the japanese occupation of malaya

DEFEAT OF BRITISH IN MALAYA

Rise of Japan as a world power

Reasons for Japanese Invasion Japan’s entry into the War The importance of Malaya to

the JapaneseReasons for Japanese Victory

JAPAN

Meiji Dynasty Russo-Japanese War 1904-

05 Japan’s Relations with US

and Britain Invasion of Manchuria 1931

Full-scale war against China 1937

RISE OF JAPAN AS A WORLD RISE OF JAPAN AS A WORLD POWERPOWER

Ambitions of Leaders Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

Control rich resources of SEAProvide land for growing population

Need for raw materialsBritish and US embargo

Need to get vital resources needed in production of war supplies

REASONS FOR JAPANESE REASONS FOR JAPANESE INVASIONINVASION

Good Opportunity Britain engaged in war with Europe

Lower priority for defence of the East

Good time to launch an invasion

REASONS FOR JAPANESE REASONS FOR JAPANESE INVASIONINVASION

ATTACK On Pearl Harbour

JAPAN’S ENTRY INTO THE WARJAPAN’S ENTRY INTO THE WAR

PEARL HARBOUR

An important source of tin An important source of tin and and rubberrubber

Malayan ChineseMalayan Chinese

British ColonyBritish Colony

IMPORTANCE OF MALAYA

Reasons for Japanese victory

Reasons for British defeat

JAPANESE CONQUEST OF MALAYA

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 VICTORY

JAPANESE ZERO FIGHTER

REPULSE & PRINCE OF WALES

• 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

BRITISH DEFEAT

KUANTAN

JEMALUANG

JOHOR BAHRU / 31 Jan 42

IPOH

KLKL

SLIM RIVER

PENANG

15-16 Dec 41

MUAR

GEMAS

KLUANG

MAJOR BATTLES

JITRA

8 Dec 1941

KOTA BAHRU

JAPANESE

INVASION OF

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


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



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


Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Trengganu restored to Siamese rule Reward for co-operating with the Japanese

Japanese Military Administration demanded absolute cooperation

Kempeitai


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


Nipponization of the People 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


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

Shortage of food & other necessitiesShortage of food & other necessities Shortage of imported foodstuff Japanese food growing campaign Substitution


The issue of paper money and the black The issue of paper money and the black marketmarket Greater supply of money than demand Became worthless “banana” notes Creation of a black market

Poor public health servicesPoor public health services Hospitals looted for medical supplies by

Japanese Preventive measures against diseases neglected


THE RACIAL POLICY OF THE JAPANESETHE RACIAL POLICY OF THE JAPANESE

The Chinese

The Europeans and the Eurasians

The Indians

The Malays



The ChineseThe 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 Singapore Under Japanese RuleRule

Japanese soldiers using a prisoner as a live target to practise bayonet fighting

A Japanese soldier torturing a prisoner


The ChineseThe 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



The Europeans and the EurasiansThe Europeans and the Eurasians

made POWs; great hardship

Death Railway

Eurasians detained, tortured or killed



The IndiansThe 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



The IndiansThe Indians also suffered

250,000 forced to work at Death railway

100,000 died

grew to hate and distrust the Japanese

joined resistance groups



The MalaysThe 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


RESISTANCE AGAINST THE JAPANESERESISTANCE AGAINST THE JAPANESE

MPAJAMPAJA

Wataniah (Pahang Malays)Wataniah (Pahang Malays)

Bintang TigaBintang Tiga

Malayan Overseas Self-Defence ArmyMalayan Overseas Self-Defence Army

Force 136Force 136


END OF WWII

SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE

Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942)Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942)

Battle of Midway (Jul 1942)Battle of Midway (Jul 1942)

May 1945 : Germany surrenderedMay 1945 : Germany surrendered

6 and 9 Aug 1945 : Hiroshima and Nagasaki6 and 9 Aug 1945 : Hiroshima and Nagasaki

15 Aug 1945 : Unconditional Japanese 15 Aug 1945 : Unconditional Japanese

surrender onboard the surrender onboard the MissouriMissouri

END OF WWII

PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN

LITTLE BOY & FAT MAN

THE A-BOMBTHE A-BOMB

VICTIMS OF THE A-BOMBVICTIMS OF THE A-BOMB

JAPANESE SURRENDER

INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER

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

SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE

12 Sep 194512 Sep 1945

LG Itagaki surrendered to Lord Louis LG Itagaki surrendered to Lord Louis

Mountbatten, Allied Supreme Commander Mountbatten, Allied Supreme Commander

at the Municipal Building in Singaporeat the Municipal Building in Singapore

END OF WWII

EFFECTS OF JAPANESE OCCUPATION

Lawlessness and ViolenceLawlessness and Violence

Thousands deadThousands dead

Racial HostilitiesRacial Hostilities

MCP StrengthenedMCP Strengthened

Social and Public Health Services in Social and Public Health Services in

DisorderDisorder

END OF WWII

EFFECTS OF JAPANESE OCCUPATION

Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems

British Prestige LoweredBritish Prestige Lowered

Development of Malay NationalismDevelopment of Malay Nationalism

END OF WWII

the japanese occupation of malaya

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