"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

This is possibly one of the largest understatements during World War II. However there is much debate if it was actually ever said. In one of the final scenes from the movie “Tora Tora Tora” Yamamoto is seen to have said this line. The producers of the movie claim to have seen written evidence in Yamamoto’s diary and in a letter which he sent using this phrase. However neither has ever been found since the movie in 1970.

During research for two different books, “at Dawn We Slept” and “The Reluctant Admiral.” This phrase has never been found. It has been known that Yamamoto claimed he would have basically 6 months for freedom to carry out his plans at will. He further went on to say until the end of the first year he knew Japan could pretty much carry out what needed to be done. After that he was not so sure.

There are several possible sources for the above quote being tagged to Admiral Yamamoto. During the occupation of Japan and the debriefing of senior naval officers several reported upon being told of the successful attack on Pearl Harbor Yamamoto said, “Gentlemen we have just kicked a rabid dog.” He used this as a metaphor and not in disrepsect.

Others attribute the quote to the statements about being able to run free for six months to a year after the attack and then not promising anything after that.

The best possible source for the above quote comes from the book “The Reluctant Admiral”.

"A military man can scarcely pride himself on having 'smitten a sleeping enemy'; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten. I would rather you made your appraisal after seeing what the enemy does, since it is certain that, angered and outraged, he will soon launch a determined counterattack." This was spoken to Ogata Taketora in December 1941.

It was known that while his staff celebrated the successful attack Yamamoto sank into a depressed state. He had never wanted to attack the US while still at peace. He knew this would be taken as a sneak attack and would be responded to harshly and without prejudice.

Hollywood has a way of teaching us history that is not always true and honest. As has been said by various people, “Truth is the first causality of war.”