The Japanese Plans Emperor of Japan Hirohito symbol

The Japanese Plans • Emperor of Japan – Hirohito – symbol of authority. • Situation in the Pacific before Pearl Harbor. • Different plans during preparation. • Japanese decision to attack simultaneously Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), Malaya and Philippines – the “Centrifugal Offensive”. • Allied plans: Creation of ABDA, American, British, Dutch and Australian united command.

The Conquest of Malaya and Singapore • Japanese attacks in Malaya. • The best British battleships destroyed by Japanese planes. Shock for Churchill. • Seizure of important islands by Japanese forces on their way to attack Philippines. • British mistakes in Malaya. • Japanese advance – 400 miles in five weeks – Faster than in their plans. • The attack on Singapore. British Surrender – February 15, 1942.

The Burma Campaign • The situation in Burma before the war. • Aung San factor. • Allied forces: British (mostly Indians) and Chinese. • Japanese advance. • Allied forces retreat to Irrawaddy valley. • Further retreat of “Burcorps” to the Indian Border – the longest retreat in a British military history. Ended on May 19, 1942.

The Battle for Philippines • Situation in the Philippines before the war. Douglas Mac. Arthur and Manuel Quezon. • Japanese successful air raid. • Japanese separate landings on Luzon, main island of Philippines. • Americans withdrew forces to Bataan and Corregidor. • Mac. Arthur leaving Philippines to take command of nely organized forces in Australia. His promise to return. • Surrender of last American garrison – May 6, 1942.

The Conquest of Dutch Indies • Situation in Dutch East Indies before the war. Local opposition to Dutch government. • Japanese landings at Borneo and Celebes. • Japanese landing at Timor and Sumatra. • Japanese landing at Java. • Battle of Java Sea. Japanese victory. • Dutch Surrender – March 12, 1942. • The Establishment of Japan’s defensive perimeter.