Capitulation of Singapore

© LBC A trauma for the British Empire: General Percival (with Union Jack) goes to the unconditional surrender

After a short-lived resistance, the fortress of Singapore falls to the Japanese on 15 February 1942. Approximately 70,000 British, Australian and Indian soldiers are taken prisoner. The public response in Great Britain and Australia is that of shock. Since December of the previous year, Indo China, Thailand and Indonesia had already fallen into Japanese hands. Burma becomes Tokyo’s next target since it is a direct link between Southeast Asia and the British Crown Colony of India. With the fall of Singapore the necessary groundwork is laid for the attack. A few months later Burma will also be captured.