Japanese occupation of Singapore

Uncommon card · No. 174331

Shonan (Japanese: 昭南, Hepburn: Shōnan; Kunrei-shiki: Syônan), officially Shonan Island (Japanese: 昭南島, Hepburn: Shōnan-tō; Kunrei-shiki: Syônan-tô), was the name for Singapore when it was occupied and ruled by the Empire of Japan, following the fall and surrender of British military forces on 15 February 1942, 6:20 PM local time, during World War II. The Japanese military forces occupied Singapore after defeating the combined British, Indian, Australian, Malayan and the Straits Settlements garrison in the Battle of Singapore within seven days. The occupation became a major turning point in the histories of several nations, including those of Japan, Britain and Singapore. Singapore was renamed Shonan-to, meaning "Light of the South Island" and was also included as part of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (Japanese: 大東亜共栄圏, Hepburn: Dai Tōa Kyōeiken). Singapore was officially returned to British colonial rule on 12 September 1945, following the formal signing of the surrender at...

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