| 1941
Timeline
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| January
7, 1941 |
Japan's
Admiral Yamamoto suggests a surprise attack on the US fleet at Pearl
Harbor. He believes a strike on Pearl Harbor will cripple the US fleet
and stop an American counterattack while Japan invades Asia. |
| January
8, 1941 |
President
Roosevelt allocates over 61% of the US budget to defense spending
in preparation for war. |
| March
11, 1941 |
The
US Congress passes the Lend-Lease Act. American companies sell airplanes,
ships, bombs, trucks, and firearms to Great Britain on the condition
that Britain pay for the materials after the war. The US supplies
25% of Britain's military equipment. |
| April
6, 1941 |
Germany
invades Yugoslavia and Greece. Yugoslavia surrenders on April 12 and
Greece on April 29. |
| April
13, 1941 |
Japan
and the Soviet Union sign a five year neutrality agreement. The Japanese
want to avoid a war with the Soviet Union as it prepares to attack
the US. The Soviets want to avoid a war with Japan as it fights Germany. |
| June
14, 1941 |
President
Roosevelt freezes German and Italian financial assets in the US to
help disable the Nazi war effort. |
| June
22, 1941 |
Germany
attacks the Soviet Union in an invasion called "Operation Barbarossa."
Soldiers march on the cities of Leningrad, Moscow, and Stalingrad.
The Soviet Union joins the Allies in the war against the Axis Powers. |
| July
24, 1941 |
Japan
occupies southern French Indochina to use as a base for further attacks
in East Asia. |
| July
26, 1941 |
President
Roosevelt freezes Japanese assets in the US in response to Japanese
aggressions in French Indochina. |
| August
1, 1941 |
President
Roosevelt prohibits the export of oil to Japan in response to Japanese
aggressions in Asia. |
| August
2, 1941 |
America
sends Lend-Lease aid to the Soviet Union. The US supplies 4% of Russia's
military equipment. |
| September
27, 1941 |
The
US launches its first 14 "Liberty Ships." Britain uses many
of these ships to carry freight, fuel, and troops. |
| October
19, 1941 |
The
US Army begins efforts to build an atomic bomb under the code name
"Manhattan Project." The military hopes to develop a nuclear
bomb to use as a weapon against the Axis Powers. |
| November
26, 1941 |
Japanese
carrier forces sail for Pearl Harbor. |
| December
7, 1941 |
Japanese
forces attack the US Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor. Japanese leaders
hope the attack will cripple the US Navy. |
| December
8, 1941 |
The
US declares war on Japan. Japanese forces attack the Philippines,
Malaysia, and Hong Kong. Hong Kong falls on December 25, 1941, Malaysia
on February 15, 1942, and the Philippines on May 10, 1942. |
| December
12, 1941 |
Germany
and Italy declare war on the US after Japan attacks the US Naval fleet
at Pearl Harbor. The two countries expect the US's political system
to collapse because of isolationist sentiments. |
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