World War II was hard on many living in Singapore. But even after Japan had captured Singapore it was hard, some would say worse. Why do you ask? Read on and find out more.
Some of the key impacts on Singapore's population during the Japanese occupation can be summarized as follows:
Hyperinflation occurs when people distrust a currency and it declines rapidly in value. Because of this people try and use other methods for payment which people value more such as gold or items of higher value. Japan had put into circulation its on currency, called Banana money. Towards the end of the War people could see that Japan was losing and nobody wanted to use their currency in fear of being left with worthless paper. As a result, item prices rose and rose and rose as people refused to accept Banana money. One example of hyperinflation that exists to today is Zimbabwe’s currency. Another example is Germany after World War I.
Lawlessness
Because of the chaos that comes when a city or country surrenders in wartime, their is no order or law so some people try to take advantage of the situation and go on rampage stealing and pillaging. Houses were burned down and supplies stolen making people fearful for their safety. Sometimes people did this out of greed as well. At the beginning of the occupation the Japanese did nothing to stop this lawlessness until 6 men attempted to steal from a Japanese garrison. Now the Japanese were obviously not impressed by this and hunted these men down and beheaded them and stuck their heads in the most popular public places as a warning. After this no one looted again.
The Sook Ching Massacre was perhaps the worst of all the massacres in Singapore (later renamed Syonan-to by the Japanese). The Sook Ching Massacred claimed between 50,000 to 100,000 ethnic Chinese living in Singapore and Malaya. The men were rounded up all around Singapore and taken to deserted beaches and killed systematically. The Kempeitai (Japanese secret military police) hired informers all around the island to help identify who was anti-Japanese. These informers had no risk of being arrested by the Kempeitai and they were well paid. If you saw a Japanese soldier on the street you had to bow to them, if you failed to do so, you would be beaten up and maybe even taken away.
Starvation
Starvation
During the war while the Japanese occupied Singapore food was scarce. People were encouraged to grow their own food. Some people said “it was crazy, people had flower pots hanging out their window and you could the carrot stems.” (Ford Factory Museum Movie)
Bibliography
Changi Chapel
Britain's Greatest Defeat By: Alan Warren
Japan's Greatest Victory Britain's Worst Defeat (from the Japanese Perspective) The Capture of Singapore 1942 By: Colonel Masanobu Tsuji
Old Ford Factory Museum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sook_Ching_massacre
Bibliography
Changi Chapel
Britain's Greatest Defeat By: Alan Warren
Japan's Greatest Victory Britain's Worst Defeat (from the Japanese Perspective) The Capture of Singapore 1942 By: Colonel Masanobu Tsuji
Old Ford Factory Museum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sook_Ching_massacre
