During World War II (1939- 1945), the Battle of Hong Kong was held from February 8 to 25,194/kloc-0. As one of the first battles of the Pacific conflict, the Japanese army began to attack the British colony on the same day that Pearl Harbor attacked the American Pacific fleet. Although the number of British troops stationed was seriously insufficient, the defense was very tight, but they were soon forced to withdraw from the mainland. Under the pursuit of the Japanese army, the defenders were finally at a loss. Generally speaking, the defenders successfully persisted for more than two weeks before finally surrendering. Until the end of the war, Hong Kong was under Japanese control.
background
1930 Late, the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, and Britain was forced to study the plan to defend Hong Kong. When studying the situation, it was soon found that it was difficult to establish a colony in the face of Japan's resolute attack.
Despite this conclusion, the new defense line continues, extending from Kingman Bay to Certeau Port. The fortification began at 1936, modeled after maginot line, and took two years to complete. This line is centered on Xinmen fortress and is a key system connected by paths.
1940, with the second world war sweeping Europe, the London government began to reduce the size of the Hong Kong garrison in order to liberate the army for other places. After being appointed commander-in-chief of the British Far East Command, Sir Robert Brooke Pope, the Lieutenant General, asked for reinforcements to Hong Kong, because he thought that even if the garrison was slightly increased, the pace of the Japanese army would be greatly slowed down in the event of war. Although I don't believe that colonies can be occupied indefinitely, lasting defense will buy time for British troops in other parts of the Pacific.
Final preparation
194 1 year, Prime Minister Winston Churchill agreed to send reinforcements to the Far East. To this end, he accepted the Canadian proposal and sent two battalions and a brigade headquarters to Hong Kong. Despite the lack of some heavy equipment, the Canadian named "C-Force" arrived in September of 194 1. As relations with Japan began to falter, Canadians prepared for battle with the garrison of the Major General. 1938, the Japanese army occupied the surrounding areas of Guangzhou and prepared to invade. Preparations for the attack began in autumn, when the army began to enter.
Battle of Hong Kong
Conflict: World War II
Date:? 194 1 year 65438+8 to February 25th.
Troops and commanders:
British
Governor Sir Mark Acheson Young
Major General Christopher Matby
14,564
Japan
Captain Igawa
52,000 people
Casualties:
Englishman:? 2 1 13 people were killed or missing, 2,300 people were injured,10,000 people were captured.
Japanese:? 1, 996 people died and about 6000 people were injured.
The battle has begun.
At about 8 am on February 8, 65438, the Japanese army led by Japanese Liquor Middle School began to attack Hong Kong. Less than eight hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese army destroyed several planes stationed in the garrison and quickly gained air superiority in Hong Kong. Maltby chose not to defend the Shenchun River defense line on the colonial border, but deployed three battalions to the gin defense line. Due to the lack of sufficient personnel to fully carry out the defense work of the defense line, these defenders were repelled when the Japanese army overthrew the city gate fortress on 12+00.
Retreat and failure
The rapid breakthrough surprised Sakai, because his planners expected it would take a month to penetrate the British defense system. When retreating, Maltby began to withdraw troops from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island on February 1 1. After destroying ports and military facilities, the last batch of Commonwealth troops left the mainland in 65438+February 65438+March.
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The Japanese attacked tsim sha tsui station in Hongkong. common area
In order to defend Hong Kong Island, Maltby reorganized his troops into East-West Brigade. 65438+February 65438+March, Sakai asked Britain to surrender. This was quickly rejected, and two days later the Japanese began to shell the north shore of the island. Another surrender request was rejected in February 2007 at 65438+.
The next day, Sakai began to land troops on the northeast coast near Taikoo Island. Pushing away the guards, they were later found guilty of killing prisoners of war in Xiwanbao and Serian Regiment. The Japanese army pushed westward and southward, and encountered strong resistance in the next two days. 12 On February 20th, it successfully reached the south coast of the island and split the defenders in two. Part of Maltby Command continued to fight in the western part of the island, while the rest surrounded Stanley Peninsula.
On Christmas morning, Japanese troops occupied the British field hospital at St. Stephen's College, where they tortured and killed several prisoners. Later that day, due to the collapse of the team and the lack of key resources, Maltby suggested that the Governor Sir Mark Acheson Young hand over the colony. After 17 days of persistence, Ai Qisheng got in touch with the Japanese and formally surrendered at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong.
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Major General Maud Birri meets the surrender port, 65438+February 25th, 194 1 year.
result
The surrender of Hong Kong, later called "Black Christmas", captured about 65,438+00,000 British people. In the battle, 2 1 13 people died/disappeared and 2300 people were injured. The number of casualties in this battle in Japan was 1996, and about 6,000 people were injured. In the remaining time after the war, the Japanese occupied the colony and will occupy Hong Kong. During this period, the Japanese army occupied the local residents. After Hong Kong's victory, the Japanese army won a series of victories in Southeast Asia and finally occupied Singapore on February 1942+05.