4. Without proof, theorists alleged that Roosevelt and his commanders were aware in advance of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and deliberately did nothing
Striking the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Operation AI was a surprise military strike launched by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service designed to cripple the American Pacific Fleet. Resulting in the deaths of 2,403 Americans, as well as 1,178 wounded, in addition to the loss of four battleships and several damaged vessels, the attack, although destructive, failed in the intended objective of preventing American involvement in Southeast Asia. Occurring without a formal declaration of war, nor with any explicit warning of military action, the attack was consequently regarded as a war crime by the Tokyo Trials in the aftermath of the war and resulted in Congress declaring war itself upon Japan the following day.
Despite the devastation caused by the attack, in the decades since several conspiracy theories have formed accusing the American government of possessing prior knowledge. Alleging officials were aware of Japanese intentions and designs, but deliberately choosing not to act to force the divided U.S. to finally enter the Second World War, these theories possess noticeable similarities to assertions Churchill permitted Coventry to be bombed to disguise the successful cracking of the enigma code. Although garnering moderate interest and belief, these theories rely heavily on circumstantial evidence, including Roosevelt’s decision to move the bulk of forces to a single location, and are rejected by mainstream historians.