Day of Infamy

As Hitler continues to maul the Russians, President Roosevelt remains convinced that few Americans are ready to become involved in the war, despite frantic requests for aid from Britain. Unemployment is still the big problem.

Most Americans have grown numb to reports of the distant slaughter around Moscow. Then, stunning news comes over the radio. The Japanese have delivered a killing punch to the American naval base at Pearl Harbor.

Few Americans have ever heard of Pearl Harbor, though today it would be difficult to find anyone who hasn't. Located far out in the Pacific Ocean, it's the main defense against Japan. Ready or not, America is now involved.
Pearl Harbor attack, 1941 map

  Stab in the Back
It's difficult to imagine the shock that this news brings to Americans, who have been going about their business in a slow sort of daze for the past decade, since the market crash. Detroit is still pumping out Fords, Chevys and Buicks. Protected from the tumult by the Atlantic Ocean, the war in Europe doesn't even seem real. After Pearl Harbor, this all changes.

Midway, Guadalcanal, Coral Sea, 1942 map

  America Gets Going
Forget about the Nazis. For America, the struggle against the Japanese in the Pacific is now the real war. The first big battle is a naval action in the Coral Sea, in which both sides take losses, with no clear winner (WHITE #1). Then comes the decisive Battle of Midway, where perseverance and good fortune allow Americans to destroy the entire Japanese carrier force. This is crushing blow, from which Japan never recovers. America's ground assault begins at Guadalcanal.


Concentration and work camps, 1943 map

  Forced Labor
Hitler is able to replace some of his battlefield loses through his control of the nations he has conquered. Nazi officials run the local economies, diverting activity into German war production. In addition, 12 million Europeans are shipped off to one of the many work camps spread all over Germany (BLUE dots). These are distinct from 'concentration' camps (ORANGE), reserved for jews, homosexuals and other non-desirables, many of whom are literally worked to death. True 'extermination camps' come later, near the end.