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Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; also attack the Philippines, Wake Island, Guam, Malaya, Thailand, Shanghai and Midway.
On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise air attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. After just two hours of bombing, more than 2,400 Americans were dead, 21 ships* had either been sunk or damaged, and more than 188 U.S. aircraft destroyed. -
U.S. and Britain declare war on Japan. Japanese land near Singapore and enter Thailand.
Washington, Monday, Dec. 8.--Sudden and unexpected attacks on Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, and other United States possessions in the Pacific early yesterday by the Japanese air force and navy plunged the United States and Japan into active war. -
China declares war on Japan.
apan's national policy has always aimed at the domination of Asia and mastery of the Pacific. For more than four years China has resolutely resisted Japan's aggression, regardless of suffering and sacrifice, in order not only to maintain her national independence and freedom but also to uphold international law and justice and to promote world peace and human happiness.
China is a peace-loving nation. In taking up arms in self-defense, China entertained the hope that Japan might yet realise -
Japanese invade the Philippines and also seize Guam.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor was a had a big impact on World War II because of the fact that it was so unexpected. Japan which is part of the axis attacked Pearl Habor on December 7 1941. Japan sent off 384 bomber aircrafts from 3 launching stations to surprise the U.S with an attack on the U.S fleet that was stationed in Hawaii. This attack sunk 18 of the major warships including the Arizona, Nevada, and the Virginia and destroying 180 United States aircrafts. There was 2,403 Americans killed and -
Japanese invade Burma
On the ground, this was followed by a lull as the Japanese organised themselves for the invasion proper from across the border with Siam. On 23 December 1941, General Wavell flew to Chungking to discuss the war situation and to ask for specific help from the Chinese Government. Keen to defend their supply line, the Burma Road, the Chinese offered their V and VI Armies for the defence of Burma. These Chinese forces were to be under the command of GOC Burma Army but with their own line of communic -
First Japanese merchant ship sunk by a U.S. submarine
The following pages list the detailed statistics of all enemy merchant and Man-O-War vessels sunk by each individual U.S. submarine during World War II. The tonnage scores indicated are the adjusted JANAC (Joint Army Navy Assessment Committee) totals -
Japanese invade British Borneo.
British Borneo comprised North Borneo, Sarawak, Brunei and Labuan Island, all on the north coast of the jungle island of Borneo, which is now part of Indonesia. At the time of World War 2, the south of the island was part of the Netherlands East Indies -
Japanese invade Hong Kong
A week of air raids over Hong Kong, a British crown colony, was followed up on December 17 with a visit paid by Japanese envoys to Sir Mark Young, the British governor of Hong Kong. The envoys' message was simple: The British garrison there should simply surrender to the Japanese -
Japanese invade Luzon in the Philippines.
The Japanese controlled the Philippines from May 1942, when the defeat of American forces led to General MacArthur's departure and Gen. Jonathan Wainwright's capture. But in October 1944, more than 100,000 American soldiers landed on Leyte Island to launch one of one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific war-and herald the beginning of the end for Japan -
General Douglas MacArthur begins a withdrawal from Manila to Bataan; Japanese take Wake Island
This collection of some 7,000 islands, along with Guam and Puerto Rico, was ceded to the United States by Spain after the Spanish-American War. The battles of Bataan and Corregidor fought in the Philippines were two of America's greatest losses to Japan at the beginning of World War II, but the territory was eventually liberated in 1944. -
British surrender at Hong Kong.
Hong Kong was a British Crown colony whose population was overwhelmingly ethnic Chinese. It was protected by a garrison force composed of British, Canadian, and Indian soldiers. The British government, anticipating a Japanese attack, had begun evacuating women and children on June 30, -
Manila declared an open city.
hen Manila had been declared an Open City, residents were free to move about except for a few thousand Americans crowded into the campus of the University of Sto. Tomas. Later, missionaries, the aged, and American wives of Filipinos were at large. -
Japanese bomb Manila
The Japanese were not expecting to be able to employ their standard tactic of a swift surprise attack for their invasion of the Philippines. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor would take place at 8.00 a.m. on 7 December 1941 (Hawaii time). However, because of the difference in time zones, and the separation of Hawaii and the Philippines by the International Date Line, at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor it would be 2.30 a.m. on 8 December 1941 in Manila. The Japanese had planned for their -
the battle of Iwo jima
The battle of Iwo Island has been won. The United States Marines by their individual and collective courage have conquered a base which is as necessary to us in our continuing forward movement toward final victory as it was vital to the enemy in staving off ultimate defeat. By their victory, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions and other units of the Fifth Amphibious Corps have made an accounting to their country which only history will be able to value fully. Among the Americans who served
