The invasion of Singapore was part of a larger campaign that Japan was fighting. Watch the short clip below to understand some of the reasons why they invaded Singapore.
What the people in Singapore experienced during the Japanese Occupation
What problems the people faced immediately after the Japanese surrender.
“One day, I brought back two hand grenades. I didn’t know they were explosives, I assumed they were toys.” His father yelled at him upon his shocking discovery. Till this day, 82-year-old Maswood remembers vivid details about the Japanese Occupation.
Ethelin Teo avoided being taken as a comfort woman during the Japanese Occupation of Malaya by disguising as a boy. She tells of her harrowing experience during the occupation.
"The rice ration we get from our shop was hardly sufficient for our requirement… We chopped the tapioca into small pieces, combined it with the rice and used it as rice… We all were thin, skinny, sickly… Very hard life. I tell you honestly, not worth living during Japanese time. Better to die than to live."
Listen to the audio clip here:
Chinese males were ordered to report to screening centres for a mass screening or sook ching (肃清). Those who received a stamp were allowed to leave. Read about Sook Ching here.
The locals are depicted celebrating in front of the red sun of Japan's flag.
The teaching of Japanese in schools was made compulsory in 1942. Teachers had to undergo Japanese language instruction and were banned from using the English language in schools.
What was something interesting you learned about people's experience during the Japanese Occupation? Respond at the Padlet under the appropriate shelf and question.
After the Japanese surrender, the British Military Administration (BMA) quickly took over. This was made up of professional soldiers and former European civil servants. However they faced a host of problems.