Japanese invasion of Thailand
| Japanese invasion of Thailand | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Pacific War, World War II | |||||||
 Map of the Japanese invasion of Thailand. December 8, 1941 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Thailand |
 Empire of Japan | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Plaek Pibulsonggram |
Shojiro Iida Tomoyuki Yamashita | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 5 divisions | 2 armies | ||||||
The Japanese invasion of Thailand occurred on December 8, 1941. It was fought between Thailand and the Empire of Japan. Despite fierce fighting in Southern Thailand, Thai resistance lasted only a few hours before ending in a ceasefire.
Background
To invade Malaya and Burma the Japanese needed to make use of Thai ports, railways, and airfields. The Thai people, however, were fiercely proud of never having been colonised and were determined to maintain their independence, having just beaten Vichy France in the French-Thai War. The Thai army was far from negligible and their soldiers were at combat readiness. If heavy Japanese casualties were to be avoided it was vital that early landings across the beaches in southern Thailand should be unopposed.[1]
To facilitate this the Japanese opened secret negotiations with the Thai government. At the time it looked as though the Axis powers were winning the war in Europe, and in October 1940, Thai dictator Plaek Pibulsonggram, gave a secret verbal promise to support them in the event of a Japanese invasion of Malaya. In return for his secret alliance, the Japanese guaranteed Thailand provinces in Malaya which were ceded to the British in 1909, as well as Burma's Shan State.[2]
However, Phibun seemed to have been quite ready to forget this promise if circumstances had changed and asked both the British and Americans in 1941 for guarantees of effective support if they were invaded. Neither country could give them, although British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was in favour of giving a public warning to Japan that an invasion of the southeast Asian kingdom would result in a British declaration of war.
This drove the Japanese planners to distraction as they unsuccessfully strove to obtain agreement to a right of passage through Thai territory, on which their whole operational plan depended. Finally it was General Count Terauchi who took the decision for the invasion fleet to sail and land in Thailand with or without permission.
There is a possibility of imminent Japanese invasion of your country. If you are attacked, defend yourselves. The preservation of the true independence and sovereignty of Thailand is a British interest, and we shall regard an attack on you as an attack upon ourselves. - Prime Minister Winston Churchill's message to Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram, which was promptly ignored whilst seeking an armistice with Japan[3]
Japan Invades
Before 8 December 1941
Royal Thai Army started to set up the new military units in the South including:[4]
- Chumphon
- the 38th Infantry Battalion stationed at Ban Na Nian, Tambon Wang Mai, Muang District of Chumphon (9 km from Provincial Hall)
- Nakhon Si Thammarat
- the 39th Infantry Battalion stationed at Tambon Pak Phoon, Muang District of Nakhon Si Thammarat
- the 15th Artillery Battalion stationed at Tambon Pak Phoon, Muang District of Nakhon Si Thammarat
- Headquarter of the Sixth Division at Tambon Pak Phoon, Muang District of Nakhon Si Thammarat
- Trang
- the 40th Infantry Battalion
- Songkla
- the 5th Infantry Battalion stationed at Tambon Khao Kho Hong, Hat Yai District of Songkla, transferred from Bang Sue to Hat Yai by military train on 18 February 1940 - the first Unit that move to the South
- the 41st Infantry Battalion stationed at Suan Tun, Tambon Khao Roob Chang, Muang District of Songkla
- the 13th Artillery Battalion stationed at Suan Tun, Tambon Khao Roob Chang, Muang District of Songkla
- Pattani
- the 42nd Infantry Battalion stationed at Tambon Bo Thong, Nong Jik District of Pattani
Battambang
At dawn the Imperial Guards Division, spearheading the 15th Army, crossed the border into Thailand's recently reclaimed Battambang Province at Tambon Savay Donkeo, Athuek Thewadej District (Russei) of Battambang. The Japanese encountered no resistance, and from Sisophon swung north-westwards into Aranyaprathet (then still a district of Prachinburi Province) along the nearly finished railway link between Aranyaprathet and Monkhol Bourei. (the actual opening date for traffic was 11 April 1942) [5] [6]
Chumphon
The Japanese 1st Infantry Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment landed at Chumphon on the morning of December 8. They managed to form a perimeter around their landing areas, but were pinned down by determined resistance by Thai Youth Army (the 52nd Youth Army Training Unit, Sriyaphai School) along with the 38th Infantry Battalion and Provincial Police of Chumpon. Fighting ended in the afternoon when the Thais received orders to cease fire. Thai Forces has lost Captain Thawin Niyomsen (the 52nd Youth Army Training Unit - posthumously promoted to Lt. Col.), a few provincial police and a few civilians.[7]
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Nakhon Si Thammarat was the site of the Thai Sixth Army Division’s Headquarters and 39th Infantry Battalion. Three Japanese troopships dropped anchor a few kilometres off the coast during the night of December 7. The ships carried the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment, the 18th Air District Regiment along with an army air force signals unit, the 32nd Anti-Aircraft Battalion, and the 6th Labour Construction Company. Shortly after midnight, they began disembarking their troops at Tha Phae canal (AKA Pak Phoon Canal) - North of Camp Vajiravudh.
The landing was made adjacent to the main Thai army camp, Camp Vajiravudh. The Thais, notified earlier of the Japanese invasion at Songkhla, immediately went into action. The battle lasted until midday, when the prime minister’s orders for a cease fire were received.[8]
Pattani
Due to its closeness to the Malayan border, Pattani was the second most important objective of the Japanese 25th Army. The landings were made despite the rough seas and on unsuitable landing grounds. The invaders were effectively opposed by the Thai 42nd Infantry Battalion, Pattani Provincial Police and Thai Youth Army units (the 66th Youth Army Training Unit from Benjama Rachoothit School) until the battalion was ordered to cease fire at midday. The Thai battalion commander, Khun Inkhayutboriharn, was killed in action along with 23 other ranks, 5 Provincial Police, 4 Youth Army members and 9 Civilians.[9]
Prachuap Khiri Khan
Prachuap Khiri Khan was home to the Royal Thai Air Force’s Fifth Wing, under the command of Wing Commander M.L. Pravat Chumsai. The Japanese 2nd Infantry Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment landed at 03:00 am, and occupied the town after having crushed police resistance there.
Further landings took place near the airfield to the south. The Japanese laid siege to the airfield, but the Thai airmen along with Prachuap Khirikhan Provincial Police managed to hold out until noon on the next day, when they received orders from the Thai government to cease fighting. The Japanese lost 115 dead according to Japanese estimates and 217 dead and 300+ wounded according to Thai estimates. The Thais lost 37 dead and 27 wounded.[10]
Samut Prakan
The Japanese 3rd Battalion of the Imperial Guards Regiment landed at Samut Prakan in the early hours of December 8. It was tasked with the capture of Bangkok. The force was met by a small Thai police detachment. Despite a tense confrontation, fighting did not occur and the Japanese subsequently agreed not to enter the Thai capital until formal negotiations were concluded.[5]
Songkhla
The port city of Songkhla was one of the main objectives of Yamashita’s 25th Army. The Japanese landings occurred during the early hours of December 8.
Thai garrison at Khao Khor Hong (the 41st Infantry Battalion and the 13th Artillery battalion) immediately occupied positions alongside the roads leading down to Malaya, but were brushed aside into positions the main Japanese advance could ignore. A further clash occurred at Hat Yai. The Thais lost 15 dead (8 KIA from 41st Inf. Bat. and 7 from the 5th Inf. bat.) and 30-55 wounded.
The fighting ceased at noon when orders for an armistice to be arranged was received.[11]
Surat Thani
A Japanese infantry company from the 1st Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment landed at the coastal village of Ban Don in the early hours of December 8. They marched into Surat Thani, where they were opposed by Royal Thai Police and civilian volunteers. The desultory fighting took place amid a rainstorm, and only ended in the afternoon when the hard-pressed Thais received orders to lay down their arms. The Thais lost 17-18 dead but the injured was not known exactly.[12]
Bangkok
While police rounded up Japanese residents the Thai cabinet debated its options.[13] Some favoured continued resistance, including the establishment of a government-in-exile, but when Phibun finally returned they relented, and the Thai's caved in to Japan's demands.
Aftermath
Plaek Pibulsonggram's decision to sign an armistice with Japan effectively ended Churchill's hopes of forging an alliance with Thailand. He also granted Japan permission to use Thailand as a base of operations to invade Malaya. Within hours after the armistice came into effect, squadrons of Japanese aircraft had flown into Songkla airfield from Indochina, allowing them to carry out air raids on strategic bases in Malaya and Singapore from a short distance. At the time of the ceasefire, Great Britain and the United States regarded Thailand as Japanese-occupied territory.[2]
On 14 December, Pibulsonggram signed a secret agreement with the Japanese committing Thai troops in the Burma Campaign. An alliance between Thailand and Japan was formally signed on December 21, 1941. On January 25, 1942, the Thai government declared war on the United States and the United Kingdom. In response, all Thai assets in the United States were frozen by the federal government. While the Thai ambassador in London delivered the declaration of war to the British administration, Seni Pramoj, Thai ambassador to Washington D.C., refused to do so, instead organising a Free Thai movement.[2][14]
See also
- Japanese occupation of Thailand- History post-invasion
- Operation Krohcol
- Japanese Order of Battle, Malayan Campaign
References
- ^ Grant, Ian Lyall. and Tamayama, Kazuo. (1999) Burma 1942: The Japanese Invasion. The Zampi Press. p.33
- ^ a b c A Forgotten Invasion: Thailand in Shan State, 1941-45, CPAmedia.com, retrieved 2010-05-02
- ^ Prime Minister Winston Churchill's Broadcast on War With Japan
- ^ "สงครามมหาเอเซียบูรพา - ก่อนจะถึงวันวีรไทย". samphan. I See History dot com. September 2009. Retrieved 8 August2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b "วันวีรไทย - บางปู ปราจีนบุรี". samphan. I See History dot com. September 2009. Retrieved 8 August2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "บก. สูงสุด 2.4.1.6/6 การจัดรถในราชการไทยไปต่อกับรถของญี่ปุ่น". wisarut. Rotfai Thai dot com. 7 July 2007. Retrieved 8 August2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "วันวีรไทย - ชุมพร". samphan. I See History dot com. September 2009. Retrieved 8 August2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "วันวีรไทย - นครศรีธรรมราช". samphan. I See History dot com. September 2009. Retrieved 8 August2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "วันวีรไทย - ปัตตานี". samphan. I See History dot com. September 2009. Retrieved 8 August2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "วันวีรไทย - ประจวบคีรีขันธ์". samphan. I See History dot com. September 2009. Retrieved 8 August2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "วันวีรไทย - สงขลา". samphan. I See History dot com. September 2009. Retrieved 8 August2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "วีรไทย - สุราษฎร์ธานี". samphan. I See History dot com. September 2009. Retrieved 8 August2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ E. Bruce Reynolds. (1994) Thailand and Japan's Southern Advance 1940-1945. St. Martin's Press.
- ^ "สงครามมหาเอเซียบูรพา - จากวันวีรไทย ถึง วันประกาศสงคราม". samphan. I See History dot com. September 2009. Retrieved 8 August2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help)