While the
significance of the date would only happen later, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor early on a Sunday
morning because they knew that it would add to their element of surprise. They knew that the
army base would still be sleeping at that early time, and most people would have the day off. By
picking a day with good weather, the Japanese bombers could hit as many battleships as possible,
though they missed the major target on the island: the fuel reserves. The Japanese fleet also
missed the aircraft carriers that were out on maneuvers at the time. If these had been hit, it
would have been harder for the United States to recover.
The attack on Pearl
Harbor also fit into a larger strategy. Within days, Japan attacked the Philippines and the
Aleutian Islands. The combined attack on the Pacific fleet with an ambitious campaign of
aggression was meant to demonstrate Japanese strength and intimidate the United States. In
reality, it only galvanized American opinion against the Axis. Japan's...
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