What Problems Did the People Face Immediately after the Japanese Surrender? Flashcards
What problems did Japan face after its early dominance in Southeast Asia?
Japan faced an increasing number of defeats by the Allies, particularly in the Battle of Midway, which stalled its advance throughout Southeast Asia.
What significant event occurred on 6 and 9 August 1945?
The Allies dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, resulting in an estimated total death toll of 214,000 and massive damage in both cities.
When did Emperor Hirohito announce Japan’s surrender?
Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender to the Allies on 15 August 1945.
When did the formal surrender of Japan take place?
The formal surrender of Japan took place on 2 September 1945 on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
What happened to Japanese officers and men with news of the impending surrender?
More than 300 Japanese officers and men killed themselves at Raffles Hotel after a farewell party in August 1945.
What actions did some Japanese soldiers take after the surrender?
Some Japanese soldiers escaped to Indonesia to fight alongside Indonesian pro-independence forces against the returning British administration.
What happened to Japanese troops in Singapore after the surrender?
Japanese troops retreated to a prison camp in Jurong with their belongings, leaving only a few officers to hand over to the incoming British administration.
What happened to the Japanese upon their surrender?
The Japanese were stripped of their swords and ranks as they approached City Hall, where huge crowds jeered at them.
How were the returning British troops received in Singapore?
The returning British were welcomed with cheers by the crowds.
What actions did the MPAJA take after the war?
The MPAJA took revenge on those who had actively collaborated with the Japanese, including informants and police.
Who were the pro-Japanese collaborators that faced revenge?
The collaborators included Chinese informants and Malays who served as police for the Japanese.
What long-term effects did the treatment of different groups by the Japanese have?
The different ways in which the Japanese treated various groups caused ill feelings for a long time.
What actions did the guerrillas take against pro-Japanese collaborators according to Source 4?
The guerrillas hunted down and killed informers and police detectives who had collaborated with the Japanese.
What did Soh Guan Bee witness after the Japanese surrender?
Soh Guan Bee witnessed many dead bodies floating in the Rochor River and Canal after the Japanese surrender.
What event did Admiral Mountbatten announce on 12 September 1945?
The Japanese surrender at City Hall.
What actions did the MPAJA take after the war?
They took revenge on those who had actively collaborated with the Japanese.
Who were the collaborators targeted by the MPAJA?
Chinese informants and Malays who served as police for the Japanese.
What long-term effect did the Japanese treatment of various groups have?
It caused ill feelings for a long time to come.
What did the guerrillas do to pro-Japanese collaborators according to Source 4?
They hunted down and killed informers and police detectives.
What did Soh Guan Bee witness after the Japanese surrender?
He saw dead people floating in the Rochor River and Rochor Canal.
What was the role of the British Military Administration (BMA) after WWII?
The BMA aimed to maintain law and order and assist with reconstruction in the immediate post-war years.
What were some challenges faced by Singapore after WWII?
Singapore faced food and water shortages, and the railway system was not functioning properly.
What caused the food shortages in Singapore after the war?
Food shortages were due to wartime and post-war disruptions in production and shipping, particularly affecting rice supply.
How did the BMA address food shortages?
The BMA cleared the harbour for ship access, controlled prices of essential supplies, and provided free meals for children under six.
What significant change did the BMA make regarding currency on 7 September 1945?
The BMA declared that banana notes were no longer the official currency of Singapore.
What assistance did the BMA provide to locals during economic difficulties?
The BMA issued special grants to locals, although these were often insufficient for large families.
How did the war affect education in Singapore?
The war disrupted schooling, leading to the BMA reopening schools quickly in October 1945 for children of schooling age.
What measures did the BMA take to support education for needy families?
The BMA provided grants and waived school fees for children from needy families.
How many students were enrolled in schools by March 1946?
By March 1946, 62,000 students were enrolled in schools.
What was the purpose of the ‘Delay Your Spending’ postmark used during the BMA period?
The postmark encouraged people to remain prudent as food rationing continued.
What problems did schools face after the British returned?
Schools were in a mess with shortages of materials, destroyed textbooks, and lack of proper blackboards.
How did the Department of Education address the problems in schools?
They formed a small department to produce emergency teaching materials in pamphlet form and distributed them to students.
What was the public expectation upon the British return?
People expected their lives to improve.
What was the reality of the situation after the British return?
Improvements did not happen immediately, leading to growing discontent among the local population.
What social issues arose due to the post-war problems?
Growing discontent sparked social disturbances in the 1950s and a desire for freedom from British rule.
