Pearl Harbor Conspiracy Theory

Nik Brozovich

International Politics

Presentation Outline

1) Background

2) Conspiracy theory

My hypothesis is there were people in the government who did know about the planned Pearl Harbor, which permitted the US to intervene in WWII.

3) Works Cited

WWII: 1938 to 1945

Axis Powers- Germany, Japan, Italy,

Austria, etc.

Allied Powers- Britain, France, USSR, USA, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, etc.

Victorious

Axis and AlliesAxis- Orange

Allies- Green (light green-entered war after attack on Pearl Harbor)

Reasons for Attack on Pearl Harbor

US embargo was placed on Japan (September 1940), after Japan’s takeover of Northern French Indochina

Prohibited exports of steel, scrap iron, and aviation fuel

Reasons for Attack on Pearl Harbor

US, Britain,and Netherlands froze Japanese assets, because Japan took over Southern Indochina

Japanese unable to buy oil

Japanese planned attacks on Indochina

Attack on Pearl Harbor

December 6, 1941Japanese planes showed up on radar at

Pearl Harbor- mistaken as American B-17s

Two waves of Japanese attack3, 500 Americans killed or wounded350 aircrafts destroyed or damaged18 ships badly damaged or sunk

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Fuel storage, submarines, intelligence centers, and maintenance centers escaped with little damage

American Aircraft carriers were untouched

The attack on Pearl Harbor was not very successful for Japan, even though thousands of Americans died

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Aftermath of Pearl Harbor

December 7, 1941- the United States of America declares war on Japan

USA joined the allied powers, fighting the Japanese as well as the Nazi Germans

Speculation regarding the Attack On Pearl Harbor

Franklin D. Roosevelt was a supporter of the Allies prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor

FDR was against the Neutrality Act, which stated the US could not send arms to any combatant nation

Americans were isolationists, and did not want to interfere with other countries affairs

The Conspiracy Theory

Many people believe that FDR and the government allowed the Pearl Harbor attack to occur to gain the public support for WWII

This theory states the US government sacrificed Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor was a single piece in an intricate game of chess

FDR Wanted To Go To War

On August 14, 1941, British Prime Minister Churchill noted FDR longed for war

In diary entry by Harold Ickes, US Secretary of Interior, stated "For a long time I have believed that our best entrance into the war would be by way of Japan."

FDR Planned For War

Navy analyst McCollum wrote a memo containing 8 points on how to force Japan into war with the US

FDR put all 8 points into effect over a period of time

FDR Exposed the US Fleet

FDR moved the fleet from the West Coast to Hawaii in 1940

Admiral Richardson stated there was inadequate protection- he was replaced when he told FDR of his concerns

Admiral Kimmel, Richardson’s replacement brought up similar concerns to FDR

FDR Ignored Warnings

There were multiple warnings that FDR received that the Japanese were going to attack the fleet at Pearl Harbor

It was reported the Japanese were practicing torpedo attacks in Ariake Bay

A British agent told the FBI of the attack on Pearl Harbor- FBI said his information was too precise

FDR ignored Warnings

Kisloo Haan, a Sino-Korean People's League agent, had proof the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbor before Christmas

Haan told Senator Gillette, who told FDR of the planned attack

FDR Was Not Surprised

When FDR learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Harry Hopkins, a close adviser of FDR, wrote that FDR did not seem surprised, but rather expressed “great relief”

FDR had a Declaration of War on Japan ready, as if he expected a surprise attack

Cover-up

The Navy court and Army court found FDR and Washington responsible for Pearl Harbor attack

Most of the men who did not warn Hawaii of the surprise attack were under the control of FDR

FDR protected the conspirators, rather than punishing them

Questions

Was Pearl Harbor just a pawn in a game of chess?

If Pearl Harbor was a pawn, did FDR play the game of chess correctly?

Works Cited

"Countries Involved in World War Two." Century of Flight. Web. 20 Aug. 2010. <http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation history/WW2/involved.htm>.

"Pearl Harbor - Mother of All Conspiracies." What Really Happened. Web. 20 Aug. 2010. <http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/pearl/www.Geocities.com/Pentagon/6315/pearl.html?q=pearl /www.geocities.com/pentagon/6315/pearl.html>.

Works Cited

Stiles, Kendall W. "Intelligence: Pearl Harbor." Case Histories in International Politics. 6th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. 185-200. Print.

"The Truth About Pearl Harbor." The Independent Institute. Web. 20 Aug. 2010.<http://www.independ ent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=445>.

"World War II." The Map Database. Web. 20 Aug. 2010.<http://www.themapdatabase.com/category /wars/world-war-ii/>.