Christmas Island Japanese Occupation

19 japanese world war ii sites have been located on christmas island and featured in this thesis by archaeologist helena van der riet.

Christmas island japanese occupation. The first attack was carried out on 20 january 1942 by japanese submarine i 59 which torpedoed a norwegian freighter the eidsvold. From the outbreak of the south east asian theatre of world war ii in december 1941 christmas island was a target for japanese occupation because of its rich phosphate deposits. In anticipation of possible invasion the british supplied a single naval gun to the island assigned to captain l. Because of a mutiny by indian soldiers against their british officers japanese troops.

After the occupation of java japanese imperial general headquarters issued orders for operation x the invasion and occupation of christmas island on 14 march 1942. Williams who commanded a handful of noncommissioned british officers and nearly. 1 rear admiral shōji nishimura was assigned to command the second southern expeditionary fleet s occupation force with the light cruiser naka as his flagship. The united states navy submarine seawolf caused severe damage to the imperial japanese navy.

The battle of christmas island was a small engagement which began on 31 march 1942 during world war ii assisted by a mutiny by soldiers of the british indian army against their british officers imperial japanese army troops were able to occupy christmas island without any land based resistance. Christmas island japanese occupation era 1942 to 1945 ruin of shinto temple japanese naval gun japanese army headquarters on christmas island battle of christmas island. From the outbreak of war in south east asia in december 1941 christmas island was a target for japanese occupation because of its rich phosphate deposits. A naval gun was installed under a british officer and four ncos and 27 indian soldiers.

Thesis the archaeology of the japanese world war ii occupation of christmas island. Japanese forces occupied christmas island on 31 march 1942 during world war ii.