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Battle of Singapore: Japan vs British - Animated History

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As a history teacher in Singapore, I find it crucial to share that by late 1941, tensions were rising in Southeast Asia. Japan had already occupied parts of China and was expanding southward. British forces in Singapore, often called the 'Gibraltar of the East,' were preparing for possible attacks.

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Just hours after Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces began their assault on British Malaya. The first Japanese air raids on Singapore occurred at 4:15 AM. Many of my students' grandparents still remember the shock of hearing those first air raid sirens.

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The First Battle In The Pacific - The Invasion of Malaya 1941 Animated

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By 31 January 1942, British forces had retreated to Singapore. The Japanese had advanced through Malaya with shocking speed. On 8 February, Japanese troops crossed the Johor Strait. Our supposedly impregnable fortress was now under direct attack.

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In what Churchill called the 'worst disaster' in British military history, Lt-Gen Arthur Percival surrendered Singapore to General Yamashita at the Ford Factory in Bukit Timah. This surrender marked the beginning of the Japanese Occupation, known locally as 'Syonan-to' period.

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The Fall of Singapore 1942 Animated - The Largest Surrender in British History

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As we teach our students today, life during the occupation was extremely difficult. Food was scarce, and people had to grow tapioca and sweet potatoes for survival. The Japanese military currency, 'banana notes,' became increasingly worthless due to inflation.

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I always share with my students the powerful testimonies from our National Archives. Many survivors recall the frequent screenings (sook ching), where Chinese males were checked and many never returned. These personal accounts help us understand the true impact of the occupation.

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How Is Singapore’s Collection of Oral Histories Preserved? | The Library Report #44

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Following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, Japan announced its surrender on 15 August. This marked the beginning of the end of Singapore's occupation.

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Operation Tiderace - Singapore's Liberation

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Operation Tiderace - Singapore's Liberation

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On 12 September 1945, British forces returned to Singapore in Operation Tiderace. The formal surrender ceremony took place at the Municipal Building. Singapore was finally free after three and a half years of occupation.

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Surrendering Singapore: A British Inspired Disaster?

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As a teacher, I believe it's crucial that we remember these events. The Former Ford Factory, now a museum, and the Civilian War Memorial serve as important reminders of this period. We must ensure these lessons of history are never forgotten.

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How the war shaped me: Remembering the fall of Singapore, 80 years on

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Yap Chwee Lan saved countless lives in her attic during WWII | THE LAST SURVIVORS

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The Lives They Live: Surviving the Japanese Occupation

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Eyewitness to the first major attack of WWII

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Eyewitness to the first major attack of WWII

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Pak Omar witnessed Japan's first major attack of WWII | THE LAST SURVIVORS