Singapore during Japanese Occupation (15 February 1942 to 12 September 1945)

The fall of Singapore marked the beginning of a brief but tumultuous chapter of Singapore’s history. Singapore was renamed ‘Syonan-to’ which meant ‘the Light of the South’ or ‘the Radiant South’.

Following the British surrender, the Japanese military police, Kempetai, were sent to restore order in Singapore.

When the Japanese military took control of the island, they had plans to deal with the Allied troops and the people of Singapore. The Japanese interned the British, Australians and Allied Europeans in Singapore, including women and children. Allied soldiers were forced to march from the Padang to Selarang Barracks, which was 22 kilometers away. European civilians were marched to Katong first before going to Changi Prison.

 

Changi Prison (1942)

 Japanese troops marching into Raffles Place after the British surrender on 16 February 1942

 

The Japanese used fear to rule Singapore. The cruelty of the Kempetai kept all of us in a constant state of anxiety and fear.

At the slightest offence, punishment was swift and severe. Many anti-Japanese suspects were subjected to terrible torture or decapitation at the Kempetai centre.

The Eurasians were treated harshly because the Japanese felt they were a threat to them. Some Eurasians were members of the Singapore Volunteer Corps and had fought against the Japanese. Many were put in prison camps. Those suspected of helping the British were put to death.

The Japanese did not regard the Malays and Indians as a threat to their rule. They tried to win the support of the Malays and convince them that Japan would free them from British rule. They also persuaded the Indians that Japan would help  free India from the British. However, these two races were disobeyed or displeased the Japanese would still be punished. Some Malays were also drafted for forced labour at the ‘Death Railway’ camps.

Many Chinese became victims of Japanese atrocities. The Japanese perceived the Chinese as a threat to their rule. This was because when Japan invaded China in 1937, they met with strong Chinese resistance, including those from outside of China. Before the outbreak of war, the Chinese community in Singapore led by tycoon Tan Kah Kee, called for a boycott of Japanese goods and contributed funds to that anti-Japanese war effort in China. Some even returned to China to join in the fight against the Japanese.

Citation:
Books:
1. Curriculum Planning & Development Division MOE, Singapore. (2012). Singapore From Settlement To Nation Pre-1819 To 1971 (2nd Edition). Singapore. Marshall Cavendish Education.

 

Website:
1. http://sgfilmhunter.wordpress.com/tag/changi-prison-courtyar 

2. http://bukitbrown.com/main/?cat=84&paged=2