Pearl Harbor is an inlet of the island of Oahu, Hawaii, six miles west of Honolulu and the site of one of the principal naval bases of the United States. At first the United States obtained exclusive use of the harbor. Early in the morning of December 7, 1941 (December 8 in Japan) Japanese submarines and carrier-based planes attacked the U.S. at Pearl Harbor. Nearby military airfields were also attacked by the Japanese planes. .
The road to war between Japan and the United States began in the 1930s when differences over China drove the two nations apart. In 1931 Japan conquered Manchuria, which until then had been part of China. In 1937 Japan began a long and ultimately unsuccessful campaign to conquer the rest of China. In 1940, the Japanese government allied their country with Nazi Germany in the Axis Alliance, and, in the following year, occupied all of Indochina.
Eight American battle ships and thirteen other U.S naval vessels were sunk or badly damaged. Almost 200 American aircraft were destoryed and approximately 3000 naval and military were killed or wounded.
Two army commanders from the Hawaiian area were retired because of the attack they were guilty of "derelictions of duty" and "errors of judgment" Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and Major General Walter C. Short were the men. .
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There was several other places attacked by Japan on December 7, 1941 such as the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island, Midway Island, Hong Kong, British Malaya, and Thailand. The next day the United States Declared war on Japan, as did every other country on the allied powers except the USSR. .
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The Japanese left Kure naval base between November 10 and 18 1941. The Japanese navy didn't use their radios so they couldn't be detected. By November 22nd the striking force assembled at Kurie Island. The striking force was commanded by Vice Admiral Nagumo, which was consisted of 2 Fleet carriers, 2 light carriers, 2 carriers convented from a battleship and a crusier, 2 battleships, 2crusiers, a destroyer, and 8 supported ships.