The Occupation of Hong Kong 1941-45

The Battle for Hong Kong was a military defeat that led to a brutal occupation by the Imperial Japanese Army. It lasted for three years and eight months, with shortages of food, firewood, and electricity. The Japanese rationed necessities and set about reducing the population by forced deportation, internment, and liberation. Philip Cracknell's book tells the harrowing story of suffering and courage during the occupation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

The Battle for Hong Kong, a grueling eighteen-day conflict, was destined from the outset to be a losing battle. Winston Churchill, well aware of the impossibility of defending or relieving Hong Kong if attacked, recognized it as an isolated outpost that must be held for as long as possible. After enduring immense hardships, the British administration finally surrendered the Crown Colony on Christmas Day, December 1941. This military defeat ushered in a brutal occupation by the Imperial Japanese Army, who ruled the captured territory under martial law. The occupation lasted for three years and eight months until the Japanese capitulation in August 1945.

During this occupation, Hong Kong faced severe shortages of food, firewood, and electricity. Almost everything was in short supply, leading to widespread suffering and desperation. The Japanese rationed necessities such as rice, oil, flour, salt, and sugar, issuing ration cards only to those employed in roles that supported their concept of Greater Asia and the co-prosperity sphere. The consequences were catastrophic, with many dying in the streets from starvation and outbreaks of cannibalism. The Japanese sought to reduce the population by forced deportation, from 1.65 million to an estimated 500,000 by August 1945. They employed various methods, including deporting individuals to work in coal mines on Hainan Island, sinking boats, and marooning people on uninhabited islands.

Philip Cracknell, with his unparalleled knowledge of the ground, brings his expertise to bear in his book "Battle for Hong Kong: December 1941." This harrowing account tells the story of the suffering and courage of the civilian population during the Imperial Japanese occupation. The book follows the civilian through the battle, the aftermath, the internment, and finally liberation. It is a poignant portrayal of the civilian's experiences during and after the Battle for Hong Kong, highlighting the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity.

The Battle for Hong Kong was a defining moment in world history, marking the beginning of the Pacific War and the darkest chapter in Hong Kong's history. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom and the importance of never forgetting the horrors of war.

Weight: 682g
Dimension: 169 x 244 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398110274