the battle of hong kong december 8-24, 1941. japan in wwi during wwi, japan was allied with the...
DESCRIPTION
Imperial Japan The prosperity brought on by World War I did not last Internal political turmoil and economic crisis in the 1920s and 1930s contributed to the rise of Japanese ultra-nationalism and militarism In 1931 Japan invaded Manchuria and withdrew from the League of Nations, which condemned the act International isolation fed ultra-nationalism. Mayors, teachers and Shinto priests were recruited by ultra-nationalist movements to indoctrinate citizensTRANSCRIPT
The Battle of Hong Kong
December 8-24, 1941
Japan in WWI• During WWI, Japan was allied with the Entente Powers
(our side) • Japan played an important role in securing sea lanes in the
South Pacific and Indian Oceans against the German Navy• Through its participation in the War Japan sought to
expand its sphere of influence and regain its position as a great power
• Japan participated in the Versailles negotiations and gained a permanent seat on the Council of the league of Nations
• Japan re-emerged as a great power in international politics
Imperial Japan
• The prosperity brought on by World War I did not last• Internal political turmoil and economic crisis in the
1920s and 1930s contributed to the rise of Japanese ultra-nationalism and militarism
• In 1931 Japan invaded Manchuria and withdrew from the League of Nations, which condemned the act
• International isolation fed ultra-nationalism. • Mayors, teachers and Shinto priests were recruited by
ultra-nationalist movements to indoctrinate citizens
Japanese Aggression• In July 1937 Japan invaded China. • The offensive developed into a full scale war, and Japan
enjoyed military superiority over China and the army advanced quickly
• By December, the Japanese had defeated Chinese forces at Shanghai and seized Nanking.
• There Japanese troops committed the greatest atrocity of an incredibly brutal war– During the ‘Rape of Nanking’, an estimated 300,000
civilians were slaughtered.• By 1939, the war was in stalemate; Chinese Communist and
Nationalist forces continued to resist
Japanese Imperialism
• 1904: Japan occupies Korea• 1931: Japan occupies Manchuria• 1937: The “Rape” of Nanking• 1940: French Indo-China occupied• September: Japan signs the Tri-Partite Pact
with Germany and Italy– Remains neutral (in the short term)
Japan Enters WWII
• In 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite Pact, creating the Rome-Tokyo-Berlin Axis
• In July, 1941, the US President Roosevelt announced an oil embargo on Japan– Japan relied heavily on oil imported from the US
• For Japan, the move was the perfect pretext for war, unleashed on Dec 7th, 1941 with the Pearl Harbour attack– This brought the US into WWII
• Japan attacks Hong Kong Dec 8th, 1941
Let’s Think…
1. What does Japan have in common with Germany and Italy in the 1930s?
2. Was bringing the US into the War a wise move for the Axis Powers?
i. Why?
3. Was it possible for Japan defeat the US?i. Why?
The Battle of Hong Kong• After the Japanese attacked Pearl
Harbour, they attacked Hong Kong (A British Colony)
• Many knew that Hong Kong was impossible to defend.
• More than 1,900 Canadians volunteered to defend Hong Kong. They were considered to be “Lambs to the Slaughter”
• More than 550 Canadians were killed. The rest were taken prisoner by the Japanese.
The Canadians defend Hong Kong in 1941
Hong Kong
• British Colony
• Population 1941: 1.5 million
• Colony 410 sq. miles
• Island 29 sq. miles
The British Problem• The British army is overstretched
– Defence of UK– Middle East– India– Malaya/Singapore
• What to do with Hong Kong?• August 1940: British Chiefs of Staff “
– “Hold as long as possible” but recognized that, if war came, Hong Kong could not be reinforced or relieved.
– Churchill January, 1941:“This is all wrong. If Japan goes to war with us there is not the slightest chance of holding Hong Kong or relieving it.”
Canadian Involvement
• September 19, 1941: The British formally request Canadian aid in the defense of Hong Kong
• September 27, 1941: The Canadians approve the request– “anything which would either defer or deter Japan
from coming in [to the war] would be highly desirable from our point of view.”
– J.L. Ralston, Minister of National Defence
Who to Send?
• Royal Rifles of Canada--mobilized July 8th , 1940--garrisoned in Newfoundland
• Winnipeg Grenadiers--mobilized Sept 1st, 1940--garrisoned in Jamaica– Basic training (16 weeks)
– just 6% had less
– Weapons training (incomplete due to shortages)– Company level training incomplete– Battalion level training incomplete
The Battle Chronology
• 7 December: Japanese 38th Division attacks from the north
• 9 December: The “Gin Drinkers Line” is broken• 15 December: The Japanese cross to Hong
Kong Island• 20 December: The island is divided• 25 December: The Garrison surrenders
Summary• Canadian soldiers first engaged in battle while defending the
British Crown Colony of Hong Kong against a Japanese attack in December, 1941.
• The Canadians at Hong Kong fought against overwhelming odds and most had limited military training.
• They had virtually no chance of victory, but refused to surrender until they were overrun by the enemy.
• Those who survived the battle became prisoners of war (POWs) and many endured torture and starvation by their Japanese captors.• Prisoners would often work 12 hours a day in mines or on the
docks in the cold, subsisting on rations of 800 calories a day.• Many did not survive.
• In all, more than 550 of the 1,975 Canadians who sailed from Vancouver in October 1941 never returned.
The Final Canadian Tally
• Dead 23 officers/267 other ranks• Wounded 28 officers/465 other ranks• Died in captivity: 4 officers/124 other ranks– 4 shot
• Diphtheria, 1942: 50 dead• 136 died during forced labour in Japan• Of 1975 Canadians who left Canada in October
1941, 557 never returned
