Video: 'December 11, 1941 US Congress declares War on Germany'

(Thursday, December 11, 1941, 3:00 p.m. in Washington/10:00 p.m. in Berlin) — Nearly eight hours after Germany and Italy, Japan’s Axis partners, declared war on the United States, the U.S. responded in kind today, declaring war on Germany and Italy.

Roosevelt had written a brief note to Congress on the morning of Dec. 11, 1941, asking lawmakers to declare war on Germany and Italy; meeting at noon, the motion passed through both houses without dissent (88–0 in the Senate and 393–0 in the House), although there were some abstentions.

Vice President Henry Wallace arrived at the White House with the declaration, which was signed by Roosevelt at 3:00 p.m. EST.

Germany and Italy had declared war on the United States today, following America’s declaration of war against Japan on Monday in the wake of Sunday’s Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.