Life during the Japanese Occupation
CONCLUSION
- In conclusion,I learnt that the people suffered and lived in hardship during the World War 2.
- We should be grateful for what our forefathers has sacrifice for us.
Resistance to the Japanese
Black Market
Elizabeth Choy
- Those who resisted were the Chinese, as they were the most affected race during the war due to the aftermath of the previous world war which was in China.
- Lieutenant Adnan bin Saidi and Elizabeth Choy were two of the many heroes during the war.
- Lieutenant Adnan led his troops to protect Pasir Panjang ridge (now Kent Ridge), but he failed and was captured by the Japanese soldiers.
- Elizabeth was accused of passing food, medicine and messages to British prisoners of war (POW), she was eventually captured and tortured by the Japanese soldiers.
- Many lived in poverty
- Suffered from malnutrition and diseases.
- Essential food like salt,rice and sugar were sold at high prices in the black market.
- Short supplies and monopolistic situation led to the mushrooming of black market.
- Food was stolen from storage facilities.
- The black market became vital for many as it offered opportunities to act as brokers,traders and commission agents to supplement wages.
- No one controlled the black market.
Lieutenant Adnan bin Saidi
Black market
People suffering from malnutrition
How did the Japanese instil fear in people?
- The Japanese used fear to rule Singapore.
- The cruelty of the Kempeitai kept the people in a constant state of anxiety and fear.
- At the slightest offence,punishment was swift and severe.
- Japanese felt that the Eurasians were a threat to them,so they treated them harshly.
- Eurasians who were suspected helping the British were put to death.
- Chinese became victims of the Japanese atrocities as the Japanese perceived the Chinese as a threat to their rules.
- The propaganda campaigns were carried out by the Japanese to influence the minds of the people in Singapore so that they would be loyal to Japan.
A stubborn man going to be dragged by the Japanese.
A man going to be executed by a Japanese
Treatment of the people
- Many Chinese came as unskilled labour,working at the docks and construction sites.They were called coolies.
- Indians also worked as labourers carrying cargoes at the docks.
- They had to work under harsh conditions. (Example, carrying heavy sacks of goods under the hot sun)
- Many of the immigrants worked very hard.Some succeeded in fulfilling their dreams.
- Those who did not succeed lived in poverty and hardship till death.
- They lived in poverty and suffered from diseases like malaria,cholera,typhoid and tuberculosis.
- Many of them were lying on the roads with sores on their bodies,too weak to move.When they died,their bodies were left on the road.
- Thus the immigrants lived in poor living conditions.