Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941.

Quick Scoop

Exact date and basic facts

  • Date of attack: December 7, 1941, a Sunday morning in Hawaii.
  • Time the first bombs fell: about 7:55 a.m. local time at Pearl Harbor.
  • The attackers were forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy, striking the U.S. Pacific Fleet at the naval base on Oahu, Hawaii.

Why this date matters

  • The attack led directly to the United States formally entering World War II the next day, December 8, 1941, with a declaration of war on Japan.
  • In U.S. history and media, December 7, 1941, is often remembered as a turning point that shifted public opinion from isolationism to active involvement in the war.

A useful way to remember it: “December 7, 1941” is often quoted as a day that “changed everything” for the U.S. in World War II.

TL;DR: When was Pearl Harbor attacked? It was attacked on December 7, 1941.

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