DVD Bora Bora Souvenir

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On December 7th 1941, the Japanese Navy bombarded Pearl Harbor. A large part of the American fleet was destroyed. Like a giant shock wave, the effect of the Japanese attack created repercussions throughout the world. Finally, the Americans felt themselves concerned by the conflict that had struck Europe. To stop the Japanese advance in the South Pacific, the Americans needed to establish a rear echelon base as a supply point for their fleet. This base needed to provide an operating radius of 2,700 miles. French Polynesia was ideally situated. With its single passage through the reef and its immense protected lagoon, Bora Bora offered perfect conditions for it. What's more, among the French overseas territories, Tahiti was among the first to support the Free French Forces of General de Gaulle, from early 1940. Therefore, there was no local opposition to the establishing of this American base in Bora Bora. In February, 1942, an agreement was signed between the United States of America and the Free French Forces aboard the American cruiser "Trenton". Operation Bobcat became a reality. An American wave, a tidal wave in the eyes of some, swept over Bora Bora as 5,000 G.I.s landed on the island to build the American base on what they quickly baptised, "The Pearl of the Pacific". As it happened, no shots were fired at any Japanese by any member of the Bora Bora garrison. The war here appeared to be nothing more than a friendly co-existing relationship between the local population and the American forces, so friendly that, in 1946, 175 G. I. babies were counted on the island.