Syonan years (need to study)

How did the people of Singapore react to the Japanese? (Pre-War) (might not need to study)

Social and club life went on as usual

Food was plentiful

No need for blackouts/curfews, and no one took the Air Raid precautions very seriously, as they thought Singapore was an impregnable fortress

And thought that the Japanese would certainly crumble the moment they came into contact with a first-class Western Power

When did the Japanese start and end its reign of Singapore?

From February 1942 (CNY) to 1945 August

What was put in charge after the surrender of the British?

The Kempeitai was put in charge after the surrender of the British

They used fear to rule Singapore

The slightest offence was punished swiftly and severely

What was carried out in Singapore? xxx campaign

The Propaganda Campaign

Nippon Seishin (Japanese Spirit)

Newspapers, Posters, Education, Radio and Japanese Movies all showed that the Japanese took over Singapore.

what was their aim of doing so?

Influence the minds of the people in Singapore so that they would be loyal to Japan.

Remove Western influence

To show that the Japanese are actually friendly and were winning everywhere.

Explain why was there a severe food shortage

→ Harbour was blocked by sunken ships, and they did not have the equipment to remove them. (hence slow unloading of goods)

→ Entrepot trade was disrupted

→ All available resources were used to support Japan’s other war efforts.

What did the Japanese give Singaporeans during the Japanese Occupation?

Peace Living Certificate (this entitled them to a number of ration cards to purchase essential goods.

Rationed resources (at a kumiai shop)

What was the increase in prices for items in the black market? (examples)

Rice (per kati/0.6kg)

Percentage increase from 1942 → 1945: 15 000%

Per Egg

Percentage increase from 1942 → 1945: 35 000%

Sugar (per kati/0.6kg)

Percentage increase from 1942 → 1945: 14 118%

Why did the prices soar so suddenly?

The Japanese were irresponsible and printed an unlimited supply of Japanese ‘banana notes’ when they needed more money on inferior quality paper with no serial numbers and could be forged easily. This led to a hyperinflation.

What groups were formed during the occupations?

Anti-Japanese Resistance groups were formed, like the

Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army (Malayan Communist Party)

Force 136 (British) - Recapture Malaya and Singapore

Why did they form these groups?

They resented the Japanese rule, so they wanted to fight against them.

What were their aims?

To continue to fight against the Japanese after the surrender of the British

What did they do?

MPAJA

→ carried out guerrilla warfare tactics to fight against the Japanese in the Malaysian jungle.

Marshal sudden attacks on the Japanese Military

Initiated sabotage activities

Acquired information about the Japanese

When did the occupation end?

September 12th, 1945

Why did it end?

Bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima by the USA with bombs like Little Boy and Fat Man on the 6th and 9th of August, 1945. (end of dark days) using The Enola Gay

How did Britain claim Singapore from the Japanese?

Signed the declaration of surrender by Japan on the 12th of September, 1945, at the Municipal Building (city hall)

Signed on behalf of Japan: General Seishiro Itagaki

Accepted on behalf of Britain: Lord Louis Mountbatten

What groups of people did the Japanese target?

European civilians

European soldiers

Chinese

Eurasians

Malays and Indians

How did they torture European civilians, and why?

The interned the British, Australians and Allied European civilians in Changi Prison. They marched them from the Padang to the prison.

They wanted to humiliate the Europeans.

How did they torture European soldiers, and why?

Allied soldiers were forced to march from the Padang to the Selarang Barracks, which was 22 kilometres away.

Many soldiers were also sent to the death railway.

They saw the Allied soldiers as a possible threat and sought to reduce it through imprisoning them.

How did they torture the Chinese, and why?

The Japanese punished them by forcing them to contribute $50 million towards Japan’s war efforts

They carried out Sook Ching

• All Chinese men between 18 to 50 reported to certain centres (YMCA building at Stamford Road and the Central Police Station) to be ‘examined’ by the Japanese

• Those identified as anti-Japanese were executed in Changi and other beaches along the east coast.

• During the Japanese invasion of China in 1937, they met strong resistance from the Chinese.

• Many Chinese contributed funds to the anti-Japanese efforts in China.

• Some returned to China to fight against the Japanese

• To eliminate suspected anti-Japanese elements among the Chinese community.

How did they torture Eurasians, and why?

They were treated harshly, and many were put in prison camps

The Japanese felt that they were a threat since some Eurasians were members of the Singapore volunteer corps and had fought against the Japanese.

Those suspected of helping the British were put to death.

How did they torture the Malays and Indians, and why?

They tried to win the support of the Malays and Indians

Anyone who disobeyed or displeased the Japanese would be punished (some were sent for forced labour at the ‘Death Railway’ camps)

They persuaded the Indians that Japan would free India from the British

They did not regard the Malays as a threat.