An Introduction: War in Pacific We have discussed the attack on Pearl Harbour and its implications towards the war (bring on the Yanks!) This was not Japan’s intention (whoops) Japan felt that they needed to defeat the American navy based at Pearl Harbour if they were to continue on with their “war of conquest” in the Pacific Instead this caused the Americans to declare war on Japan in December of 1941

Japanese Motivation 1920s Japan was caught between its traditional heritage and the urge to modernize Radicals called for the complete rejection of Western ways and wanted a militaristic government based on National Socialism – echo of Nazi movement in Germany Japan had a strong military, it had a number of advantages over the civilian government i.e. it had the organization and weapons to impose its will

Imperialist Expansion With changes in leadership in China (1928), Japan felt that its imperialistic interests were threatened Japan wanted to acquire new lands The economic depression, along with their growing population, intensified Japan’s need for raw materials and access to markets There were increasing clashes between the Japanese Military and the civilian government These tensions caused the Japanese military to take actions not sanctioned by their government

Events leading up to Pearl Harbour 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria, without the consent of its own government Military conspirators (plotters) made plans to terrorize the civilian government in an effort to force them to accept martial law Temporary rule by military authorities, imposed on a civilian population especially in time of war or when civil authority has broken down. There was turmoil in Japan; PM was assassinated, followed by vicious in-fighting between factions of the army Hit squads were sent out to kill members of the government

Events leading up to Pearl Harbour II Following the fall of France in 1940 to the Germans, the Japanese quickly occupied French Indo-China President Roosevelt responded by freezing Japanese assets in American banks (fight aggression without battle) Also refused to sell Japan oil or scrap metal; Two products Japan desperately needed to supply its war industries Cut off from major suppliers, Japanese military commanders decided only solution was to engage in war with the United States…

Pearl Harbour December 1941 – the 7 th to be exact – Japan launched a surprise attack on the American Naval Pearl Harbour Hawaii. Purpose: give Japan’s Navy control of Pacific for future battles… was this really a good idea? December 8, Roosevelt gave this speech: Roosevelt’s Speech December 8 th 1941 'A Date Which Will Live in Infamy‘ Speech was a rally cry for USA for more reasons than one… The United States, along with Britain declared war on Japan Hitler then declared war on the US in support of the Japanese Britain gained an ally it desperately was in need of for the war in Europe…

Where Canada stood in all this… As we have already seen, Canada was present in European theatre of war They weren’t fighting quite yet at this point Following the American declaration of war on Japan, Canada followed suit Canadians were sent to fight the Japanese at the British colony of Hong Kong This was the Canadian first active battle in WWII Impossible task; surrender was forced upon them in 17 days – 500 soldiers wounded, 290 killed, 267 ended up in POW camps

The Allies Stalin, Roosevelt, & Churchill “The Big Three” Also included France, Poland, British Commonwealth (AUS, CAN, NZ, Newfoundland, South Africa), Belgium, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, & Yugoslavia Basically the modern United Nations

Axis Powers Their “Big Three” Hitler, Mussolini, & PM Hideki Tojo Also included Albania, Indian East Africa, Libya, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Thailand, Finland (more anti-communism), San Marino, Iraq.