ABSTRACT
On December 7, 1941, Japanese carrier-based aircraft attacked the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu in the territory of Hawaii. The Americans were caught by surprise and the damage to the fleet was extensive. Two days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 5, German troops desperately attempting to capture Moscow, reported they were within sight of the spires of the Kremlin. Japanese had precise intelligence as to the exact location of each ship in Pearl Harbor when they attacked. Japanese intelligence was precise about the American fleet in the Pacific, American information on the Japanese fleet was inadequate. In addition to intelligence from intercepted messages, the State Department in Washington received reports from Ambassador Grew in Tokyo which reflected his astute views on the situation in Japan. The forces in the field had been kept apprised of Washington’s estimates of the situation and of the grave concern over the course of developments.
