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Position:Home>History> British defeated by japanese in singpapore and malaya?Question: British defeated by japanese in singpapore and malaya!? why were the japanese able to defeat the british in malaya and singapore in feb 1942!.
i need links for this question as i'm suppose to write a 5 paragraph esssay on this, stating how their war tatics differ, their military differences, their stae of mind during the war etc i just need good websites which as the p-e-e- structure( point, evidence, elaboration, ) thANKSWww@QuestionHome@Com Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: British Military presence was never very high, anywhere in the World!. Britain relied on the Royal Navy and on the rapid deployment of mobile units from the Home country and India, but even the latter had to be reinforced by the IV Corps in 1941!. Singapore, on the other hand, was a “naval” stronghold, with all it’s guns facing the sea!. Nobody ever thought of an attack from the North, through neutral Siam (Thailand) and across the Malayan jungle!. With a hitherto unknown amphibious landing, light tanks and mobile (bikes) troops, the Japanese were able to create a “mobile war”, through what had previously been termed impassable terrain!. The latter feats were indeed a surprise and thanks to local air superiority the Indian troops defending Malaya were defeated and the way to Singapore was free!. Nearly 50!.000 Indian Army casualties were suffered in just under 2 months of battle!. The relatively high number of British forces (85!.000) based in Singapore then had to face heavy artillery and an unforeseen tank attack, with very limited RAF Air support (232 Sqd!.)!. Nevertheless the rapid fall of this base was surprising, especially the sinking of RN capital ships by Aircraft!. Basically, we can say that Britain employed a static WW1 strategy against the Japanese, who, after so many years of warring in China, had already developed mobile WW2 tactics!. This was to change completely during the subsequent Burma campaign, where British troops from India successfully stopped and turned the Japanese back, with the employment of mobile units (Chindits) and local air support!. A similar situation developed in Europe, where the German army was mobile, had air superiority and good inter force coordination in 1939-41, but all that turned against them when the allies learned the lesson and struck back!. ps As a marginal note, it's quite true that Churchill underestimated the Japanese numbers (gauged at 50!.000) and their capacity to overwhelm such a well defended stronghold!. pps Notwithstanding my present day sympathy for Japan, you should ask the Chinese just how racist the Japanese were in the vicious and callous killing of unarmed civilians in the '30-40s!. Racism is universal in many countries, but it reached new heights in the raping of South East Asia!. Sources: I fully agree on the sources; wiki can only be a guidline and lead you to the sources!. Even books are critical if they do not quote original sourc es (documents, interviews, papers)!. For a quick reply try book reviews!. My opinion is not based on wiki, but on Historical military sources which I cannot mail you!. Offhand Chris Truman's account is reasonable http://www!.historylearningsite!.co!.uk/fal!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com My history teacher said the reason is that the British are racist, who look down the Japanese as inferior!. They have no idea that Japanese are making better war planes!. The British station out-dated war plane in Malaysia!. The British didn't believe Tanks are useful in Jungle area!. Therefore, the British are not well equip with Tanks or anti-tank weapons!. The Japanese use lots of tanks (300)!. The British believe the Japanese will attack them from the Sea!. But the Japanese attack come from Thailand (Land and Air)!. Wiki have alot of information on these!. http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Battle_of_S!.!.!. Other web site http://www!.historylearningsite!.co!.uk/fal!.!.!. Some people blame it on Churchill http://ourstory!.asia1!.com!.sg/war/headlin!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Be careful, many teachers, including me, do not accept Wikipedia as a source!. There are many WWII book, yes books, you can look through!. You can also use Britannica on-line, which your teacher will accept, to look up the information!. Get used to using the Library!. It won't kill you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com The defenders were not well fortified, generally unprepared for battle and were stunned by the ferocity of the attacker!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |