March 23 - On Entering WWII
We know why we entered WWII - it was right after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. President Roosevelt immediately went before a joint session of congress to get approval to declare war on Japan. Why? Because they attacked us. But what was Japan thinking? I'm no expert but here's an overview before Dad is drafted in the Army on April 1, 1942:
Note that the one NO vote on war was a very brave Congressperson Miss Jeanette Rankin of Montana. Click the link to learn more on Wikipedia. Amidst the boos and jeers of her follow congressmen, she held her ground. She was also one of two NO votes on entry into WWI. She goes up on the hero list! The more I learn about her, the more I love her.
Japan
Japan's attack had to do with their expansion plans into the Pacific. They needed more strategic areas of control to better protect themselves. WWI had really spooked them. Showed them how vulnerable they were. So Japan aligned with Germany and Italy and eventually others and were promised greater eastern Asia and the Pacific. This was the Tripartite Pact.
The U.S. did not want to officially get involved in the war but we did provide aide to allied forces in the Pacific. We placed sanctions on Japan. So it was Thanksgiving day November 20, 1941 when Japan delivered their final proposal to the United States:
Japan will withdraw from southern Indochina and will stop their attacks in Southeast Asia if the United States, United Kingdom, and Netherlands supplied one million U.S. gallons (3.8 million liters) of aviation fuel, lifted their sanctions against Japan, and ceased aid to China.
President Roosevelt refused to meet with Japan. There were numerous attempts to encourage the President to meet. Why he wouldn't is a good question. Maybe he felt it betrayed the allies but it's not clear. The Americans responded on November 26 - that would be Nov. 27th in Japan.
Then, on November 26 in Japan, the day before Japan's final proposal was delivered, the Japanese task force left port for Pearl Harbor.
The Japanese intended the attack as a preventive action to keep the United States Pacific Fleet from interfering with their planned military actions in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. Over the course of seven hours, there were coordinated Japanese attacks on the American-held Philippines, Guam, Wake Island, Midway Atoll and on the British Empire in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong.[17] From the Japanese point of view, it was seen as a preemptive strike "before the oil gauge ran empty."
The rest is history as they say. On December 10, 1941, the United States declares war on Germany and Italy. Pretty much at the same time they were declaring war on us. If you're interest in more, check out this youtube:
In summary, war is stupid.
Dear Audrey WWII starts on April 1, 1942.
Comments welcome :)
