Cover photo: USS SHAW exploding during the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941. HD-SN-99-02794

In the early hours of December 7, 1941, the Japanese illuminated the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, marking the beginning of a military confrontation with a much larger adversary, the United States.

However, what were the reasons that led Japan to make such a decision?

The answer can be traced back approximately 10 years earlier, to the Mukden Incident in September 1931 when the Japanese attacked Manchuria in China, quickly occupying it and creating their own puppet state. Subsequently, in 1932 and 1933, Japan annexed the province of Jehol and expanded further into Northeast China, taking advantage of China’s internal problems and loose control by the central government.

The night of July 7, 1937, marked the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, triggering the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Chinese resentment was now out of control, demanding an immediate government response. However, they were not ready to fight the determined and resilient Japanese. Soon, the numerically superior but inferior Chinese forces retreated to the north from the 200,000-strong Japanese assault, and the operation in Shanghai ended in a painful defeat.

Now victorious, the Japanese made peace proposals with harsh terms for the Chinese. The reasons for wanting to end the war were that they already had 600,000 soldiers in the military, had suffered tens of thousands of casualties, and feared that a potential entry of the Soviet Union or the United States would lead to their defeat. The Chinese, aware of these conditions, rejected the proposals.

The next goal was the economic destruction of China. This would be achieved by occupying China’s industrial zones, key ports, and eliminating all resistance. After intense battles and massive losses on both sides, the Japanese once again prevailed. However, that was not enough. The import of materials from colonial territories, especially French Indochina, maintained China’s resilience.

With over 1,000,000 soldiers, Japan had no choice but to start the conflict. By September 22-26, 1940, the conquest of French Indochina was complete. However, this was the last straw for the United States. A severe embargo on oil and steel was imposed on Japan. Considering that Japan relied entirely on U.S. oil supplies, this paralyzed the country. According to U.S. terms, Japan also had to withdraw from all Chinese territories they had occupied.

They couldn’t accept that the millions of their soldiers who sacrificed themselves or were injured and the tremendous sacrifices made over a decade would go in vain. Their high strategy dictated that they either lose everything without any resistance or attack, aiming to inflict such damage on the enemy that it would force them into an agreement. Obviously, they chose the latter.

Beyond the storm at Pearl Harbor, Western forces witnessed the fervent Japanese soldiers defeating 150,000 Americans, Dutch, and allies in the East Indies, conquering Thailand, eliminating 15,000 British in Hong Kong, achieving the largest surrender of British troops in history in Singapore, outnumbered 1 to 3, dissolving the American-Philippine forces in the Philippines, and more.

However, time’s credit for these victories expired with the defeat at Midway, where in June 1942, the Japanese possibly had a last chance to reach the United States within the framework of an agreement.

Between 1941 and 1945, the production disparity of various types of naval vessels was dramatically chaotic. As an indicative example during that period, the United States produced 141 aircraft carriers, while Japan produced 17. In the battleship class, the U.S. produced 10 compared to Japan’s 2. Heavy cruisers were at 48 for the U.S. and 9 for Japan, while light cruisers were at 348 for the U.S. and 63 for Japan. Submarines were produced at a ratio of 203 for the U.S. and 167 for Japan.

Additionally, in terms of commercial ship tonnage, the U.S. produced 34 million tons compared to Japan’s mere 4 million tons. In the air, the U.S. produced 325,000 aircraft, contrasting with Japan’s 75,000.