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Aristus

(70,531 posts)
2. "I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."
Thu May 8, 2025, 10:24 AM
May 2025

There actually is no evidence that Yamamoto ever wrote this, or said it, unless he was in the shower when he did. But "Tora! Tora! Tora!" put it in the film as if he did.

What we do know for certain regarding his prediction of the outcome of the war comes from his briefing to the Navy General Staff about the attack on Pearl Harbor (and Guam, and the Philippines, etc.) He did tell them that after the attack, he would "run wild in the Pacific, winning victory after victory, for perhaps six months. After that, I see no hope of final victory."

Pretty close to the mark. Midway was seven months after Pearl Harbor.

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A Call to Action on a Somber VE Day [View all] Bennet Kelley May 2025 OP
"We did it before. We'll do it again!" raging moderate May 2025 #1
You are Right - We can do this! Bennet Kelley May 2025 #6
"I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." Aristus May 2025 #2
Not Tora Tora Bennet Kelley May 2025 #4
Dear Bennet Kelley, AKwannabe May 2025 #3
Thank you for your kind words Bennet Kelley May 2025 #5
Latest Discussions»Editorials & Other Articles»A Call to Action on a Som...»Reply #2