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December 1941 by
In far-flung locations around the globe, an unparalleled sequence of international events took place between December 1 and December 12, 1941. In this riveting book, historian Evan Mawdsley explores how the story unfolded. He demonstrates how these dramatic events marked a turning point not only in the course of World War II but also in the direction of the entire century. On Monday, December 1, 1941, the Japanese government made its final decision to attack Britain and America. In the following days, the Red Army launched a counterthrust in Moscow while the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and invaded Malaya. By December 12, Hitler had declared war on the United States, the collapse of British forces in Malaya had begun, and Hitler had secretly laid out his policy of genocide. Churchill was leaving London to meet Roosevelt as Anthony Eden arrived in Russia to discuss the postwar world with Stalin. Combined, these occurrences brought about a "new war," as Churchill put it, with Japan and America deeply involved and Russia resurgent. This book, a truly international history, examines the momentous happenings of December 1941 from a variety of perspectives. It shows that their significance is clearly understood only when they are viewed together.
Call Number: eBOOK [EBSCO]ISBN: 9780300154450Publication Date: 2011-12-01
So Lovely a Country Will Never Perish by
The attack on Pearl Harbor, which precipitated the Greater East Asia War and its initial triumphs, aroused pride and a host of other emotions among the Japanese people. Yet the single year in which Japanese forces occupied territory from Alaska to Indonesia was followed by three years of terrible defeat. Nevertheless, until the shattering end of the war, many Japanese continued to believe in the invincibility of their country. But in the diaries of well-known writers--including Nagai Kafu, Takami Jun, Yamada Futaru, and Hirabayashi Taiko--and the scholar Watanabe Kazuo, varying doubts were vividly, though privately, expressed. Donald Keene, renowned scholar of Japan, selects from these diaries, some written by authors he knew well. Their revelations were sometimes poignant, sometimes shocking to Keene. Ito Sei's fervent patriotism and even claims of racial superiority stand in stark contrast to the soft-spoken, kindly man Keene knew. Weaving archival materials with personal recollections and the intimate accounts themselves, Keene reproduces the passions aroused during the war and the sharply contrasting reactions in the year following Japan's surrender. Whether detailed or fragmentary, these entries communicate the reality of false victory and all-too-real defeat.
Call Number: eBOOK [EBSCO]ISBN: 9780231151467Publication Date: 2010-04-28
Japanese Destroyer Captain by
This highly regarded war memoir was a best seller in both Japan and the United States during the 1960s and has long been treasured by historians for its insights into the Japanese side of the surface war in the Pacific. The author was a survivor of more than one hundred sorties against the Allies and was known throughout Japan as the "Unsinkable Captain." A hero to his countrymen, Capt. Hara exemplified the best in Japanese surface commanders: highly skilled (he wrote the manual on torpedo warfare), hard driving, and aggressive. Moreover, he maintained a code of honor worthy of his samurai grandfather, and, as readers of this book have come to appreciate, he was as free with praise for American courage and resourcefulness as he was critical of himself and his senior commanders.
Call Number: EBSCO [eBook]ISBN: 9781591143840Publication Date: 2011-08-15
A War It Was Always Going to Lose by
The attack on Pearl Harbor is one of the most perplexing cases in living memory of a weaker power seeming to believe that it could vanquish a clearly superior force. On closer inspection, however, Record finds that Japan did not believe it could win; yet, the Japanese imperial command decided to attack the United States anyway. Conventional explanations that Japan's leaders were criminally stupid, wildly deluded, or just plumb crazy don't fully answer all our questions, Record finds. Instead, he argues, the Japanese were driven by an insatiable appetite for national glory and economic security via the conquest of East Asia.
Call Number: EBSCO [eBook]ISBN: 9781597975346Publication Date: 2010-11-01
- FDR’s “Day of Infamy” Speech : Crafting a Call to ArmsFrom the United Sates National Archives - the full story behind the speech, with copies of the original drafts plus final speech.
- Attack on Pearl HarbourAn interactive map of the attack.
- Pearl Harbour in 1940-41From the US Naval History and Heritage Command. Aerial photographs of the base.
- World War II in photos: A retrospectiveFrom Boston publication The Atlantic, this is a huge collection of photographs, from different perspectives and from a variety of sources, taken on the day.
Consequences of Pearl Harbour
- How the attack on Pearl Harbor shaped America’s role in the world"The bombing of Pearl Harbor was a pivotal moment in U.S. and world history. The attack thrust the U.S. into World War II and set in motion a series of events that would transform the country into a global superpower and guardian of international order. Seventy-six years later, this legacy of Pearl Harbor now faces perhaps its biggest challenge."
A British perspective
Books from the library
Pearl Harbor: The US enters World War II by
Discover why the Japanese risked awakening the "sleeping giant." This book focuses on the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, analyzing how it came about, describing it, and discussing its consequences on history. Investigate the timeline to understand crucial dates surrounding this event. Read the debate section so you can consider the arguments and weigh the evidence about its role in history. Clear photographs, maps, contemporary views, a glossary, and tips for future research are included to help you to understand the importance of this turning point in history.
Call Number: 940.54 TAMISBN: 9780431069173Publication Date: 2000
WASLA Teacher Librarian of the Year- 2017: Jo-Anne Urquhart
- 2016: Lise Legg
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