Reasons for Japanese victory of the batltle in Singpore and Malaya

British priority to war in Europe

SubtoHitler’s Germany is causing a lot of problems in Europe, threatening to invade and conquer England.pic

The British were more concerned in making safe their homeland

Malaya and Singapore were only colonies

The British were also faced with resource constrains (war supplies, soldiers etc), thus they would rather focus on the War back home.

Japanese superiority in battle strategy, armed forces and leadership

British underestimated the Japanese

Japanese had a large modern airforce and naval fleet – ‘Zero’ fighter planes destroyed half of British planes, which were old and outdated.

Better trained in Jungle warfare

Better tactics – use of bicycles as a means of transport in Malaya instead of tanks.

Good Japanese preparations

Set up intelligence services in Malaya and Singapore to provide information on British defense and readiness.

observed the construction of the Singapore Naval Base and coastal defenses.

conducted surveys of the Malayan coastal areas

took pictures of roads, railways and military installations