Chapter 5 Fall of Singapore

Learning Target 1: Why did Japan attack Southeast Asia in 1941 – 1942?​

How it all started?

HITLER (FROM GERMANY) WANTED TO REBUILD GERMANY AFTER LOSING THE FIRST WORLD WAR. SO, HE BUILT A POWERFUL ARMY TO TAKE OVER AND RULE EUROPE​

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​How did japan get involved?

​Ambitious Japan also wanted to be a great power, allied with Germany (formed Axis power). Japan invaded China in 1937 to expand its empire.

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​HOW GERMANY & JAPAN STARTED WORLD WAR 2?

TO STOP HITLER, BRITAIN AND FRANCE DECLARED WAR ON GERMANY.

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THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAD NOT OFFICIALLY JOINED THE WAR YET. INSTEAD, AMERICA STOPPED SELLING OIL TO JAPAN SO JAPAN WOULD STOP ITS INVASION OF CHINA.

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JAPAN REFUSED AND STARTED LOOKING FOR OIL ELSEWHERE​

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​BY 1940 GERMANY HAD TAKEN OVER WESTERN EUROPE AND BRITAIN WAS THE ONLY ONE LEFT TO FIGHT HITLER. JAPAN TURNED TO SOUTHEAST ASIA (Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaya and Indonesia) BECAUSE THE AREAS ARE RICH IN OIL, RUBBER AND TIN (resources Japan needed to continue its war in China).

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Why do you think it was a smart choice for Japan to turn to Southeast Asia at a time when Britain was the only one left to fight Germany?​

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POTENTIAL PROBLEM WHEN INVADING SOUTHEAST ASIA FOR RESOURCES

​America could have stopped Japan from invading Southeast Asia as its fleet were located in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. So, to prevent America from interfering with Japan's plan, on 7 December 1941 Japan bombed Pearl Harbour and killed many Americans, destroying their warships. At the same time Japan started attacking Southeast Asia. Less than 2 months later, Singapore fell to Japan. How could it happen????

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They landed in Southern Thailand, moved into Malaya and finally, attacked Singapore.

World War 2 in Southeast Asia began!​

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It gives Japan control over the vital shipping route of the Straits of Melaka

​Reason 2:

​Reason 1:

​It gives Japan access to the rich natural resources of Southeast Asia e.g., tin and rubber in Malaya, oil in Indonesia

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Conquering an important British port such as Singapore would boost Japan​'s pride.

​Reason 4:

​Singapore made an ideal base for Japanese attacks in Indonesia and Australia.

​Reason 3: