Chapter 6

Chapter 6

1. Efforts made by the British to defend Singapore

   • Construction of Naval Base in 1938
   • "Main Fleet to Singapore" Strategy
   • 15-inch guns were installed facing the sea
   • Military Airfields were built in Tengah & Sembawang
   • Underground bunkers were built
   • Battleships & troops were sent to Singapore in 1941

2. Why did the British lose the war

   • British priority to the war in Europe
     • financially drained
   • British were complacent
     • Underestimated the Japanese Airforce, Army & Navy
     • Thought Singapore was protected from the North
   • Poor Leadership
     • Did not follow Percival's order to counter attack
   • Inferior Equipment
     • Planes were old and outdated

3. Why did the Japanese win the war

   • Japanese were well-prepared
     • They have intelligence services set up in Malaya & Singapore
       • Provide information on British defence & readiness before the war
       • Better plan how to attack Singapore
   • Superiority in Battle Strategy, Armed Forces & Leadership
     • Better trained in jungle warfare
     • Modern Airforce and Naval Fleet
     • used bicycles to move swifty down Malaya
     • Managed to convince the British to surrender despite being outnumbered

4. What were the reactions of the people towards the Japanese attacks

   • Did not believe that the British would be defeated by the Japanese

5. What happened to Singapore during the Japanese Occupation

   • Singapore was renamed 'Syonan-to'
   • The Japanese Military Police, Kempeitai, were sent to restore order in Singapore

6. What happened to the people in Singapore

   • Europeans
     • British, Australians and Allied Europeans became prisoners-of-war
     • Allied soldiers were forced to march from Padang to Selarang Barracks
     • European civilians were marched to Katong before going to Changi Prison
   • Eurasians
     • Threat to Japanese
     • treated harshly
     • Put in prison camps
     • those suspected of helping the British were killed
   • Indians & Malays
     • Not regarded as a threat
     • convinced them that they would be freed from the British
     • Killed if they displeased the Japanese
     • Death Railway Camps
   • Chinese
     • Sook Ching
     • Forced to collect 50 million for Japan War effort

7. How were the lives of people affected

   • Exposed to Propaganda
   • Lived in Fear & Anxiety
   • Severe food shortages
   • Soaring prices

8. How was propaganda used

   • to remove western influence
     • morning assembly
     • mass drills
     • teachers & students must learn Japanese
   • use of media
     • Radio stations were controlled by the Japanese
     • Only Japanese movies & propaganda films are shown

9. How was fear used to rule the people

   • Punishment was swift and severe
   • Many anti- Japanese suspects were tortures

10. Problem of food shortage

    • food rationing
    • malnutrition & diseases
    • Essential foodstuffs were sold at high prices

11. Post war problems and actions taken by the British

    • shortage of food, water & electricity
    • lack of housing (overcrowding & unhygienic living conditions)
    • lack of health services
    • umemployment
    • British Military Admission
    • Japanese POWs were made to restore electricity, gas & other essential services; repair water mains
    • Food Shortage
      • habour was cleared of shipwreck & mines
      • Docks were repaired
      • new warehouses were built
      • amount of food given is rationed
      • opened people's restaurants that sell food at a reasonable price
    • Housing problems
      • Law on rent
      • construction of flats