Surrender Of The Japanese

The signing of the document

A cheering crowd welcome the return
 of British forces on 5 September 1945.

After atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August respectively. the Japanese surrendered shortly after. The British troops returned to Singapore on 5 September 1945. On 12 September 1945, huge crowds gathered at the Padang and cheered for the return of the British. in the Municipal Building (now City Hall), Japanese military leaders signed the surrender document which was accepted bu the Supreme Allied Commander for Southeast Asia, Lord Louis Mountbatten.

On 15 August, Japan announced its surrender. The formal signing of the surrender instrument was held at City Hall, Singapore, then known as "Municipal Hall", on 12 September. This was followed by a celebration at the Padang, which included a victory parade. Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander of South East Asia Command, came to Singapore to receive the formal surrender of the Japanese forces in the region from General Seishirō Itagaki on behalf of General Hisaichi Terauchi. A British military administration utilizing surrendered Japanese troops as security forces was formed to govern the island until March 1946.

The Japanese delegation leaves theMunicipal Building after the surrender ceremony on 12 September 1945.

After the Japanese surrendered, there was a state of anomie in Singapore, as the British had not yet arrived to take control. The Japanese occupiers had a considerably weakened hold over the populace. There were widespread incidents of looting and revenge-killing. Much of the infrastructure had been wrecked, including the harbour facilities and electricity, water supply, and telephone services. It took four or five years for the economy to return to pre-war levels. When British troops finally arrived they met with cheering and fanfare.

Banana money became worthless after the occupation ended. Many individuals who had acquired their wealth through banana currency were rendered penniless overnight.

Sources: CPDD Ministry Of Education. (2007).Singapore From Settlement To Nation Pre 1819 To 1971. Singapore. Marshall Cavendish Education.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_occupation_of_Singapore (Date accessed: 17 Feb 13)