Japanese Occupation of Singapore

Japanese-occupied Singapore
Syonanto 昭南島 Shōnantō
Military occupation by the Empire of Japan
1942–1945
National flag Imperial Japanese Army war flag
Britain surrenders Singapore to the Japanese. Lieutenant-General Yamashita (seated, third from the left) faces Lt. Gen. Percival (sitting second from the right, back to camera)
Capital		Singapore
Government		Military occupation
Historical era		World War II
•	Pacific War begins	8 December 1941a
•	Britain surrenders Singapore to Japan	15 February 1942
•	Allied bombing raids	Nov 1944 – May 1945
•	Surrender of Japan	15 August 1945
•	Singapore surrendered to British Military Administration	12 September 1945
•	Singapore becomes a Crown colony	1 April 1946
Currency		Japanese-issued dollar ("Banana money")
Preceded by Succeeded by Straits Settlements British Military Administration (Malaya)
Today part of		Singapore
a.	The Pacific War started on 8 December 1941 in Asian timezones, but is often referred to as starting on 7 December, as that was the date in European and American timezones (such as for the attack on Pearl Harbor in the United States' Territory of Hawaii).

The Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II took place from 1942 to 1945, following the fall of the British colony on 15 February 1942. Military forces of the Empire of Japan occupied it after defeating the combined British, Indian, Australian, and Malayan garrison in the Battle of Singapore. The occupation was to become a major turning point in the histories of several nations, including those of Japan, Britain, and the then-colonial state of Singapore. Singapore was renamed Syonan-to (昭南島, Shōnan-tō^?), meaning "Light of the South".

Singapore was officially returned to British colonial rule on 12 September 1945, following the formal signing of the surrender instrument at the Municipal Building.

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The Japanese captured all of Malaya during the Malayan Campaign in a bit more than two months. The garrison defending Singapore surrendered on 15 February 1942, only a week after the invasion of the island commenced. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called the fall of Singapore "the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history".

The Kempeitai (the Japanese military secret police), committed numerous atrocities against the common people. They introduced the system of "Sook Ching", which means "purge through purification" in Singaporean Mandarin, to get rid of those deemed to be anti-Japanese. The Sook Ching Massacre claimed the lives of between 25,000 and 50,000 ethnic Chinese in Singapore and Malaya. These men were rounded up and taken to deserted spots around the island and killed systematically. Moreover, the Kempeitai established a network of informers around the island to help them identify those who resisted. These informers were well-paid by the Kempeitai and had no fear of being arrested. Japanese soldiers patrolled the streets and commoners had to bow to them when they passed by. Those who failed to do so would be slapped or beaten and some people would be taken away.