Did the US know the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbor?

Answer 1

To my best knowledge: No!

I have never heard this. It was an entirely Japanese operation.

I watched a show today that stated Hitler did know in advance about the attack on Pearl Harbour. In fact he made a speech that was given deliberately a few hours after the attack to the Nazi Party, just so it could be heard by the US and Japan. In his speech Hitler declared war on the US, the first time he declared war on a country he had not yet invaded.

Answer 2

Although Britain "may" not have known about the Pearl Harbor attack in advance, these are some facts: 1. Both Roosevelt and Churchill were experts in the field of naval operations; Roosevelt had served as Assistant Secretary of the US Navy from 1913-1920 and Churchill served as Great Britain's Lord of the Admiralty from 1911-1915. Each man loved ships and their respective navies. Roosevelt was an accomplished model ship builder. 2. Churchill desperately communicated his wishes to Roosevelt that the US should enter the war against Germany in WW2. Roosevelt wanted to enter the war against Germany, but had to take the stance most represented by the US population, which was to "stay out of European Wars." 3. The 1930's was a "Depression Era" in the United States. The financial crash of 1929, and JOBLESS US Citizens. The United States could NOT just enter any war, without CAUSE. 4. In 1940 the US Navy Battleship Fleet was moved FROM Los Angeles California TO Pearl Harbor. 5. In 1941 the US Navy Battleship Fleet was attacked at Pearl Harbor. The US Navy "Aircraft Carriers" were NOT THERE. The carriers had been detailed to deliver aircraft to outlying garrisons.

Answer 3

The Japanese did not inform their ally, Germany, of the plan to attack Pearl Harbor. The Germans were as surprised as anyone. Perhaps more surprised. The Japanese had been part of the Axis for about a year and a half, and for six months, Germany had been at war with the Soviet Union (Russia). Part of Germany's motivation in seeking an alliance with Japan was the hope that in the event Germany went to war with the Soviet Union, that Japan would also attack the Russians, on the other end of the vast nation, on Russia's Pacific Coast. The Japanese and Russians had fought a war in 1905, and Japan won, astonishing the world. Germany hoped Japan, in a greedy, territory-grabbing frame of mind, would be tempted by the prospect of picking off Russia's Pacific maritime provinces. The Japanese seriously considered attacking the Russians in the months after Germany had attacked in western Russia. But, the Japanese felt the need to first obtain the fuel supplies available in the Dutch East Indies, meaning their war effort would be to the south, not the north, at least for a time. It was the certainty that attacking and capturing the huge oil fields of the Dutch East Indies would mean war, not just with the Netherlands, but with Great Britain and the US as well, that made Japanese leaders believe it was desirable to cripple the US fleet at the beginning. This Japanese analysis led to the Pearl Harbor attack. Its certainly not a foregone conclusion that the US would have gone to war with Japan over attacking the Dutch colony, but the Japanese believed that would be the result. The Japanese, with the Army, and to a lesser extent the Navy, controlling the country, were in a situation where the military could do exactly as it pleased, and did not understand that President Roosevelt was not free to go to war whenever he might wish, like they were.

Answer 4

No, Hitler did not know of any specific Japanese military plans. Hitler wanted the Japanese to attack Britain & the United States, and the Japanese hinted that they were planning to do so. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was a secret sneak attack that onlt a few in Japan knew about in advance.

Answer 5

It's fair to say the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor came as a very unpleasant surprise. There were vague rumors of an attack, but everyone assumed it would be on the Philippines.

Answer 6

There are books written about the subject stating that the US knew.

Answer 7

There are books written that state we did know.

Answer 8

no. in fact, the U.S. thought they where going to have a nice friendship after being threatend by them

Answer 9

No.