Hitler's American Gamble
Warfare
History Hit
4.5 • 943 Ratings
🗓️ 4 May 2022
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7 1941 remains etched in public memory as the turning point of WW2. But in fact, it was Hitler’s declaration of war on the United States – four days later on December 11, 1941 – that changed everything.
In this episode, Professor of International Relations at Cambridge University Brendan Simms tells Dan the story of those five unsettling days. Churchill did not sleep “the sleep of the saved and thankful” after the attack, as he later claimed. Japan’s leaders were unsure whether Hitler would honour a private commitment to declare war. Roosevelt knew that many Americans didn’t want their country to entangle itself in a conflict with the Third Reich as well as Japan. In the end, it was Hitler’s decision that ended the uncertainty, bringing the US into the European war and transforming world history. You can read more in 'Hitler's American Gamble' by Brendan Simms and Charlie Laderman.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 remains etched in the public memory as the turning point of the Second World War. |
| 0:17.4 | It was that moment that America joined the war. |
| 0:20.3 | Churchill said that he slept the sleep of the saved and thankful. But was that the only turning |
| 0:26.5 | point that happened in December 41? Well, if you ask Brandon Sims, professor of international |
| 0:32.2 | relations at Cambridge University, well then certainly not. |
| 0:36.7 | In this episode from the History Hit Archive, he explains to Dan that there was an apprehensive moment during that month because it took four days |
| 0:46.1 | for Hitler to declare war on the United States after this Japanese attack. Why did it take so long? And how did Hitler's decision |
| 0:55.9 | known as Hitler's American gamble change everything? I know you're going to find |
| 1:01.2 | this one truly fascinating so make sure you drop |
| 1:04.5 | us a five-star review on Apple podcast on Spotify or wherever you get your |
| 1:09.0 | podcasts but right now here is Professor Brandon Sims on Hitler's American gamble. |
| 1:14.8 | Enjoy. |
| 1:18.8 | Right, so the massive Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor happens at |
| 1:23.0 | the beginning of December 1941 80 years ago |
| 1:25.9 | as we're recording this now. |
| 1:27.7 | For me the key question has always been Japan |
| 1:29.9 | brilliantly disguised its intentionless launches this stunning surprise attack. |
| 1:34.0 | Did they tell Hitler their German ally that they were going to do that? |
| 1:38.0 | Hitler knew Japan was intending to attack the United States, |
| 1:42.0 | but he did not know the exact time or day of the attack, |
| 1:45.6 | which took him completely by surprise. |
| 1:48.0 | And another terrific example of the |
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