WWII- The Fall of Hong Kong
Narrative
On the 8th December 1941 at 8:00AM, just six hours after the disaster of Pearl Harbour, the Japanese launched a devastating attack on the almost defenceless Hong Kong. This attack however was not proceed by a declaration of war and therefore broke international law. The two opposing sides were: The British, Canadian and Indian forces who were defending Hong Kong (Lead by Major-General Christopher Maltby) with a side of just 14,000 thousand troops, versus the stronger and war-trained 52,000 Japanese troops (Lead by Lieutenant General Takishi Sakai).
The reason the Japanese attacked Hong Kong was because Winston Churchill was using it as his main outpost in Asia, and it was helpful for him to repel the attacks of the Japanese. However previously many of the chiefs-in-staff in London had called it an ,“Undesirable military commitment.” But they could not pull the British troops out as it would weaken their already weakening watch over Asia.
The first attack on Hong Kong occurred at 8:00AM on the 8th of December, the Japanese bombed Kai Tak airport. In the devastating attack two of the three Vickers Vildebeest and the two Submarine Walrus Amphibians were destroyed leaving Hong Kong without any air defence. The only planes which remained were two of the aircraft used by the air unit of Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corp. After the attack on the airport, two of the three destroyers were ordered to leave Hong Kong for Singapore leaving just the HMS Thracian, a few gunboats and motor torpedo boats to defend Hong Kong by sea. On the 9th December, the defence were pushed back to the ‘Gindrinkers Line’. The Gindrinkers...
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...e Japanese attack ferociously down the south towards Stanley Peninsula ( The less protected part of Hong Kong ). Slowly General Maltby’s troops ran out of ammunition and fresh water and victory against the oncoming tide of Japanese was almost impossible. Meanwhile in the west of the island a small Canadian were trying to protect Wong Nei Chong Gap. However they were unsuccessful and the Japanese had to large a force to hold back. After this defeat General Maltby sent all the reserves he had to attack Wong Nei Chon Gap, however after six days of avid fighting they were destroyed, and the battle came to an abrupt end on Christmas day. At that point General Maltby though that continuing to fight would bring unneeded slaughter, and would be worthless. The surrender took play at 6:00Pm and the 6500 survivors were lead off into captivity were many thousands more would die.
We can see many reasons as to why Japan would bomb Pearl Harbor. There were many events that led up to Japan making the decision to bomb Pearl Harbor. It all started with Japan wanting to expand their power. Japan was an island nation, it was isolated from many other nations, and Japan chose to be that way. But by the beginning of the 1900’s Japan was starting to fall apart as it was starting to become short of raw materials.
Japanese stood their ground and on December 7,1941.The surprise attack on the Americans that destroyed or damage nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight battleships, and over 300 airplanes. More than 2,400 Americans died in the attack, including civilians, and another 1,000 people were wounded at Pearl Harbor(document
The Battle of Pearl Harbor was one of the most atrocious events that happened in U.S. history. On December 7, 1941, Japan made a surprise aerial attack on the United States naval base and airfields at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. More than two thousand Americans died and a thousand two hundred were wounded. Eighteen ships were badly damaged, including five battleships. The next day, President Franklin Roosevelt with the support of the Congress, declared war on Japan.
There were many reasons behind the attack on Pearl Harbor. One reason was that Japan was on the Axis Powers, military alliance formed during WWII. Many people believe the reason Japan joined was to keep US forces
Pearl harbor was an attack led by the Japanese kamikaze. This event took place in Honolulu, Hawaii at approximately 8:00 am. Secretary Frank Knox announced the attack on pearl harbor
Initially, Japanese strategists assumed that the tiny island would be overwhelmed in a matter of hours. However, they underestimated the fighting spirit of the military personnel and civilians stationed on the island. For sixteen days these brave men fought against overwhelming odds, but demonstrated both to the Japanese and to their fellow Americans back at home that the Americans could and would put up a courageous fight.
Japan wanted the United States to stop sending China supplies, but the United States refused. The United States opposed the expansion of Japan in Asia, so they cut off important exports to Japan. General Hideki Tojo was the Premier of Japan. He and other Japanese leaders did not like the fact that Americans were sending war supplies to China and other countries in Asia. A surprise attack was ordered by Japan on December 7, 1941.
The surprise attack from the Japanese forces on December 7, otherwise known as ‘The Day of Infamy’, brought the United States into World War Two. A film that shows the moments leading up towards the attack is shown in the film, ‘TORA! TORA! TORA!’. In this essay, I will use the film as my historical source to reconstruct the events leading to the attack on the Pearl Harbour and the attack itself.
On December 7, 1941, aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. About half the United States fleet was at Pearl Harbor at the time. More than 2,400 American servicemen and civilians were killed. Another 1,200 were wounded. Eight battleships of the Pacific Fleet were damaged or sunk, though the fleet's aircraft carriers were at sea. Hundreds of aircraft were destroyed. The same day, or shortly thereafter, the Japanese launched attacks against Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Guam and Wake Island. Because of the swift advances of the Japanese military, many Americans concluded that an invasion, either of Hawaii or the West Coast, was inevitable. (Leitich 1)
This battle was the start of America taking control of the war over the Pacific. This battle took place six months after Japan first struck Pearl Harbor. Many historians say this was the greatest air battle of all time. America not only proved that numbers didn’t matter, but showed that only leaders with clear eyes and soldiers with heart can win a battle of any size. Even before the battle started, America saw his attack coming.
Because of the desperation felt by the Japanese forces leading up to the battle and American forces making steady advances toward Japan, the Japanese forces felt the battle could not be won. They were ordered to by time for Japan to build its defenses around the homeland. Japanese were not only dying for their county but taking their own lives as ... ... middle of paper ... ... 6 wounded.
May 7-8, 1942, an important battle happen, that is the Battle of Coral Sea. The Battle was fought by air planes on both sides, There was no ship involved at all. The Japanese wanted to capture New Guinea and leave Australia out. The Coral Sea actions happen from a Japanese operation, they wanted to capture Port Moresby, on New Guinea's southern-eastern coast. Japanese air base threaten Australia and supported plans for future expansion, trying to help Australia get out of the war and exchange the strategic defense of Japan's oceanic empire.
When the Japanese came to their destination of Nanjing, the Chinese were apathetic to their demands of surrender. General Iwane Matsui along with Lieutenant General prince Asaka instructed the Japanese 36th Infantry Regiment of the 9th division to bombard the Chinese at Guanghua Gate. Their technologically advanced weaponry absolutely devastated the Chinese troops, and they gained entrance to Nanjing through the demolished gate. Tang Shengzhi, the leader of the Chinese troops fundamenta...
In the early morning of 19 February 1945, United States Marines assigned to the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Division led the initial assault on the Japanese controlled island of Iwo Jima, with the objective of capturing and securing the island. This was the beginning of one of the fiercest and bloodiest; and more decisively, the most strategically important battles fought during World War II. After the dust had settled, and the smoke had cleared, the causalities and losses were astounding. 6,821 U.S. Marines along with 18,844 members of the Imperial Japanese Army had paid the ultimate sacrifice. A decisive US victory on the island of Iwo Jima later played a pivotal role in the overarching defeat of the Japanese Empire and its Armed Forces (Morison, 1945).
The bombs the American had sent out only made it easier for the Japanese. What it had done was to churn up the beaches and the immediate hinterland and had given the Japanese far more opportunities to find hiding-holes for snipers. They had dug all sorts of tunnels and hiding places all over the island. The Japanese waited patiently for more Marines to get on shore to attack, many Marines were killed using that tactic. The battle went on for days.