Hitler announces the declaration of war against the United States to the Reichstag on 11 December 1941
On 11 December 1941, four days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States declaration of war against the Japanese Empire, Nazi Germany declared war against the United States, in response to what was claimed to be a series of provocations by the United States government when the U.S. was still officially neutral during World War II. The decision to declare war was made by Adolf Hitler, apparently offhand, almost without consultation. It has been referred to as Hitler’s “most puzzling” decision of World War II.[1] Publicly, the formal declaration was made to American Chargé d’Affaires Leland B. Morris by German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop in the latter’s office. Later that day, the U.S. declared war on Germany, with Germany’s action having eliminated any remaining meaningful domestic isolationist opposition to the U.S. joining the European war.
The Japanese launch attacks all over Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and launch a preemptive surprise attack on the American Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor.
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Fun fact: December 11th Poland also declared war on Japan, but what makes it interesting is that Japan… rejected it. Yup. Hideki Tojo response was: “We do not accept Poland’s challenge. The Poles, fighting for their freedom, only declared war on us under pressure from the United Kingdom.”. Also despite this declaration Polish and Japanese intelligences continued cooperation against USSR and… Germany. Spoilers: The symbolic peace treaty was signed in 1957 with total causalities of this war being: 0. Though I think that there were some Poles serving in British army in either Singapore or Hong Kong, I’m sure I read about them somewhere, but I’m unable to find anything about them now. Also Witold Urbanowicz was flying with Flying Tigers. But none serving directly in any Polish army.
PatrykCXXVIII