The Japanese carried out propaganda campaigns to brainwash the people so that they could be loyal to Japan.Propaganda refers to the action taken, especially by a government to influence the way people think by spreading certain ideas ,beliefs,news etc often inaccurate or biased.In schools,during the morning assembly ,students had to stand facing the direction of Japan and sing the Kimigayo, the Japanese National Anthem.


Teachers were also taught Japanese.Radio Stations were controlled by the Japanese and the people could only listen to the local broadcasts.Only Japanese movies were screened in Cinemas.During the Japanese Occupation,the Japanese Calendar was used.
To remove western influence,the Japanese promoted the Japanese Spirit(Nippon Sheisin).Taisho or mass drills were made compulsory .The students received their daily Japanese lesson on the Schools' Broadcasting Service.


The people of Singapore faced severe food shortages during the Japanese Occupation.This was because Singapore's Entrepot Trade was disrupted and all available resources were used to support Japan's war efforts in other parts of Asia. Entrepot Trade refers to the buying and selling of the same goods.

I was having a great time sleeping when I was rudely awakened by the sounds of explosions.Japanese Warplanes had flown over Singapore and bombed the city . Meanwhile, the Japanese soldiers also landed in Northern Malaya .In less than 70 days,Singapore fell to the Japanese.

Even Before the war began, the British had made preparations to defend Singapore.In order to defend its empire in the far east,Britain decided on the 'Main Fleet to Singapore' Strategy which meant that Britain would send ships from Europe if there was trouble in Asia.

However to maintain the fleet, a huge naval base had to be built in the Far East.Singapore was chosen of the Naval Base and construction of the Naval Base was completed in1938.To defend the Naval Base in Singapore,15-inch guns usually mounted on ships were installed facing the sea to prevent any sea attacks.Military Airfields were built in Sembawang and Tengah.Underground Bunkers were also built in places like Fort Canning, Labrador and Sembawang.Singapore was thus known as the 'impregnable' fortress of the British Empire in the Far East.

It was generally thought that Singapore was protected from the North.
In 1937, Japan invaded China and planned to move further into Southeast Asia as the the region was rich in raw materials such as oil and rubber.To protest against against Japan's attack on China, Countries like USA cut off their oil supply to Japan.
In September 1939,War broke out in Europe,Japan,in September 1940,signed a treaty of Friendship with Germany and Italy which called themselves the Axis Power.While Germany wanted to be the master of Europe,Japan wanted to be the master of Asia and the Pacific Region.
In 1941,The British sent more troops to Singapore to defend both Malaya and Singapore from a possible Japanese attack.On 2 December 1941,2Battleships arrived- HMS Repulse and HMS Prince Of Wales.On 7 December 1941,The Japanese bombed the Pearl Harbour to cripple the American Fleet in the Pacific and on 10 December 1941, HMS Repulse and HMS Prince Of Wales sunk off the coast of Kuantan.