When Singapore fell to the Japanese in 1942, it was the culmination of a crucial event in World War II: the Battle of Singapore. The defending British, Australian, and Indian troops in Singapore suffered heavy losses in this combat during the Pacific War.

In February of 1942, the Japanese under General Tomoyuki Yamashita launched a coordinated and rapid attack on Singapore. The Allies lost the battle despite their best efforts and the presence of natural defenses. Japanese superior tactics included surprise strikes and amphibious invasions, which allowed them to break past the defenses.

The fight resulted in the surrender of Singapore on February 15, 1942, making it the greatest capitulation in British military history. The fall of Singapore was a watershed moment, signaling the end of British colonial control and having far-reaching effects on the political and social fabric of Southeast Asia. It highlighted how fragile colonial powers were throughout WWII and how the region was shifting. The Battle of Singapore was a watershed moment in Singapore’s history and the Pacific War as a whole, and its impact is still being felt today.