Among the many mistakes Herr Hitler made, this one had to be one of his worst. After the attack on Pearl Harbor he should have said something like: “The people of the great German Nation proudly stand in support of our courageous Japanese ally. We will do all we can to make sure justice prevails in the Pacific.” But he should have stopped short of declaring war.
Among the many mistakes Herr Hitler made, this one had to be one of his worst. [declaring war on the US]
—
I agree.
But I think his other biggest mistake — tied for #1 with the declaration of war against US — was not listening to Rommel after France.
Rommel basically said: your next move should be the Suez and beyond. Let’s make the Mediterranean a German Lake and let’s ensure a supply of oil. But I’m going to need major military resources.
Instead, Hitler scrimped on resources for Rommel, wrecked his Luftwaffe over Britain, destroyed his armies in Russia and proved to the world what the German General Staff always knew: he was just a hot-headed corporal who made some early bold moves against temporarily weak-minded enemies.