insight into the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
My dad's ship, USS Raleigh CL-7, was on the northwest side of Pearl Harbor at the time. Raleigh, a light cruiser was struck by an aerial torpedo at 7:55 a.m. About an hour later Raleigh was hit again by an armor piercing bomb. Fortunately, Raleigh damage control teams managed to keep her afloat. Within 6 months repairs had Raleigh back on duty where she successfully served for the remainder of WWII.

[SeanandBlanca]

Victor has changed the way I LEARN and view history.

[druidmerlyn]

My dad was a 16 year old boy who had lied about his age and joined the army, sitting in a theater near Fort Benning in Georgia.
His exact words: "I was watching a movie, can't remember the name of it, when all of a sudden the movie stopped, the lights came on and a voice called out over the speakers 'Pearl Harbor in Hawaii has been attacked. All leaves are canceled. All military personnel are to report back to base immediately!"
It was the worst traffic I ever saw in my life. Still is!"

[nathansmith]

Let us honour men from these countries (or their successor countries) the fought and died to stop the the wicked Axis Powers:
- United States
- Soviet Union
- United Kingdom
- France
- China
- Poland
- Czechoslovakia
- Norway
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Ethiopia
- Greece
- Yugoslavia
- Philippines
- India
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Brazil
- Mongolia
- Mexico
Your fight and loss has not been in vain.

[billparker]

VDH is the most qualified person to lecture everyone about anything.

[Trucktiger]

My dad was born Dec 7, 1939.
My grandmother was preparing dinner (lunch) for him and my aunt and uncle when she heard the news.
He and I both served in the US Navy during times of restrained peace.
It is an honor to serve and my oath never expires!

[flyoverkid]

Thank you for remembering one of the pivotal moments in modern world history, seems so few do. Both of my parents and their siblings served in WW II, they all came home. Some were wounded, all were changed by their experiences.

[jamesberton]

"When its people are united, there is nothing this republic can't accomplish"- Stephen Ambrose

[Sarcastic]

The situation before the attack and the thinking of Imperial Japan kind of reminds me of today and how China seems be viewing the US as well. Not willing to fight for her allies, not wanting to get involved, weary of war. Misunderstandings like these can lead to devastating consequences as we saw in the last century. Remember, Germany did not believe that France and Britain would risk war for just Poland.... Miscalculations cost millions of lives last century. Will the same happen in THIS century? I'm afraid we may be about to find out...

[kaya_alphas_]

Being born and raised in Oahu, it kind of amazes me how much history this island has. never knew truly up until my high school years that this island got hit by the Japanese and due to it, it made America help the Allies in battle. Wish I could go to museums where they talk about the events of Pearl Harbor but with COVID and it being expensive, videos such as this is also a great alternative

[thejollygoodrodger]

Thank you for all the American Armed Forces personnel who helped to defend Australia, in the Second World War and all the wars that followed. Without your support we would not exist as a country We appreciate it. Lest We Forget the fallen. EX LS Royal Australian Navy. 🇺🇸🗽🇦🇺🏴‍☠️

[funveeable]

Pray for Navy servicemen like me, who will be sailing out to the South Pacific to either fight a war with China, or prevent a war with China.

[Oneironaut]

VDH is a very intelligent and wise man. As with Thomas Sowell, it is because of his Wisdom that he is not widely known on a typical University Campus.
"There is no Wisdom on the Left." - Dennis Prager

[James_Hough]

Just finished "Pearl Harbor: A Novel of December 8th" by Newt Gingerich and William Forstchen. It lays out, in lurid detail, just how devastating the 3rd wave could have been. It's a kind of "alternative history" story. Hint, it is posited that the Japanese Admiral who led the attack would have made all of the difference. Excellent book.

[michaelmurray]

“Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 a date which will live in Infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by Naval and Air Forces of the Empire of Japan.” -Franklin D. Roosevelt