WWII Topics notes on Monday's blog. Research assignment given out: bring something interesting about Pearl Harbor topic. Takes notes on it in daily blog.
U.S. Neutrality topic: Atlantic Charter
It was drafted by Britain and the United States, and later agreed on by all the Allies. The Charter stated the ideal goals of the war: no territorial aggrandizement; no territorial changes made against the wishes of the people; restoration of self-government to those deprived of it; free access to raw materials; reduction of trade restrictions; global cooperation to secure better economic and social conditions for all; freedom from fear and want; freedom of the seas; and abandonment of the use of force, as well as disarmament of aggressor nations. The Atlantic Charter was a pivotal policy statement first issued in August 1941 that early in World War II defined the Allied goals for the post-war world.
Pearl Harbor:
- The Japanese fleet consisted of 353 planes that attacked in 2 waves; they were planning on 3 waves but called the 3rd off because they'd already done so much damage
- There is still oil leaking from the sunken ships today, particularly the Arizona, and can be seen at the memorials in Hawaii
- The US aircraft carriers were the primary target of the attack but they were not at the base at the time
- 4 of the American battleships stationed in "battleship row" were sunk, another was capsized, and the 6th run aground
- 11 other ships were sunk and 188 planes destroyed; only 28 Japanese planes were shot down and 5 midget subs sunk
- 960 are left missing; 2343 men were killed and 1272 were wounded
- There is a conspiracy theory that FDR provoked the Japanese attack in order to sway American opinion and make it possible for the US to enter the war
- Sources say the main motive behind the attack was to conquer most of the Pacific and South East Asia and to neutralize the U.S. Pacific Fleet before they could rise to fight against the Japanese.
- the attack only lasted for 1hour and 50 minutes
- Husband E. Kimmel was the Naval commander of the base on that day
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