SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE 2 SEPTEMBER 1945

The Japanese surrendered on 2 SEPTEMBER 1945. On 6 AUGUST 1945, United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. On 8 AUGUST 1945, in accordance with the Yalta agreements, but in violation of the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact, the Soviet Union declared war on the Empire of Japan. Later that day, the United States dropped another atomic bomb, this time on the city of Nagasaki. The combined shock of these events caused Emperor Hirohito to intervene and order the Big Six to accept the terms for ending the terms for ending the war that the Allies had set down in the Potsdamn Declaration. Emperor Hirohito gave a recorded radio address to the Empire on 15 August. In the radio adress, called the 'Gyokuon-hoso' he announced the surrender of the Empire of Japan to the Allies. On 28 August 1945, the occupation of Japan by the supreme commander for the Allied Powers begans. The surrender ceremony was held on 2 SEPTEMBER 1945. VICTORY IS OURS!

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_of_Japan   (Date accessed: 14-02-13)

HOW DID THE JAPANESE TREATED US 7 SEPTEMBER 1942

The Japanese were very cruel during the World War Two. The POW were forced to do hard labour and they were not given enough food to eat. The Chinese were forced to donate a 'gift' of $50 million to the Japanese. There were a lot of massacres and tortures. In Syonan-to, we are forced to learn Japanese language. Only Japanese radio programmes are allowed. All were made to sing the Japanese national anthem. Before the Japanese took full control of Singapore, there were a lot of looters who stole whatever they can lay their hands on. To stop looting, the Japanese shot those who were caught, beheaded them and heads were displayed at Dhobby Ghaut. Many experienced hunger during the occupation. Essential foodstuffs like rice, salt and sugar were controlled. Ration cards which limited the amount of food for each person were given out. If a person wanted to get milk powder from the shop, the shopkeeper would say that he had none. If a person was prepared to pay a higher price, the shopkeerper knows where to get it. This was known as 'blackmarket'. The Japanese introduced 'Banana notes' by printing it on paper without any serial number. This means the value dropped. 

Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/10414/japan.html  (Date accessed: 14-02-13)

JAPANESE OCCUPATION 15 FEBRUARY 1942

Singapore was renamed to 'SYONAN-TO' after  British surrendered to Japan. This Japanese occupation lasted for 3 years and eight months. It was the most horrifying nightmare ever. People suffered and lived in fear of the Japanese. The first thing that the Japanese did was to imprison all the Europeans found all over Singapore. They become Prisoners of War (POW). The POW were kept in various prison camps such as Changi Prison, Selarang Barracks, Sime Road Camp and etc. Life was hard for the POW. Some were sent to Thailand where they were made to construct a railroad. It was dangerous to work on the railroad as the men were given simple tools to cut through rocks. They were made to work long hours and were not given enough food to eat. The railroad was estimated to complete in 5 years. But the POW worked so hard that it was completed in 16 months. The whole project cost the lives of thousands of people who worked on it and it was know as the Death Railway. Those who remained in Singapore in prison camps also suffered a great deal. They were made to clean up the city, bury dead bodies and restore water and electricity supplies. There was a shortage of food. Due to poor health conditions in the prisons, many POW's fell ill and died.
Sources:http://library.thinkquest.org/10414/japan.html                                                  (Date accessed: 14-02-13)                                                                                         

BRITISH SURRENDERED 16 FEBRUARY 1942

The British surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army due to the shortage of food and ammunition on 16 FEBRUARY 1942. The British delegation arrived at the Ford Factory building because Yamashita demanded specifically to see Percival. after 4pm which was led by Percival together with Brigadier T. K. Newbigging, carrying the Union Jack flag and Captain Cyril Wild carrying the white surrender flag, and Lieutenat-Colonel Sugita. The meeting took place in the boardroom where Yamashita demanded from the British to unconditional surrender of Singapore. The British were under heavy-pressure from Yamashita. The British eventually broke down during negotiation. Percival on behalf of the British capitulated and signed the Singapore Surrender Document. 

Sources: http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_525_2005-01-25.html    (Date accessed: 14-02-13)

HOW DID THE JAPANESE WON? 8 DECEMBER 1942

The Japanese won because the British's defence on Singapore was poor and they underestimated the Japanese soldiers. The Japanese was very smart at planning on how to invade Singapore and they have more better weapons. They send spy to Singapore before the World War Two started, so that they know which areas to attack. When the Japanese came, they easily invaded Singapore in a couple of weeks only and Japan won. 

Sources: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_could_Japan_have_won_World_War_2    (Date accessed: 14-02-13)

BATTLE BEGINS! 8 DECEMBER 1941

AIR COVER was provided by only ten Hawker Hurricane fighters of RAF No. 232 Squadron based at Kallang Airfield. This was because Tengah, Seletar and Sembawang were in range of Japanese artillery at Johor Bahru. The shooting went on until Kallang Airfield was so pitted with bomb craters that it was no longer usable.

JAPANESE BREAKTHROUGH. The British tried many other ways to attack the Japanese with the weapons but it was no use.

ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL MASSACRE. On 14 February, the Japanese soldiers advanced towards Alexandra Barracks Hospital. A British lieutenant acting as an envoy with a white flag approached the Japanese forces but staff. The next day about 200 male staff members and patients who had been assembled and bounded the previous day were walking wound, were ordered to walk about 400m to an idustrial area. Anyone who fell on the way was bayoneted. The men were forced into a series of small, badly ventilated rooms and were imprisoned overnight without water. Some died during the night as a result of their treatment. The remainder were bayoneted the following morning.

FALL OF SINGAPORE. On 15 February 1942, the Japanese had broken through the last line of defence and the Allies were running out of food and ammunition. The anti-aircraft guns had also run out of ammunition and were unable to repel any further Japanese air attacks which threatened to cause heavy casualities in the city which causes chaos. The British and the Japanese were to signed a agreement and the Japanese Raising Sun Flag be hoisted over the tallest building in Singapore.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Singapore   (Date accessed: 14-02-13)

PRESENCE OF JAPANESE 8 DECEMBER 1941

The British made a mistake. They expected the Japanese to enter Singapore by the sea. They stationed big guns near the sea to shoot the enemies’ ships. The British also did not put up a very strong defence in the northern part of Singapore. They felt that the jungles of Johor were too thick for the Japanese to cut through. However, the Japanese did the exact opposite by entering and invading through the jungle. The outdated British warplanes are no match with the Japanese modern 'Zero' fighters. To prevent the Japanese from using the Singapore Naval Base, the British destroyed the area themselves. The British were crippled both by air and sea. They have no strong defence to fight against the Japanse. General Yamashita set up his headquarters at the Sultan's palace in Johor. The palace had tall tower which can give the Japanese a good view of nothern Singapore. To confuse the British, the Japanese deliberately bombed Changi and Pulau Ubin heavily. Their aim was to make the British shift their defence supplies like petrol and explosives stuffs to the northeast of Singapore so that the northwest would be weak in defence and the Japanese could invade from that direction easily. 

Sources: http://library.thinkquest.org/12405/15.htm   (Date accessed: 14-02-13)