How does something like this even happen?
>>387628
The IJN, unlike the IJA had more than two brain-cells to rub together
>>387628
This occurred at the height of the Japanese empire and at the lowest point in the British empire. Japan had conquered most of east Asia by thing point including the Philippines. Britain on the other hand was effectively surrounded and without and immediate ally. There was very little British victories at this point in the war which they had fought generally alone up until now. British asia was blocked off from the mainland and isolated. This is not very good for moral
>>387628
British command in Malaya was rotten to the core. if they knew what they were in for things might have panned out differently, that faggot Heenan should have seen the way things might have blown being in Japan so late, but the stupid cunt spied for the Japs seemingly for kicks.
>>387628
1) All of the British Empires resources were sent to Europe to fight Hitler and Mussolini. This battle coincides with Rommel's victories in North Africa. The British leadership had more or less only suffered defeats against Germany up to this point and were genuinky scared that a North African defeat would force them to surrender.
2) The british fortress was not protected to the north. Essentially, it was built as a way to protect sealanes. Everyone knew this, but the british did not do anything about it and up until only a week or so before the attack, felt generally "secure" in Singapore. (See: utter incompetence)
3) The japanese had recently gained control of the seas after attacking FORCE Z. Singapore had few supplies and could not withstand a siege.
>>387628
Multiple instances of Japanese pushing through "Impassable" jungle and bypassing and then surrounding British forces in Malaya.
By the time they got to Singapore, most of the troops there were pocket escapees, low on morale, low on equipment, and for all practical purposes beaten.
>>387722
This was right after Crusader, when it appeared Rommel was finished. And no, "All of the British Empires resources" weren't sent to North Africa. You had more troops in Malaya and in Ethiopia than you had in North Africa.
the reasons stated above all contributed.
also, the Japanese had artillery surrounding the entire city in a siege. If the British forces chose to keep defending, it would've been a shooting gallery for the Japanese, so defeat was staring them in the face no matter what they did to resist.
Well the story we were told in school was that the British expected a naval assault of Singapore, because they thought that moving a full army through the jungles of Malaya was impossible; paved roads were almost non existent and the mud would trap tanks. So they built defences catered towards repelling a sea attack.
The Japs proceeded to prove them wrong by equipping every single soldier with bicycles and keeping heavy machinery to the minimum. Essentially they cycled their way southwards from Thailand.
>>387739
But there was not a single tank in Singapore. I'm not really stating controversial stuff here. Crusader finished a month prior and you still had el Alamein to go.
>>387779
What the hell do tanks have to do with anything? They're hardly worth anything in city struggles.
>Crusader finished a month prior and you still had el Alamein to go.
True, but irrelevant. Rommel didn't venture out of Tripoli again until May, and British planning at the time was focused on building up enough of a supply depot (it's tough moving across Libya with no railroads) to finish him off for good. Optimism, not pessimism, was the order of the day in North Africa.
>>387788
>True, but irrelevant.
It most certainly isn't. The British did not view their position in North Africa relevant until after El Alamein.
>What the hell do tanks have to do with anything? They're hardly worth anything in city struggles.
I'm just pointing out how poorly equipped the british forces were in the pacific as opposed to the european theater.
>>388018
Sorry
Relevant = Favourable
>>387628
Singaporean here
Basically the British were pretty much useless as they're that far away, and the Japs adapted really well to the climate and geography of the area
>>387788
>tanks
>not useful in urban combat
Sometimes you need that fortified building GONE.
>>387628
Poor supply. The British forces were not supplied properly with supply lines effectively cut and with more supplies weeks away. Can't fight without bullets. Surrender was the only option the men could be saved from certain death.
1) Japanese have more logistics
2) British were thinned out
3) Local population wanted independence
4) Collaboration between locals + japanese
>>387628
They expected a naval attack, so land routes were lightly defended and were flanked hard up the ass by bicycle riding Japs
>>388430
>Collaboration between locals + japanese
The locals were Chinese. They hated the Japs way more than the Brits. You're probably thinking India.
>>388447
the locals majority were malays. they hate chinese and welcome japs
>>388665
>Singapore
Since Raffles established the trading post there (in the mid 1800s) the locals majority has always been Chinese. By the time of WWII it was an overwhelming majority.
Its literally the reason they got independence/were kicked out of Malaysia.
