The United States finally supported involvement in World War II after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Until that point, the U.S. had maintained a policy of neutrality in the war, providing military and financial aid to the Allied powers but not directly intervening in the conflict. However, the attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in the deaths of over 2,000 Americans and the destruction of much of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, prompting the U.S. to declare war on Japan the following day. Germany and Italy, Japan's allies, subsequently declared war on the U.S., and the U.S. became fully involved in the war effort.