[December 7, 2015] One of the most infamous days in American history was the surprise attack by the Japanese military on United States’ air and naval bases in Hawaii on this date in 1941. The attack was a tactical success, even perhaps better than those planning the raid could have hoped. However, it proved to be a strategic blunder that led to the unconditional surrender of Japan, the destruction of its empire, and the death of around 3 million of its citizens.
There are many reasons why the Japanese took the decision to attack the U.S. in Hawaii and the reasons have been debated. Japan had been for many years expanding its empire in East Asia. They did so to establish a sphere for the self-defense and self-preservation of its Empire and to build a New Order in Greater East Asia.1
There are several leadership lessons to be learned from it and thus why senior leaders should understand the difference in and the interrelationship between tactics and strategy. Too many politicians today don’t seem to have a fundamental grasp of it.
Due to the Japanese military conquest in East Asia, the United States had increasingly tightened its embargo that Japan needed to maintain its expanding empire. U.S. economic sanctions started after the rape of Nanjing in 1937 and in September 1941 oil was embargoed. Japan’s economy would be devastated in only a few months without oil and other vital natural resources.
Japan’s intelligence had underestimated the United States’ industrial capacity to rapidly replace ships and aircraft. Additionally, they believed Hitler was on the verge of winning World War II and they wanted to quickly conquer the remaining East Asia area including much of the Pacific Ocean. To them this meant they had to quickly cripple the United States military capacity and reach a settlement before the U.S. could rebuild its military hardware.
Of course, the Japanese were wrong and the U.S. Congress declared war on the Empire of Japan the following day.
Today I’m honoring the men and women, military and civilian, that were present that day and a special honor to those who died.
[Don’t forget to “Like” the Leader Maker at our Facebook Page.]
————————
- Japan’s Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere in World War II: Selected Readings and Documents, p xiii.