Fall Of Singapore World War 2
Today I will be talking to you about the impact of the fall of Singapore on World War 2 and how I believe; Australia’s faith in the ability of the British to defend Singapore was flawed, prompting a change in our foreign relations.
February 15th 1942; the day Singapore fell to the Japanese; the largest surrender of a British-led force and as described by British prime minister at the time, Sir Winston Churchill “the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history,"
Until December 1941, the Second World War was mainly fought by European powers and soldiers from their respective empires. However, the entrance of Japan into the war changed the situation significantly. Singapore was a British colony and a key naval base at the time. …show more content…
The fall of Singapore led to the capture of more Australian Prisoners of War than any other campaign in history. More than 100 000 troops became prisoners of war, including about 15 000 Australians. 9000 of these men died building the Burma-Thailand Railway as prisoners.
By the end of the war some 8000 Australian prisoners of the Japanese had died in captivity.
The British surrendered to the Japanese on 15th February 1942 and the fighting ceased across the Malayan front at 2200 hours local time and the news soon spread all across Australia. Newspapers released reports on the fall of Singapore the next day informing the Australian public of the current situation.
This approach was the opposite 4 days later when the Japanese bombed Darwin.
As Singapore fell, World War 2 was brought closer to Australia. The inadequate defence of Singapore proved to the Australian government that Britain no longer provided Australia with the defence they needed and realised that being a dominion of Britain did not automatically bring about protection.
After Malaya and Singapore became occupied by the Japanese, the Australian prime minister announced plans to turn to America for
February 15th 1942; the day Singapore fell to the Japanese; the largest surrender of a British-led force and as described by British prime minister at the time, Sir Winston Churchill “the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history,"
Until December 1941, the Second World War was mainly fought by European powers and soldiers from their respective empires. However, the entrance of Japan into the war changed the situation significantly. Singapore was a British colony and a key naval base at the time. …show more content…
The fall of Singapore led to the capture of more Australian Prisoners of War than any other campaign in history. More than 100 000 troops became prisoners of war, including about 15 000 Australians. 9000 of these men died building the Burma-Thailand Railway as prisoners.
By the end of the war some 8000 Australian prisoners of the Japanese had died in captivity.
The British surrendered to the Japanese on 15th February 1942 and the fighting ceased across the Malayan front at 2200 hours local time and the news soon spread all across Australia. Newspapers released reports on the fall of Singapore the next day informing the Australian public of the current situation.
This approach was the opposite 4 days later when the Japanese bombed Darwin.
As Singapore fell, World War 2 was brought closer to Australia. The inadequate defence of Singapore proved to the Australian government that Britain no longer provided Australia with the defence they needed and realised that being a dominion of Britain did not automatically bring about protection.
After Malaya and Singapore became occupied by the Japanese, the Australian prime minister announced plans to turn to America for