Germany’s attack on the Soviet Union compelled Japan in July 1941 to prepare a plan of attack. Although it made clear Japan’s desire to take advantage of the European conflict and gain a foothold in the European colonies in Southeast Asia, the plan was not clear about who constituted Japan’s true enemy.
1941年夏天，各种事件逐步把日本推向与西方开战。但是袭击珍珠港决非不可避免。德国攻击苏联迫使日本在1941年准备进攻方案。尽管这一方案明确了日本利用欧战并且在欧洲各国在东南亚取得立足点的愿望，但是它并未明确说明谁是日本的真正敌人。