A day by day account of the Battle for Hong Kong during World War II, encompassing accounts from all sides during the buildup of hostilities, through the Japanese invasion, to the British surrender at Black Christmas, and the misery that followed.
World War II is where all aspects of international society, culture, diplomacy, politics, and the dynamics that governed the world changed, this is no less true for Great Britain, China, and Hong Kong. The power dynamics of east Asia and the cultural and socio-political spheres that governed them evolved to new degrees, particularly in the Pearl River Delta. With various warlords vying for power in China, and the Chinese Civil War pitting Nationalists against Communists, the whole of the land made for a ripe target for Asias’ rising strongman, Japan. The Second Sino-Japanese War ignited in 1937 when Japan sought to expand its empire, having already swallowed Taiwan, Korea, and Manchuria, it set its sights on what remained of China and the leased-territories along its coast.
Hong Kong’s Governor Geoffry Northcote labeled the British crown colony neutral territory and a free port, hoping to safeguard British assets and honor from encroachment and hostility. When the European War broke out two years later in 1939, Japan allied itself with Britain’s expanding rival, Germany, thus heightening tensions between the former friendly nations, and creating and unescapable path toward December 1941, when Japan would meld the two regional wars into the greater conflict that would be known as World War II. Until then, the British colony and her people were placed under evermore pressure from Japan’s growing threat.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Prelude to War
- Background
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text aims to provide a day-by-day account of the Battle for Hong Kong in 1941. It explores the political and military decisions leading up to the battle, the composition and preparedness of the defending forces, and the devastating consequences of the Japanese invasion.
- The political climate leading up to the Battle of Hong Kong.
- The contrasting views on Hong Kong's defensibility within British politics and strategy.
- The composition and preparedness of the defending forces.
- The devastating impact of the Japanese invasion on Hong Kong's civilian population.
- The disparity between the lives of British-Hongkongers and Chinese-Hongkongers.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Background: This section sets the historical context, detailing the evolving power dynamics in East Asia during World War II, the strategic position of Hong Kong, and the differing views within the British government regarding the colony's defense. It highlights the debate surrounding the allocation of resources to Hong Kong's defense in the context of the war in Europe.
Prelude to War: This chapter describes the atmosphere in Hong Kong in the days leading up to the Japanese invasion. It contrasts the celebratory arrival of reinforcements with the growing sense of unease among the population and the escalating threat from Japan. The stark contrast in lifestyles between the British and Chinese populations of Hong Kong is also touched upon.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Battle of Hong Kong, World War II, Japanese invasion, British Empire, Hong Kong defense, Canadian troops, civilian casualties, political strategy, colonial disparity.
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- Michael Gorman (Autor), 2024, Battle for Hong Kong. A Day by Day Account, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1516387
