February 15, 1942Reputable sourceWell documented
The Fall of Singapore
On the timeline · around February 15, 1942 ·
What happened
On 15 February 1942, during the Second World War, a British-led force of some 85,000 men surrendered the 'impregnable' fortress of Singapore to a smaller Japanese army. Churchill called it the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history. About 80,000 troops were taken prisoner, many to die in captivity.
Why it matters
The fall of Singapore shattered the myth of British invincibility in Asia. Across the region, subject peoples saw that the empire could be beaten — a blow to imperial prestige from which it never fully recovered.
Sources
- Imperial War Museums. Why Did Singapore Fall? · Reputable source