1.

WHY and HOW did Japan invade

MALAYA and SINGAPORE?
o WHY? (Singapore):
• British Naval base in Asia located in Singapore
• Trading port
 HOW? (Singapore):
 Japanese troops enter northwestern coastline
 Using ‘bicycle blitzkrieg’
 Went to Johor straits and captured Bukit Timah heights
o WHY? (Malaya):
• Natural resources
 60% of world rubber
 40% of world tin
 HOW? (Malaya):
 Japanese launched amphibious assaults on northern coast of Malaya
 Advanced down the eastern coast of Malaya
‘bicycle blitzkrieg’

British naval base in Sing

apore
 2. WHEN did Japan start the invasion?

o Start:
• 8 December, 1941 (entered Malaya)
• 8 February, 1942 (entered Singapore)
 End:
 15 February, 1942 (Singapore surrendered)
 2 September, 1945 (Japanese left/ WW2 ended)
 3. WHY did Japan surrender?
o Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
 Emperor Hirohito set aside traditional imperial non-
intervention in political support and support for acceptance of
the terms of the Potsdam Declaration on August 10
Bombing of Nagasaki

Aftermath of bombing in Hiroshima

4. WHAT did Japan do to Malaya before they
left?
o Destroyed infrastructure in Malaya.
• Caused Malaya’s economy to drop.