Discussion Do you think the leaders of Japan were happy with the outcome of the attack on Pearl Harbor? Why or why not? Do you think the leaders of Japan were happy with the outcome of the attack on Pearl Harbor? Why or why not? Japanese leaders were happy because they destroyed many ships and planes.

Discussion How do you think the attack on Pearl Harbor affected U.S. public opinion about involvement in the war? How do you think the attack on Pearl Harbor affected U.S. public opinion about involvement in the war? more Americans would have supported becoming involved in the war after U.S. territory was attacked.

Japan Tries to Control East Asia and the Pacific Creation of Greater East Asia Co- Prosperity Sphere Creation of Greater East Asia Co- Prosperity Sphere Prime Minister Tōjō's policy Prime Minister Tōjō's policy The United States aligned itself against Japan. The United States aligned itself against Japan. German declaration of war on the United States German declaration of war on the United States

Discussion What two misjudgments did the Axis Powers make about U.S. involvement in the war? What two misjudgments did the Axis Powers make about U.S. involvement in the war? The Japanese thought the Americans were soft and would choose not to fight. The Germans thought the Americans would be ineffective in the European theater of war because of their involvement in the Pacific.

Discussion Why was it important for the Allies to agree to fight until all the Axis Powers surrendered unconditionally? Why was it important for the Allies to agree to fight until all the Axis Powers surrendered unconditionally? Doing so prevented a division among the Allies that might have occurred if one of the Axis Powers had agreed to stop fighting against one of the Allies.

Background The Battle of Stalingrad, considered to be one of the most important battles of the war, also was one of the deadliest. Total Axis casualties were more than 800,000 dead, wounded, missing, or captured. Of the 91,000 Germans who surrendered, most later died in Soviet prison or labor camps, with only 5,000 to 6,000 ever returning to their homeland. Historians place the number of Soviet casualties at 1.1 million dead, wounded, missing, or captured. The Battle of Stalingrad, considered to be one of the most important battles of the war, also was one of the deadliest. Total Axis casualties were more than 800,000 dead, wounded, missing, or captured. Of the 91,000 Germans who surrendered, most later died in Soviet prison or labor camps, with only 5,000 to 6,000 ever returning to their homeland. Historians place the number of Soviet casualties at 1.1 million dead, wounded, missing, or captured.

Discussion Why do you think naval superiority was of greater importance in the war in Asia than it was in the war in Europe? Why do you think naval superiority was of greater importance in the war in Asia than it was in the war in Europe? As an island nation, Japan depended on its navy to provide supplies and raw materials for its war efforts and that the U.S. "island hopping" strategy required naval transport of troops.