WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -That was the “long fuse” of the Great Pacific War (1941-45), the long-term background to Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Sitting in the Japanese crosshairs that fateful Sunday morning was not only the US Pacific Fleet, but the Hawaiian Islands.

Detailed explanation-2: -On that Sunday morning, many military personnel were attending off-base services, leaving the ships in the harbor understaffed in the event of an emergency. By deciding to attack on a Sunday, Japan had knowingly chosen a day where the United States would not be at full strength.