DEFEAT OF BRITISH IN

MALAYA
 JAPAN

Rise of Japan as a world

power
Reasons for Japanese
Invasion
Japan’s entry into the War
The importance of Malaya to
the Japanese
Reasons for Japanese
Victory
RISE OF JAPAN AS A WORLD
POWER

Meiji Dynasty
Russo-Japanese War 1904-
05
Japan’s Relations with US
and Britain
Invasion of Manchuria 1931
Full-scale war against China
1937
 REASONS FOR JAPANESE
INVASION

Ambitions of Leaders
Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity
Sphere
Control rich resources of
SEA
Provide land for growing population
Need for raw materials
British and US embargo
Need to get vital resources needed
REASONS FOR JAPANESE
INVASION

Good Opportunity
Britain engaged in war with Europe
Lower priority for defence of the East
Good time to launch an invasion
JAPAN’S ENTRY INTO THE WAR

ATTACK On
Pearl Harbour
PEARL HARBOUR
PEARL HARBOUR
IMPORTANCE OF MALAYA

An important source of tin

and rubber
Malayan Chinese
British Colony
 JAPANESE CONQUEST OF
MALAYA

Reasons for Japanese

victory

Reasons for British

defeat
 JAPANESE VICTORY

Japanese invasion was well planned

Japanese military was well-prepared
Good and experienced commander in
Gen Yamashita
Excellent tactics and co-ordination
Japanese army was superior to the
British forces
Japanese propaganda
Japanese promise to free India from
British rule
JAPANESE ZERO FIGHTER
JAPANESE ZERO FIGHTER
REPULSE & PRINCE OF WALES
REPULSE & PRINCE OF WALES
 BRITISH DEFEAT

• Malaya was not prepared for war

• Inexperienced young soldiers
• Lack of military equipment
• Lack of naval and air defence for troops
• Engaged in war in Europe
• No tanks
• No jungle training
• British complacency
 JAPANESE
INVASION OF

8 Dec 1941
MALAYA
KOTA BAHRU

JITRA

PENANG IPOH
15-16 Dec 41

SLIM RIVER
KUANTAN

MAJOR
KL BATTLES
GEMAS JEMALUANG

KLUANG
MUAR

JOHOR BAHRU / 31 Jan 42

 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

Military governments established

“Syonan-to” and “New Malai”

Malay Consultative Councils were set up.

Sultans remained but held no powers.
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

Military governments established

 Malay was renamed New Malai

 8 provinces; a Malay consultative council in each
province
 Chairman : Japanese Governor
 Vice Chairman : Sultan
 Sultan and members of the council could only
advised the Governor
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

Military governments established

 SULTANS
 Allowed to keep their positions as head of state
 Not given any power to rule
 Only concerned with matters regarding Malay religion
and customs
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Trengganu

restored to Siamese rule
Reward for co-operating with the Japanese

Japanese Military Administration

demanded absolute cooperation

Kempeitai
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

Nipponization of the People

Decline in economy
Shortage of food & other necessities
The issue of paper money and the black
market
Poor public health services
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

Nipponization of the People

Japanese System of Education

Japanese Language “Nippon-go” - primary
schools
National anthem
Japanese customs, traditions and culture
Controlled people through propaganda
Very effective; strong foundation over time
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

Decline in economy
tin and rubber industries declined
import and export market cut off
unemployment

Shortage of food & other necessities

Shortage of imported foodstuff
Japanese food growing campaign
Substitution
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

The issue of paper money and the black

market
Greater supply of money than demand
Became worthless “banana” notes
Creation of a black market

Poor public health services

Hospitals looted for medical supplies by
Japanese
Preventive measures against diseases
neglected
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

THE RACIAL POLICY OF THE JAPANESE

The Chinese
The Europeans and the Eurasians
The Indians
The Malays
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

THE RACIAL POLICY OF THE JAPANESE

The Chinese
Supported China against Japanese since 1937
Malayan Chinese collected large sums of
money to help China
Japanese mistrust of Chinese in Malaya
Fierce Chinese resistance against the Japanese
in Singapore at Bukit Timah
Massacred thousands in Singapore
Kempeitai / Operation Sook Ching
Singapore Under Japanese
Rule
 Japanese soldiers using a
prisoner as a live target to
practise bayonet fighting

A Japanese soldier torturing a

prisoner
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

THE RACIAL POLICY OF THE JAPANESE

The Chinese

Economic importance of Chinese

Allowed to carry on trade and business
Forced to make a gift of $50m to Japan in 1942
Traitors vs resistant fighters
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

THE RACIAL POLICY OF THE JAPANESE

The Europeans and the Eurasians

made POWs; great hardship

Death Railway
Eurasians detained, tortured or killed
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

THE RACIAL POLICY OF THE JAPANESE

The Indians

treated better; confidence and support needed

Japanese promise to free India from British
Indian Independence League and India National
Army
Unsuccessful invasion of India in 1943
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

THE RACIAL POLICY OF THE JAPANESE

The Indians
also suffered
250,000 forced to work at Death railway
100,000 died
grew to hate and distrust the Japanese
joined resistance groups
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

THE RACIAL POLICY OF THE JAPANESE

The Malays

treated less harshly; cooperation and support

needed
directed propaganda at Malays as they were
indigenous and the largest group in Malaya
Told Malays they were rightful owners of Malaya
and would eventually gain independence
Malays grew to hate Japanese - starvation, fear
and suffering
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF
SINGAPORE & MALAYA

RESISTANCE AGAINST THE JAPANESE

MPAJA

Wataniah (Pahang Malays)

Bintang Tiga
Malayan Overseas Self-Defence Army
Force 136
END OF WWII
 END OF WWII

SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE

Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942)

Battle of Midway (Jul 1942)
May 1945 : Germany surrendered
6 and 9 Aug 1945 : Hiroshima and
Nagasaki
15 Aug 1945 : Unconditional Japanese
surrender onboard the Missouri
PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN
LITTLE BOY & FAT MAN
THE A-BOMB
VICTIMS OF THE A-BOMB
VICTIMS OF THE A-BOMB
VICTIMS OF THE A-BOMB
VICTIMS OF THE A-BOMB
JAPANESE SURRENDER
 INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER

We, acting by command of and in behalf of the Emperor

of
Japan, the Japanese Government and the Japanese
Imperial General Headquarters, hereby accept the
provisions set forth in the declaration issued by the
heads of the Governments of the United States, China,
and Great Britain on 26 July 1945 at Potsdam, and
subsequently adhered to by the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics, which four powers are hereafter referred to
as the Allied Powers.

We hereby proclaim the unconditional surrender to

the Allied Powers of the Japanese Imperial General
Headquarters and of all Japanese armed forces and all
armed forces under the Japanese control wherever
situated.
 END OF WWII

SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE

12 Sep 1945
LG Itagaki surrendered to Lord Louis
Mountbatten, Allied Supreme Commander
at the Municipal Building in Singapore
 END OF WWII

EFFECTS OF JAPANESE OCCUPATION

Lawlessness and Violence

Thousands dead
Racial Hostilities
MCP Strengthened
Social and Public Health Services in
Disorder
 END OF WWII

EFFECTS OF JAPANESE OCCUPATION

Economic Problems
British Prestige Lowered
Development of Malay Nationalism