5.3 The Japanese Occupation

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Chapter 5

5.3 The Japanese Occupation

At the end of this lesson...

• You will be able to explain what the Japanese occupation of Indonesia was like. 

Japan and the wold 

• Japan was a military world power in the early 20th century  but...

• They didn't have the resources they needed (coal, iron, oil). They also lacked agricultural products like coffee and rice.

• Solution: taking over neighbouring countries.

• But also nationalism: Asia for the Asians!

Pearl harbor

• The rest of Asia cannot be conquered until Japan's biggest opponent is defeated: the US

• Attack on Pearl Harbor: American marine base in Hawaii. 

Occupation

• The battle between the Netherlands and Japan lasted from January to March (1942)

• Many Dutch people are imprisoned in internment camps (Jappenkampen)

• Sukarno and Hatta (released) team up with the Japanese (in exchange for independence)

Occupation (2)

• Japan promised a better life for all Asians. Many Indonesian nationalists were happy with the arrival of the Japanese.

• Soekarno thought that a free Indonesia was within hand's reach.

• However, forced labour and famine ended that dream. 

Railway to connect Thailand and Burma

A total of 250,000 forced laborers (Romusha) worked on these railway lines. 100,000 people died from hunger, exhaustion, disease and violence.

And the Dutch people?

Jappenkampen

Internment camps in the Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies

Life in the Jappenkampen (1)

• Camps for both prisoners of war and civilians; men and women

• Corporal punishment

• Hunger

• Forced labour (Burma Railway)

Life in the Jappenkampen (2)

• Poor hygiene and housing

• 
  disease (dysentery)

• Forced prostitution (Troostmeisjes)

• About 25,000 Dutch people died in these camps.

Japanisation

• Everything Dutch was forbidden

• Indonesian became the official language.

• Japanse flag + anthem mandatory

• Japanese youth movements with military training