"Britain's Worst Defeat" - The Battle of Jitra 1941 Animated

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Music Credits:
"Rynos Theme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Stay The Course by Kevin MacLeod
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[@clevermcgenericname891]

"They were quite dreadful little tanks, but when you've got tanks and the other fellow doesn't, that doesn't really matter."

[@timonsolus]

The Japanese tanks like the little Type 95 Ha-Go were well suited to jungle conditions, and could manage terrain that many Europeans considered impassable for tanks. That said, the British forces in Malaya could definitely have used some tanks. Even the Light Mark VIC, virtually obsolete in the West, would have been far better than nothing.

[@pckkaboo6800]

Plus that a " japanese tank" which mean thin armor compared to the western tanks..

[@VersusARCH]

Even in 1941. there were many ways tanks could be stopped when the defender had no tanks of his own. Artillery, (conventional, AT or AA), aircraft (best to hit the supply trucks), mines, anti-tank traps... Hand grenade bundles @ tracks, molotov cocktails...

[@clevermcgenericname891]

@@VersusARCH could have, yes. But in this case...no they didn't

[@timonsolus]

@@VersusARCH : The British forces in Malaya were very short of anti-tank guns, because so many had been lost in France. And the Western Desert had priority for what was available. Also, the British generals didn’t take the threat of Japanese tanks seriously before the war. As for aircraft, the Japanese were very good at camouflage, and the terrain provided a lot of vegetation for cover.

[@loveofmangos001]

It should be noted that the Japanese officer who ordered these tanks to charge ahead of the infantry was inspired by the German Blitzkrieg in Europe and referenced this when asking permission.

[@1987MartinT]

Yeah, in many ways the Malaya Campaign was a Japanese blitzkrieg.

[@onewhosaysgoose4831]

"Blitzkrieg" wasn't quite a tactical doctrine; Germany, and IJA at Malaya, used "war of movement". If your opponents have a black comedy farce for a comment structure, then war of movement will result in blitzkrieg.

[@shadowraven3253]

@@onewhosaysgoose4831 Too much success cause the enemy isn't prepared for the new kind of warfare in any meaningful way and has a commandstructure with the stability of a house of cards on a table with one short leg.

[@kingofburgundy6323]

It reminds me of Rommel’s drive through the Ardennes to dinant.

[@eustache_dauger]

The Japanese Bicycle Blitzkrieg or Le Tour de Malaya 1941-1942

[@redram5150]

“Those Japanese won’t be able to penetrate the thick forests protecting Singapore!” “Ummm... sir? Extensive logging has taken place over the past decade. There are several roads traversing the forests heading our way.” “LA LA LA LA LA... IMPENETRABLE FORESTS, I’M NOT HEARING YOU NONONO! NOW GIVE ME MY GBE!”

[@CesarinPillinGaming]

@@adude8424 technically the german didnt,. they just went AROUND IT.

[@stoggafllik]

@@adude8424 Angl*s🤮

[@siriusk1453]

@@adude8424 change Maginot to Ardennes

[@annieleondhart680]

Germany : thick forest? what's that? p/s : for those who didn't know, Germany punch through the Ardennes forest, smashing Allied line n caused the Dunkirk incident to be happened.

[@freedomfighter22222]

@@CesarinPillinGaming The Maginot line went all the way from the alps to the north sea, it was the defensive Line France had towards the entire east, it was just most fortified against the German border and least fortified against the Ardenne since that's where the least amount of forces were expected to come trough. There were fortifications behind the Ardenne forest that was part of the Maginot line, so the Germans did go trough it, they just passed it on its weakest point.

[@AnimatedStoriesWorldwide]

It is worth mentioning that both Tunku Abdul Rahman and Mahathir Mohamad (respectively the 1st and 4th prime minister of Malaysia) both hail from Kedah (the state in which Jitra is located, capital Alor Setar) and both witnessed this battle, one as royalty and one as civilian. They explicitly mention this battle is what made them realize for the first time that the British Empire was not invincible and colonialism could be defeated in favor of independence. In a way, this battle basically inspired the first wave of nationalism that ultimately led to the independence and heavy industrialization of Malaysia away from the British Empire. Technically, the British lost the whole peninsula and Borneo on that day, if we consider the cause to be the price to pay for the consequences.

[@looinrims]

The charge for SE Asian independence was the Japanese putting natives in charge of lands they conquered from imperials

[@NewmaticKe]

@@looinrims duh

[@lanunsikucing5903]

mahathir was 16 at this time while tunku was 42

[@cerealeater803]

And tun mahathir still alive today and did become Malaysia prime minister 2 times. What a fucking legend

[@georgepantazis141]

Communists played a big part post war.🇭🇲

[@1984Phalanx]

Something tells me Britain didn’t send their best and brightest officers to command these Indian troops.

[@jamiengo2343]

It was probably the norm for the British army tbf, the best generals were back in Britain and the Med at the very least, but the outer colonies was where the worst commanders were sent, out of the way. Obviously when they were confronted with tough opposition, it wasn’t brilliant.

[@TheBard1999]

Kind of expected with active front in Africa and Middle East.

[@shivanshna7618]

Most likely bcz british officers where already stretched and too many indian officers may lead to repeat of 1857

[@parvuspeach]

@@jamiengo2343 The island of Crete CO was notoriously incompetent, ignoring and dismissing Intelligence reports that a airborne paratroop attack was inbound and insisted it was a naval attack in a different area, and even when the germans messed up their attack the CO ordered a retreat while having clear superiorityin all areas...that went well.

[@michaelmoorrees3585]

My parents grew up in the Dutch East Indies (NOI, now Indonesia). As in most European colonies, the officers got their rank thru connections, instead of merit. Often referred to as "salon solders", because they knew how to dress, and conduct parades, but knew nothing of basic tactics. The higher command knew this, but assumed it work be out fine, since a European is superior, to an Asian. The Japanese swept from French Indo-China (Vietnam) thru the Philippines, with Malaysia (including Singapore) and the Dutch East Indies, in the middle, in only a few months, using only about 100,000 troops (~ 1 corp). All the Europeans: English, French, Dutch, and Americans (European culture & ancestry) got burned by their arrogance. Europeans like bashing Americans, for their racism, and "Jim Crow" laws. Institutionalized racism was well entrenched (and codified) in the European colonies. These colonies occupied all of south Asia, from the Middle East to the Philippines, and all of Africa. Plus most of the Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean. Life, for the natives, was, at best, discriminatory, and often just cruel and senseless torture. Those colonies started to get their independence at the end of WWII. The process taking decades. A few still exist, though the locals wouldn't call it such, as a large part of the Caribbean, is still under European control. Mostly because the natives don't want to end up like Haiti.

[@skeletonwguitar4383]

"Okay men! We're holding this line for the airfield behind us! We can do th--" RAF: ✌️ *disappears*

[@BatCostumeGuy]

RAF: adios

[@eastern_xing5541]

RAF: understandable, have a nice day

[@Marinealver]

We have been bombed! Quick destroy everything the Japanese have missed! -RAF in the battle of Jitra.

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

Imagine the moral of soldiers that they are tasked to defend an airfield which is destroyed and deserted by their own air force!! It was a defeat from beginning...

[@dustinallen5892]

Biggest “bruh” moment when I heard that

[@nabil1908]

Remarkable. I'm a Malaysian and we never learnt this in school it's crazy. The japanese invasion of Malaya was summarized in a single chapter and the collapse of the British defense in the north was probably just a one-liner saying that they failed to defend there. Thanks for making this video.

[@razer666L]

@Ярослав Л Very little. Much of the lessons about WW2 in Malaysia are politics. Battles and anti-occupation activities by local partisans and supported by Allied forces are mentioned rarely to none at all in our History textbooks.

[@fuctako429]

Thought of the same thing. Buku teks kita tak menyeluruh langsung dan juga membawa naratif “Ingerris banyak tolong kita”. Kepala bapak dia la.

[@jkwanness]

@Ярослав Л yes it is indoctrination 100%

[@rcgunner7086]

That is understandable. School history doesn't really go into a lot of detail for most historical events. They just give you the quick overview and move on. The expectation is that if you want to know more then you'll use your own initiative to dig deeper. Malaya is far from the only country that does this. In the US, the Revolutionary War is barely a chapter in our textbooks and great battles like say Saratoga or Yorktown (familiar names if you study the Pacific War!) barely rate a couple of sentences to a brief paragraph!

[@andrewgoh8130]

I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that most of our history text books come from the "Look East" policy era where Malaysia put Japan on a pedestal as the model Asian nation to be emulated?

[@SoulDuckling126]

Don't mind me, just helping with the algorithm

[@jwb_666]

Same here

[@farskies5343]

I am doing my part!

[@1983jarc]

Sounds good!

[@malcolmbilliot6132]

For the algorithm

[@wtftrollkiller8231]

ye

[@zerosuitsamus2340]

Utagha and Koroi guy when Jitra is mention* My time has come.

[@ophirbactrius8285]

Seloka Etong Sri Asun, wuahahahaha

[@musab.k.9870]

Our time has come, brother.

[@myms7375]

Utagha gang

[@muizzudinmahayudin1737]

hhahhhaha..aku oghang anak bukit woi

[@remliqa]

Aku hampir tak paham langsung apa korang cakap.

[@AnthonyRichesEmpire]

I studied this battle for my degree dissertation in Military Studies back in the 80s - and my conclusion was (obviously) that it was a complete and amazing British military disaster. But I couldn't understand why it was quite such a rout. I decided to write a book on the subject at the time (I'm a fairly successful novelist these days but at the time I was more into the factual side), and did a lot of research in to the subject. My light bulb moment came when I interviewed an 11th division major (can't recall the regiment, might have been the 2nd East Surreys) who happened to live just down the road from me in Hertfordshire - literally two miles away. In an unguarded moment he said to me 'of course you do know the Indians wouldn't fight?'. Like a fool I said no - I was only 25, and not sufficiently worldly wise as to have said yes and pressed him for more information. At which point he clammed up and would say no more. But it was obvious from his statement that at least some of the division's mostly Indian troops - remember that this was only years before independence and only 20 years after the atrocity at Amritsar - had to some degree (and probably different degrees by regiment) simply declined to fight, or had broken 'easily'. Don't take me for any sort of racist - it was his statement, not mine - and it's clear that Saeki (and his point commander Colonel Masanobi Tsuji, who led the spearhead elements that penetrated the British front line at will) were better commanders with a more mobile warfare oriented military culture and better conditioned men - but I do believe that growing Indian disenchantment with their British leaders (later to surface in the Indian National Army in Japanese service) was a significant part of this defeat. Looking at the circumstances, while it would have caused uproar in the UK at the time and was I have no doubt suppressed, one can hardly blame some elements of a disaffected colonial army for deciding that this simply wasn't their fight, or one that they were willing to risk their lives in. Of course there were numerous examples of Indian bravery in the wars against Nazi Germany and the Japanese, and I do not seek to traduce the Indian fighting man who was clearly as capable and determined as anyone else if well equipped, motivated and led - simply to comment on what I suspect was the case in northern Malaysia at the time in question.

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

When you were at the War College was it not required to authticate you theory and analysis and conclusions lest you get laughed out of the Academy?

[@AnthonyRichesEmpire]

@@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe It wasn't a War College, it was a university. But your question is a little opaque for someone as obviously stupid as I am to judge from your question (people usually ask questions to show how clever they are), so go on, what exactly is your point?

[@ThePRCommander]

Amazing how two branches, Air force and Army, deployed together, to defend a specific airbase, do not communicate. This is a factor, not really part of operational or strategy games.

[@seanmac1793]

Because its a pain the ass to model in a way that feels good

[@QemeH]

JTAC didn't exist back then...

[@jimmiller5600]

Luckily, the IJ Army & Navy would have rather killed each other than Japan's enemies.

[@thewingedporpoise]

just make it co-op, then it's all good

[@MarktheRude]

Games that induce alcoholism don't sell well.

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

Ah yes, the true killers in war: bureaucracy and lack of inter-branch communication.

[@Apeksim]

The same killers who murdered the Japanese military during the war (Army vs Navy)

[@shikikankillzone4239]

@@Apeksim IJA: _"This is Sendai-141 we are surrounded, out of supplies and in need of immediate EVAC, we have a port under control, if the navy can re-route some ships towards us, we could get out of this encirclement and help stabilise the front again."_ IJN: *_"no"_*

[@rustym.shackelford5546]

@@shikikankillzone4239 IJA Private: "Did our own Navy tell us to go F*k ourselves?" IJA Sgt: "e e..."

[@Billy_Annizarry]

"The axis' victories are based on speed, not power, and power would eventually caught up with them." - Oversimplified

[@scaleyback217]

Oversimplified indeed but a large element of truth in your point sir.

[@aleembaksh1880]

@@scaleyback217 It's a quote from a guy named oversimplified, he's not saying the statement is oversimplified.

[@looinrims]

@@aleembaksh1880 it is over simplified, there were plenty of axis victories dependent on power, not speed You can’t call Dubno fucking speed, or the landings in northern Malaya, or the operation Ichigo

[@aleembaksh1880]

@@looinrims I know it's an oversimplified statement, I'm telling John Scurr that the thing is a quote.

[@looinrims]

@@aleembaksh1880 no it’s the adjective oversimplified regardless of the fact it comes from the gnome himself

[@isaacrawlings1651]

British command rather lose thousands of men and lose any chance of a successful defence of a more strategic position than retreat to a more defensive position Lol.

[@shadowraven3253]

'We can't fall back yet...that would be humiliating for my career!' 'What about the men in the field and the war at large?' 'My dear friend that's why I'm in command and you follow'

[@absol505]

The Soviet Union and Germany had the same idea often.

[@clamum]

Pride of losing ground is stupid. Retreat is just another part of war; it doesn't mean you've lost. So stupid.

[@MrGA555]

Thousands of Indians. They’re ok losing that.

[@josephneider7332]

@@MrGA555 true statement. that's why canadians, indians and southafricans were never supported by corp support units and often were shock troops.

[@mukmeenaziz8947]

A lot of concrete bunkers still remain lining the streets of Alor Star. I wish the campaign was in the Malaysian history textbooks then I would get my A+ . Leftenan Adnan is a great story too.

[@johnjinglehimmerschmitt9802]

I'm looking to see if his movie is subtitled or in english..

[@genekelly8467]

The amazing thing was that Gen. Percival had predicted the landing point (Khota Bahru) in a staff memo he wrote in 1939. Had he deployed his heavy artillery there, he could have destroyed the invasion force in the water.

[@scaleyback217]

A Royal Marines officer had been sailing in that area months before and had highlighted how an amphib operation might unfold there. He was ignored.

[@randomdude8202]

It might have worked if they didn't lose their best ships, I guess they were too afraid from Japanese navy to deploy that close to sea

[@scaleyback217]

@@randomdude8202 If they had enjoyed better air cover (or come to that any air cover at all) those two ships may not have been lost in the futile manner they were. Not sure what point you're making in the second part of that sentence that they did deploy in what the commander knew might be a perilous outcome suggests the Japanese navy hardly came into their thinking. If you're interested and I know this is only from Wiki but it's a pretty full account nevertheless. Note the advance warning that Churchill gave the Japanese concerning the deployment. Who needed ultra? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_Prince_of_Wales_and_Repulse

[@khairulhelmihashim2510]

there's was a Japanese naval squadron of destroyers and cruisers serving a distant cover during the landing phase.

[@randomdude8202]

@@scaleyback217 IF they had those ships, they would be able to deter Japanese navy, so the heavy artillery could pick up landing ships from the shore.

[@Mondo762]

So disappointing to see how the British commanding generals made bad decision after bad decision, then surrender around 80,000 Soldiers to the Japanese. At least the Americans put up a good fight in the Philippines before finally surrendering. I am certainly not criticizing the Commonwealth Soldier, they are among the world's best. It is their leaders that failed miserably.

[@scaleyback217]

If you are interested in learning more try looking for a book called Singapore - The pregnable fortress. It gives the full story, warts and all, for the failures and they started with the peacetime errors of both administration and day to day practicals of a colonizing and yes, racist governing outlook. The sheer number of competing intelligence networks for example. The refusal of high command to order viable stocks of HE shells for the big guns at Belakan Mati and others. It is a myth they faced the wrong way - I've been there, they could have quite easily been turned to face inland and would have caused great casualties to the oncoming Japanese. Nobody in an influential position ever thought an enemy would come from landward therefore no HE was stock it was nearly all AP for use against shipping! Doh! The reason for the largest airbase in the area being built at Alor Star was because there was superb sailing on the coast nearby - Nobody ever considered asking the Army where it should be constructed in order for them to defend it! The refusal of the Thai government to allow an infantry force to establish itself on, The Ledge, just beyon the Malay border - it was here the Japanese would have been delayed, damaged and maybe halted. British Forces were ordered to obey the Thai Polic should they try to prevent movement to The Ledge - they did exactly that and thus The Ledge was nothing more than an inconvenience - again Doh! I could go on but you'd be better served by reading the book - it comes under the heading of a WTF book! Enjoy.

[@scaleyback217]

BTW - The most incompetent and disastrous of the leaders was an Australian by the name of Gordon Bennett.

[@paulpaterson1661]

General Bill Slim and Co made a world of difference in the later years Britain was kicking ass in Burma. They wiped out the Japanese in the Battle of Sittang Bend

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@@paulpaterson1661 And Kohima Imphal, the entire Japanese 15th army 85,000 strong was walloped.

[@guyh9992]

@@scaleyback217 Peter Ewer in The Long Road to Changi demonstrates how one sided and self serving this book is in its portrayal of Indians and Australians. Elphick did no research at all in the material held in British archives about the poor behaviour of the British in Singapore and places like Penang.

[@adi-lan1317]

Thanks for making the video about Battle of Jirtra Im a malaysian myself and i apreciate it that someone making a video about part of our country Note:Our school system didn't tell much about WW2 in Malaya,Borneo and Singapore,mainly about politics.i hope that Malaysian Education Ministry change this

[@izakireemsi2783]

Forget Politics History Malaya WW2 history based

[@lynx8437]

I apologise for Britain's failure to defend your country.

[@adi-lan1317]

@@lynx8437 its okay British is unequipped and comunication between each other is poor,the game was rigged from the start

[@rob5944]

@@lynx8437 Well said, and Britain's occupying of it too maybe?

[@lynx8437]

@@rob5944 No, there was benefits and negatives of British occupation.

[@edi9892]

Imagine fighting and taking such losses only to realize that the airport you were supposed to protect was long gone...

[@khairulhelmihashim2510]

inter-service rivalry?

[@edi9892]

@@khairulhelmihashim2510 bad communication. Seriously, if you're at a company and notice something like this between departments, then you can expect it to go bankrupt soon! My first employer was like this.

[@1809steph]

I was born in Jitra . My late father used to tell me he saw only Punjabis and Indians soldiers , and very few British ones . There was even a bullet hole shot through the wooden window of our shop , during the battle , from which sides , we don’t know . My dad remembered the Japanese on bicycles, but many were actually Taiwanese , who joined the Japanese. They could speak the Fujian dialects with the locals in Jitra town , after the battle was won . But these Taiwanese was more Japanese than the Japanese , as they were occupied by Japan since 1895 , and also more brutal , according to my dad .

[@user_____M]

British command: "We live in a society."

[@zainmudassir2964]

A jungle society. Ooga booga!!

[@leogazebo5290]

Japanese be like: I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike, I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like.

[@zainmudassir2964]

Tour de France!

[@caidurkan2916]

Hahahaha wow I know those lyrics hahaha from the little known band Queen hahaha wow nice 🤣🤣🤣 hahahaha 😂🤣 wow hahaha

[@abdulwafri1283]

@@zainmudassir2964 le real tour de Langkawi

[@richarddouglas688]

Now I can't get that song out of my head...

[@trollege9618]

@@zainmudassir2964 Tour De Malaya

[@saturnv2419]

It always make you wondering how those British commander got their job.

[@adude8424]

Aristocracy = easy promotion

[@hermanspaerman3490]

Most important factor, be able to sip tea correctly and munch on cucumber sandwiches.

[@scaleyback217]

Percival - though he looked anything but an heroic figure, was a tried, tested, decorated and well thought of infantry officer, earning his spurs in the first war. He carries the can because it was him in charge of course but he was badly let down by some of his subordinates - Gen Gordon Bennett being one of the most infamous. Having said this I still point the finger at Percival as regardless of what the head honcho of the empire in the area said he could have chosen to fight on. The Japanese were so low on ammo/fuel/food/medical supplies and indeed men fit to fight he thought he would have to withdraw back up the Malay peninsular to save his army. A few days longer and he would have been at that crucial point. He thought, when Percival and his team marched toward him with their white flag they had come to offer him surrender terms. It took a few minutes for him to realize they had come to surrender to him!

[@brianmin1734]

The soldiers were equally incompetent.

[@scaleyback217]

@@brianmin1734 Some were becuase they had little training or experience. Others operated well but no matter how good you or your unit may be if those on the flanks or covering your rear are not up to standard you are in trouble. The real problem was those in the decision making process - the squaddie on the ground is never included in that.

[@sidneyhaziq4901]

British soldier: Sir. Should we bring some tanks to defend Malaya sir? British officer: No no. Malaya jungle is too thick for a tank combat. And I am sure that tanks will be easily bogged down in mud. I bet the Japanese wouldn't bring their tank too The Japanese: _how bout' I do it anyway?_

[@TeardropSidemarker]

Also a small sandy place called Africa that was eating them up.

[@shivmalik9405]

@@TeardropSidemarker People should really stop referencing Africa’s to explain and defend British defeat. Even with the war in Africa , Britain had an entire empires worth of resources and hundreds of thousands of troops in the Asia pacific. They really failed

[@trollege9618]

That's what the French said with the Germans crossing the Ardennes

[@johnlop7763]

The Japanese: hold my bicycle.

[@yamby6709]

@@shivmalik9405 the brits de decided that the germans are more pressing matter so every new and available equipment was supplied to the homefront for the expected german land invasion that never happened and to the african campaign to drive the nazi's out of africa.

[@AlexanderYap]

The British really had no chance of holding northern or central Malaya given Japanese air and naval superiority. I reckon the best strategy was for them to abandon most of Malaya and fall back into Johor. There they might have enough concentration of force to form a strong continuous line guarding the northern approaches to Singapore, such that the Japanese could not easily outflank. The Japanese only landed enough troops and supplies for a quick campaign relying on speed and surprise. If the British had forced the Japanese to resort to frontal attacks, like the Americans in Bataan Phillipines, the Japanese would have to pause to await reinforcements and resupply. This would've set back their entire timetable for other operations.

[@historigraph]

Had they been able to execute Matador properly they'd have had a good chance to stop a Japanese landing before it started. Otherwise, yeah the positions they chose to defend were fatally flawed

[@syahnazjais3766]

I agree, they should just abandoned the whole nothern Malaya and concentrate all their man power in area around johor

[@shansuleiman2567]

The Allied did hold the Japanese at down south in Kampar for 4 days, 30th Dec till the 2th January 1942. High ridges known as Green, Thompson, Kennedy and Cemetery allowed good look out for the Allied.

[@albertchan6229]

The British had to hold Malaya as long as possible so that more reinforcements can arrive.

[@AlexanderYap]

@@albertchan6229 Reinforcements would land in Singapore, so as long as the Japanese could be kept beyond artillery range of Singapore, the ships could still arrive. The British would have lasted much longer if they moved their troops and supplies into a defensive line in Johor.

[@MXB2001]

Back in the 90's I played a wargame where I used to invade as the Japanese. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to brush aside those Brits. Really cool to finally have learned the historical basis for this.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Percival was probably channeling his inner Wellington.

[@BA-gn3qb]

But, with no Von Blücher to help him.

[@tisFrancesfault]

Wellington was brilliant; Percival was no wellington. Wellington would never have fought such foolish battles.

[@Marinealver]

I think you mean inner Cardona the only General who could have been defeated by Hotzendorf.

[@drusus_germanicus]

@@Marinealver Nah, Cadorna would have just performed mass-infantry assaults in the jungles whilst forgetting that morale is a thing.

[@seanwalker6460]

Percival was moved out to Asia when he failed in Europe. This was a time when the War Office transferred people rather than sack them. In his defence (and I do this through gritted teeth) he had been a Brigadier tasked with writing a defence of Malaya paper in 1938 and when he got there nothing- nothing - in his paper had been done. Nothing of the qualities he recommended for the airforce, no defensive lines, no trained troops, and no sea power -they key to his battle plans. It was a poisoned chalice and the political imperative of not losing territory and the racism with regards to the Japanese contributed to his problems. I think he surrendered as he knew we couldn't win and wanted to spare casualties. With hindsight, most of the men would have preferred to fight to the death rather than build the Burmese railway.

[@shansuleiman2567]

Great piece. Hoping to see the other battle, at Kampar, a town just south of Ipoh. The Allied hold the Japanese for 4 days (30th Dec till 2th January). The Japanese had to reroute the forces through the west coast and landed in Telok Anson and Bagan Datoh. The Allied held high ridges around the town and pounded the Japanese with 25 pounders and 4.5" mortars. And CO for the Japanese force, General Yamashita would order a reroute through the coastal area.

[@bikezonly]

I was in Kampar recently and tried looking for the Allied fort. But as with most historical sites in Malaysia, there was only an off-road access track with no signboards pointing the way. Thank goodness someone is now running the WW2 War Museum in Penang!

[@tvgerbil1984]

The crazy thing was how the British War Office decided in arming the garrison in Malaya .... no tank was sent to Malaya even if successive commanders from Dobbie to Percival repeatedly begging for some, or any, decent tanks. Instead Lanchester and Marmon-Herrington armoured cars were sent. Those were long wheelbase high ground-pressure thinly armoured wheeled vehicles which should have been obvious that they were totally unsuitable for the terrain of Malaya.

[@matthewbadley5063]

There were not tanks to spare really. Malaya was a tertiary theater and the UK was badly short of equipment after the Battle of France (and then again to a smaller extent in the Battle of Greece). All their tanks were allocated to defend Egypt basically. Looking at the bigger picture, tanks in flat open desert, perfect tank country, makes more sense than tanks in a jungle, where infantry have the easiest task of defending against them (aside from urban warfare).

[@tvgerbil1984]

@@matthewbadley5063 From June to October 1941, Britain actually shipped more than 466 tanks to the Soviet Union via the Arctic convoys but couldn't spare any to its own troops in the Far East before the Japanese invaded. That was how disconnected Winston Churchill and his High Command was with the Far East theatre.

[@Ocrilat]

At the time the British were wedded to their theories...and nothing so crass as common sense and experience would change their minds. Theory held that tanks were useless in the jungle so they were. Just like theory said that thick jungle was impenetrable...apparently Yamashita didn't get the memo on that either.

[@ar0568]

@@Ocrilat just like how theory said that tanks cannot cross such thickly wooded areas like the ardennes…oh wait

[@Ocrilat]

@@ar0568 Exactly. But for the British in this time period, they were so wedded to theory that they stuck to it, even when it was clearly wrong. To me it seems wrapped up in the British class system. Upper class theorists deciding on how to operate in a war, and when the theories are wrong...just blame the working class soldiers and sailors. Or lie. In Malaya the Army, RAF, and RN made the same mistakes they made in Norway in 1940. How?

[@vaporhtrail4350]

This is the exact reason why the Molotov cocktail and a sock filled with explosives dipped in motor oil is such an effective combo.

[@captainmorgan9066]

I am so glad your videos are now much more frequent. They are so interesting and well produced that they cannot get boring :D

[@dominatorduck65]

The first time in seeing anything this detailed on the Asian front without it being about China I need more

[@pckkaboo6800]

Ah.. the " a tank is still better than no tank scenario" .. from changlun to gurun were mostly flat lands where armor excel at.. no doubt they will steam roll the infantry

[@Minboelf]

Both Mark Felton and Historigraph did a good job on covering the Japanese tank assault which was rarely talked about

[@xxnightdriverxx9576]

wow I didnt expect you to upload so fast again after the last video. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. You really put that additional time as a fulltime content creator to use, it has barely been a week. Really looking forward to the next videos, thank you for all your hard work! I've said it before, and I will say it again: your videos are extremly good, they are very well researched, they are super good narrated, and together with your maps it is very easy to follow the events. You dont focus on unimportant, distracting details and instead keep it to the most important ones, you highlight good and bad decision making, miscominications and so on. Really good content! Thank you.

[@protosszocker5678]

I love your ways of making videos, great mix of graphics and old footage

[@theholyinquisition389]

Fascinating to see how often the Allies suffered defeat in detail at the hands of a smaller force and learned absolutely nothing

[@chrisholland7367]

Absolutely correct. American war of independence. Anglo Boer War. The early months of far east campaign ww2.

[@thetinychapel]

Watching this from Penang Island, I am saddened to note that the very old people I used to ask "Do you remember the Japanese invasion" are almost completely gone now. A 90 year old if you can find one, might remember. In Penang where many less-than-stellar British officials have streets named after them Percival doesn't get so much as an alley. Nor should he.

[@frantisekprusa4877]

Oh my goood. These videos are great! I cant wait for more!

[@camg6400]

Another amazing video, I had heard of this battle but never heard it described on such granular detail. Solid 5/7

[@smokejaguarsix7757]

Percival was an incompetent fool and a coward. He was the Japanese Army's MVP and he should have been prosecuted and hung as a traitor. He is the example of why military rules exist for removing incompetent commanders who break down under duress. His staff were just as guilty, more concerned with their good time than doing anything resembling military planning.

[@rainmakerroar4014]

I've been watching since the Mers El Kabir video and I would like to say I love your videos!

[@historigraph]

thanks!

[@herrhornbuckele5227]

Superb content as always. I watched Cape Matapan three times by now, let's see how often I will watch this one

[@MrGamezero]

These videos are always great. Well narrated and fun to watch

[@04mmar]

I love you, not lots of people talked about Malaya

[@dj7291993]

Kind of crazy how everyone talks about how quickly Germany moved in WWII, but forgets how fast the Japanese moved.

[@dyong888]

Because its unmentionable that the anglos would loose to the Japanese.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@@dyong888 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kampar

[@witoldmatuszek8736]

Thank you very much, great stuff. One improvement I would wish to see relates to your battle positions maps, primarily the Jitra map - I did manage, but it was not immediately clear what area your map is presenting, and being able to take a look at the satellite images of the relevant areas greatly enhances the experience for me. Even just showing the approximate map scale would be very helpful.

[@historigraph]

The trouble with satellite maps is they show how an area looks now, not 80 years ago. But yes feedback noted

[@witoldmatuszek8736]

@@historigraph Yes, of course. I do remember you were using satellite images in older videos - I did not mean to imply the change is for the worse. Thanks for your response.

[@Prince-vv8wk]

I’ve been into world war 2 since like 8 since my great grandfather served and his dad serving in world war 1 your channel is one of the best things on youtube to me thank you👍🏾♥️

[@AndrewLale]

It was clear from the Boer War on that the British Empire had essentially forgotten how to fight. Not that it would cease to fight, but that it had forgotten how to win fights it should have lost, but which were won by cunning, bravery, enterprise and wit.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

Well they won the 2nd time, by utilising fire and manuver instead of charging into defensive positions with no real tactics.

[@hagamapama]

Gotta say it, Britain's worst defeat will always be Isandlwana. This is pretty bad, but the japanese were attacking with tanks, not short spears and hide shields.

[@Ftanftangfnarrr]

Battle of France, Singapore, Retreat from Kabul, 1st Boer War, Yorktown and Suez are all in contention.

[@hagamapama]

@@Ftanftangfnarrr Yeah but all of thhose were against modern armies, not iron age tribes

[@georgesj.5995]

@@Ftanftangfnarrr ...on spot, except for Suez, a military victory but a resounding political defeat (US & USSR colluded into denying the Brits and the French their victory).

[@Zwickerly2]

Quality video as always, cheers!

[@MartinScully1]

This really is great work. Well done. Ps this is a fabulous example of the OODA Loop theory in action.

[@RodrigoFernandez-td9uk]

I wonder why Lindy Beige hasn't made an hour-long video on this topic.

[@scaleyback217]

'Cos it only takes a second to sum it up as nothing more than "A monumental cockup"

[@phoelixturner8653]

Because the British lost, and be would never bring light to that 😂

[@lordpigster]

Lindy's pro british, he would never do that😂

[@ariffahmi403]

@@lordpigster in my opinion,the best way to tell the history,you need to be neutral..if you're bias,you will always left out crucial infos..

[@billballbuster7186]

An ill equiped 11th Indian Division against the Japanese 15th Infanry Division + Tanks + Air Support + Thai Support. The Japanese were a far better equipped force, as they remained until the end of the campaign. Though the greatest impediment to British success was General Pecival who had no idea how to command an army in battle.

[@kenoliver8913]

As for the Japanese being better armed, not in all aspects. British small arms - vital for jungle warfare - were better quality. And they had vastly more artillery. The real difference was the Japanese were far better led at all levels.

[@billballbuster7186]

@@kenoliver8913 The Japanese were combat veterans of the war in China and were far superior to the barely trained soldiers defending the backwater of an Empite fully engaged in Europe and the Middle East. But Japans biggest advantage was General Percival, high on the list of worst commander EVER!!!

[@furrydoggo]

What a great video. Keep up the great work.

[@crazywarriorscatfan9061]

Amazing video as always!

[@armchairwarrior963]

The British didn't think much of the Japanese. They saw them as second rate. Their view was they are barely beating China, must be not up to par towards the British and other European powers etc...

[@nurfazsya4583]

They allied with japanese before ww2

[@scaleyback217]

The British had their officers in China reporting back the capabilities of the Japanese army and fighting man - there can be no excuses for not taking those reports seriously. There was ample opportunity to put into place proper preparations. Racist underestimation and colonial apathy beat those trying hard to take the situation seriously and prepare. Singapore and the Malay rubber and tin were fruits just waiting to be plucked. The same could be said about the Dutch preparations in what is now Indonesia.

[@kenoliver8913]

There was a lot of simple racism involved. So "yes, old chap, the Buffalo is obsolete, but in the hands of a pukkah British pilot the old crate will easily shoot down any little yellow man in his funny little Zero".

[@user-pn3im5sm7k]

Dumb anglos

[@historigraph]

Support the channel on Patreon - I'm now full time! www.patreon.com/historigraph Come join the historigraph discord: discord.gg/cjTaHFNAjS Follow me on Twitch for upcoming livestreams! www.twitch.tv/historigraph

[@nasserrafek9579]

Hi, Is it true that the IJA units were mostly koreans conscripts with japanese ncos and officers? Recall reading about this somewhere.

[@samhuggons2879]

Everything you produce continues to be amazing

[@keiththomas1180]

Dude this is so cool, loving this series so far😎, can't wait till the fighting in Central Malaya. Most documentaries I've seen always skip straight to the defence of Johore after Jitra

[@akmalfakhruddin7285]

Excellent vid! 👍

[@Ryuko-T72]

The British truly embodied "Lions led by Donkeys" in the first months at war With Japan. Will you be doing a battle of Hong Kong and Indochina Indochina series aswell? I feel this area of WW2 isn't well covered

[@looinrims]

Of course not, the Chinese and Japanese are the main ways to find information for most of it, imperial Japan ceased to exist and the Chinese language is hard, and of course suffers the fate of being under a virulent anti western communist state, meaning there are lots of narratives that must be held, and the archives are sealed toward 99.9999999% of people

[@HistoryOfRevolutions]

"The Commonwealth is a mixture of developing and developed world, in which the developed countries were very influential and their policies hold sway most of the time" - Mahathir Mohamad

[@NewmaticKe]

You are quoting a fool

[@memetierlists]

Just became Silver member on Patreon. These videos are great. Special commendation for the two series on conquests of Norway (1940) and Malaya (1941-42). I've seen little attention to either of these in Western video sources, no doubt in part due to the fact that they were both humiliations for the allies. But they're still important and interesting.

[@historigraph]

thank you!

[@memetierlists]

@@historigraph As we see history more or less fizzling out (or diluted) as something taught to our kids in school it's great to see a variety of channels filling the gap--and much more. Top marks also for Oversimplified, Montemayor, and others.

[@bobathicc5689]

Damn your Land combat videos are amazing!

[@jumbeaux1]

As a Malaysian, I've always been made to understand that the British retreated to Singapore too easily. We were expendable. What ever is the truth, my thoughts are with those soldiers that died in Jitra.

[@looinrims]

For what it’s worth it wasn’t because Malaya was expendable, it was simply overextended fingers rather than a closed fist, that were snapped off by the enemy

[@nataliefaust7959]

Also for what it's worth, Churchill wasn't particularly fond of abandoning any of the imperial holdings. Keeping them under British rule was a significant priority for him. In fact it's one reason why the Americans got sick of following their direction and took control of the Allies. So you weren't expendable, but only because they didn't want to lose the Empire.

[@larocagreyjoy7637]

Idk how to feel about this apps that "resume" books, I get its useful, and I might use it, but if you like a book, read it fully otherwise its like just watching a trailer, or thinking the author put words there to fill pages. I specially say this cause Sapiens and Homo deus are mind changers even at my old age, and deserve a full read if you liked them!

[@MrNicoJac]

I think the main value of such an app would be deciding which books to read fully, and which to skip. Summarizing an entire book in 15 minutes just by definition has to leave so much out, that you cannot pretend to have 'learned' its point (in my opinion)

[@gunnerdelta]

I love this channel. Rather than discuss in detail battles that are done to death, you tell us the stories of brave men that have gone unheard. I cant tank you enough.

[@historigraph]

thanks for the support!

[@admirald2680]

Excellent video, well done.

[@colinmartin2921]

The best commentary on the early British defeats in Burma and Malaya is in Field-Marshal Bill Slim's book 'Defeat into Victory'. The Japanese swept all before them in the early months of the war, being more motivated, experienced and ruthless, but once the Allies realized what was necessary to defeat them they were easily beaten.

[@looinrims]

‘Easily beaten’

[@CountCristo]

Watch till the end for the shorts reveal. Worth it.

[@Ronald98]

what?? what do you mean? what shorts?

[@John-nw8uj]

Percival was promoted to be Brigadier General Staff Malaya in the mid 1930s. He formulated a plan which called for 40 battalions of infantry and 2 Tank Regiments . 350 of the new monoplane fighters and bombers where requested. Percival returned to UK and commanded a Devision of the BEF. On returning to UK he was then promoted and sent out to be Commander Land Forces Malaya. None of his requests had been carried out by UK Government. Leadership in War by Jack Smythe VC MC.

[@brucepedersen4032]

Percival was a good soldier and commander. Germany had the British terrified after Dunkirk and Battle of Britain! Their air power was gone, leading to undefendable positions. ie. Japanese Air power was at it's peak. And sending Repulse & Prince of Wales with no air cover ended in disaster!

[@jona.scholt4362]

This channel is so underrated. There are other channels that try to do the same thing a d aren't nearly as successful, yet they have more subs. Is there any justice in this world?

[@dansampson6720]

This battle pretty much sums up Britain India and the Dutch in the east, completely not ready for war with prime and concentrated Japan against over stretched and 2nd rate allied forces, a perfect scenario

[@BatCostumeGuy]

They cared more about land with no strategic purpose or value than the troops.

[@dansampson6720]

@@BatCostumeGuy 100%. A great waste of lives

[@donflamingo795]

And Japan also used bicycles to invade Malaya Blitzkrieg style. Sounds stupid but they beat the Brits utterly to the point they just left Malaya at that time.

[@prakashghumaliya2002]

Video is very informative and great Thank you sir 👏🏼💐👏🏼💐👏🏼💐👏🏼💐👏🏼💐

[@TBAS606]

Great content!

[@chasemurraychristopherdola7108]

Can you do a video on the battle of kampar where the 11th Indian infantry division wins a tactical victory against the Japanese 5th division and during this battle the British had 1,300 infantry and 25 pounders from the 88th field artillery regiment and the 4.5 inch howitzers of the 155th field artillery regiment facing them was 9,000 infantry 200 tanks and 100 artillery pieces and the fresh and intact 41st infantry regiment along with the 11 infantry regiment and the Japanese estimate of British loses is 150 killed while Japanese estimates of Japanese losses is 500 killed and the battle of Kampar would not just be fought at kampar but also on the coast at Telok Anson where the Japanese 11th infantry regiment and a force from the imperial guards division will engage the 3rd Indian Cavalry regiment 1st independent company and the 12th brigade but the battle of kampar set in motion the British retreat to the next prepared defensive position at the slim river setting the stage for next major battles at battle the battle of slim river, Muar, the Parit sulong massacre and the battle of Singapore.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

Kohima Imphal was even more impressive, the destruction of 100,000 Japanese soldiers.

[@andro7862]

At this point it would have been better if it was nobody in command for the commonwealth troops.

[@brokenbridge6316]

Nicely informative video

[@potasiumsugar4210]

Cant wait for the next video

[@jongjunsheng1401]

Being Malaysian myself . The incompetence of the British allows us to be overrun and captured by the Japanese. What happens next was massacre of local Chinese civilians . This bloody mark will forever be remembered .

[@iamgreat1234]

Japanese kill at most 25,000 Chinese male in Sook Ching massacre

[@egnappahz]

Well if britain wasnt an island, they would have been completely knocked out of the war anyway.

[@SShiJie]

Im not sure what Im gonna do when I run out of videos to watch, your videos will feed me for maybe a few weeks

[@robbabcock_]

Great stuff!

[@Hellston20a]

The British exhibited another dimension of "poor leadership", that is inability to inspire courage and discipline. And the whole world just saw in the Winter war how infantry can easily defeat tanks given proper motivation and training.

[@Abhishek-sr2pu]

In winter was the Finnish did had tanks but here the British Indian army had no tanks. The india army equipment was also a little old. Look at ishapore enfield.

[@Hellston20a]

@@Abhishek-sr2pu Sorry to correct you, but the only instance of Finnish tank deployment was in Battle of Honkaniemi; The Finns fielded NO tanks elsewhere throughout the Winter war of 1939-40, including the famed Battle of Raate Road, where Finnish infantry destroyed Soviet tanks by themselves.

[@kenoliver8913]

But the lack of courage nad discipline of the Indian divisions in Malaya had the same reason as the lack of courage and discipline of the Italian army in North Africa - they were fighting someone else's war and knew it. In 1942 would you have been willing to die for the raj if you were Indian?

[@tisFrancesfault]

AS I have said a number of times, The whole defence was utterly amateurish. Something not even to be pegged down to hindsight. Trying to defend such forward positions, with no defences or effective natural defense was foolish. These battles should never have even been fought.

[@scaleyback217]

Absolutely especially given the lack of effective air support even though closeby was the largest RAF base in the far east - Alor Star.

[@tisFrancesfault]

​@@scaleyback217 Indeed. An utter waste of time to overextend, with fresh troops in underprepared positions, to hold strategic assets that are worthless to you. It not even a case of denying the enemy access, as they already have air superiority renders that a moot point. Muar to Kuala Rompin should have been the forward line.

[@seanmac1793]

As always #KeyestoSingapore

[@wardaddyindustries4348]

Quality work.

[@joshanderson9391]

Great video!

[@MrMattumbo]

Wait Japanese tanks actually won a battle? Incredible lmao

[@mad_max21]

Quite easy when the other side don't have any tanks at all.

[@shansuleiman2567]

The Japanese had 2 rather light tanks 1. Type 97 Chi Ha 15.8 ton with a 57mm gun and 2 x 7.7mm M/G 2. Type 95 Ha Go 7.4 ton with a 37mm gun and 7.7mm M/G The crews were well trained and experienced. However, the Allied had no such armour.

[@BatCostumeGuy]

@@shansuleiman2567 Yep, the Shermans were not suited to thick jungles.

[@eustache_dauger]

Those tanks are just lucky the British decided not to unleash their secret weapon, the Bob Semple!!!

[@ophirbactrius8285]

Yeah its deeply ultimately disgracefully and shamefully for British lost on that battle to the very outdated and low budget Japanese scraps tanks.

[@paulpaterson1661]

I suggest some people look at the Battle of Sittang Bend. The British annihilated the Japanese in it. The same time Seafires and Fairey Fireflys were raiding the Japanese mainland.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

Kohima Imphal as well the Japanese lost over 60,000 soldiers. One of the worst defeats in 1944.

[@alessiodecarolis]

Because finally they'd Better commanders, training and weapons!

[@user-pn3im5sm7k]

@@Bullet-Tooth-Tony- The Japanese defeat at Kohima and Imphal was the largest up until that time. They had suffered 54,879 casualties, including 13,376 dead (plus 920 casualties in the preliminary battles in Assam). Most of these losses were the result of starvation, disease and exhaustion. Most were Indians too. Not to mention the Japanese were led by Gen. Mutaguchi, which was Japan's equivalent to Percival...

[@jonavonyeo5744]

Hi, excited to watch it!

[@truenepalichoro9621]

Salute to those fallen Gurkha warriors from 1st and 2nd battalions. 🙏🙏🙏

[@timlevis3630]

When the Germans, Italians, and Japanese were building for war during the depression. England, America, and the Soviet Union were rebuilding their economies. Tactics win battles. Logistics win wars. I know what you will say, the allies were much bigger economically. That is why you don't kick the sleeping giants. This was bad but in the end, the Japanese paid a huge price.

[@casewhite-954]

Sounds like bullshit. Soviet Union rebuilding their economy? Are you stupid?

[@rickybell2190]

Tell me Tim ....what was scotland ,Northern Ireland and wales doing at the time England was building an economy?

[@comradekenobi6908]

@@casewhite-954 they’re industrialising

[@timlevis3630]

@@rickybell2190 Sorry I should have said Great Britain.

[@juliandeblock]

Great series!

[@taylorwilson2987]

Love these!

[@forumboss2620]

The more I study WWII history of British operations in all theaters, Army and Navy, the more I see complete leadership incompetence and tactical failures. El Alamein was an exception, but Gen. Montgomery had overwhelming numerical superiority plus US intelligence. Monty’s other later campaigns showed his incompetence. The Brits can be proud of Enigma Work, Battle of Britain, and convoy protection after 1942, but generally Brit performance in the war was pathetic. France, Greece, Crete, Malaysia, Singapore. One jerk-General-lead disaster after another.

[@scaleyback217]

You are both right and wrong. I don't have the time to debate any of the points with you and so will leave you to your beliefs. I would suggest you do further research however and you will find out for yourself British leadership was no worse or better than any other. Having said that when it went wrong it went spectacularly wrong (Singapore for example)

[@QuizmasterLaw]

RN in the med performed extremely well. So did RAF in the med.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@Forum Boss "Brit performance in the war was pathetic" Does this look pathetic to you? British battle victories over the Axis. Battle of the River Plate, 13 December 1939 Battle of Britain, 10 July - 31 October 1940 Siege of Malta, 11 June 1940 - 20 November 1942 Attack on Mers-el-Kébir . 3 July 1940 Battle of Cape Spada. 19 July 1940 Operation Hurry, 31 July-4 August 1940 Battle of Cape Passero, 12 October 1940 Operation MB8, 4 - 11 November 1940 Battle of Taranto, 11-12 November 1940 Battle of the Strait of Otranto, 12 November 1940 Operation Excess, January 10-11, 1941 Battle of Cape Matapan, 27-29 March 1941 Action off Sfax, 16 April 1941 Sinking of the Tirpitz, 12 November 1944 Sinking of the Bismarck, 26-27 May 1941- Sinking of the Scharnhorst, 26 December 1943 Bombing of the Gneisenau, 26-27 Feb 1942 Battle of the Barents sea, 31 December 1942 Operation Halberd, September 1941 St Nazaire Raid, 28 March 1942 AKA, The Greatest Raid of All Battle of the Duisburg Convoy, November 8-9, 1941 Battle of Cape Bon, 13 December 1941 Operation Albumen, 7/8 June, 1942 and 4/5 July, 1943 Second Battle of Sirte, 22 March 1942 Operation Stone Age, 20 November 1942 Battle of Skerki Bank, 2 December 1942 Battle off Zuwarah, 19 - 20 January 1943 Battle of the Campobasso Convoy, 3/4 May 1943 Operation Tenement, 13-15 July 1944 Battle of the Ligurian Sea, 18 March 1945 First Naval Battle of Narvik, 10 April 1940 Second Naval Battle of Narvik,, 13 April 1940 East African Campaign, June 1940 - 27 November 1941 Battle of Gondar, 13-27 November 1941 First Battle of El Alamein, 1-27 July 1942 Battle of Longstop Hill, 2-23 April 1943 Second Battle of El Alamein, 23 October-11 November 1942 Battle of Madagascar, 5 May 1942 - 6 November 1942 Battle of Keren, 5 February - 1 April 1941 Battle of Damascus, 18-21 June 1941 Battle of Beirut, 12 July 1941 Battle for Caen, 6 June - 6 August 1944 Operation Compass, 9 December 1940 - 9 February 1941 Operation Colossus, 10 February 1941 Battle of Bardia, 3-5 January 1941 Operation Compass, 9 December 1940 - 9 February 1941 Battle of Derna, January 24-26 1941 Battle of Beda Fomm, 6-7 February 1941 Capture of Kufra, 31 January - 1 March 1941 Battle of El Agheila, 11-18 December 1942 Siege of Tobruk, 10 April - 27 November 1941 Battle of Kohima - 4 April - 22 June 1944 Battle of Imphal - 8 March - 3 July 1944 Battle of Admin Box - 5-23 February 1944 Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay - January-March 1945 Battle of Hill 170 - 22-31 January 1945 Second Battle of Bardia, April 12 1941 Battle of Sollum, April 12 1941 Siege of Giarabub, December 1940 - 21 March 1941 Operation Brevity, 15-16 May 1941 Battle of Halfaya Pass, 1941 Battle of Fort Capuzzo, May 15-16 1941 General Fedele de Giorgis surrenders Operation Crusader, 18 November - 30 December 1941 Battle of Bir el Gubi, November 19 - December 4 1941 Nah I didn't think so. Some of the greatest highlights of WW2 by the British on land - the capture of 300,000 German and Italian prisoners in Tunisia, the capture of 130,000 Italians in Operation Compass, the destruction of 100,000 Japanese soldiers in the battles of Kohima and Imphal

[@seanmac1793]

Operation compass look into ig

[@kenoliver8913]

This is nonsense about Montgomery. Yep, he had his limitations as a general (and even bigger ones as a decent human being), but he was in fact extremely competent at planning, logistics and communications - which his American critics such as Patton often were not. These are no small things.

[@bigbo1764]

Idk, the British had a lot of “worst defeats” in WWII.

[@user-pn3im5sm7k]

Hong Kong and Singapore.... Yikes.

[@Ocrilat]

This video was terrific, and a well-done explanation of this complex and fascinating battle. Some of the problems the British had here were self-inflicted, which is what makes it so interesting imo (shades of Norway here). Yes, I am obsessed with this campaign. (Oh, and when I say 'British' I mean 'British, and Indian Army' for ground forces and 'British, Australian and New Zealand' for aircraft/pilots. Sorry, I'm lazy, and plus I think it sucks when certain nations are ignored.) A few bits: -Matador was never officially cancelled (and Percival specifically told Heath that it was not cancelled, though postwar Percival lied about this). -The British troops here were still using prewar army doctrine, and had not modified it from wartime experience or supposed knowledge of the jungle. The one British leader who prewar came up with a usable jungle doctrine (Ian Stewart, 2nd Argylls) was ridiculed and ignored by Percival on down, so instead the army tried fighting the Japanese in the jungle by linear defense tactics a la WW1. -The British were NOT poorly equipped. They had the standard loadout for fighting in Europe...which was actually worse than being poorly equipped, as the troops were overloaded (only the Australians changed their equipment loadout to better suit local conditions, because Australia). -The lack of British tanks came from their own armor theory, that held that tanks were useless in the jungle, especially in the rainy season. -The demolition of Alor Star rattled the defenders, and they complained to Percival about it. In future demolitions would more or less not happen, allowing the Japanese to capture the airfields and their supplies intact. That included petrol, food and bombs. -The defenses at Jitra were worked on for three months. British forces held the Japanese there for about a day or so of fighting. -The radios the British used here were short-ranged, and unreliable in wet conditions. Draw your own conclusions here. -A platoon of Valentines would have completely changed the battle for the road for the better. -A sane doctrine would have at least given the Japanese a fight. Delaying defeat until the UK could move Australian 1st Corp into Malaya (the plan) might have meant victory here. -The RAF not building the airfields on the mainland would have meant neither side would have air support, instead of only the British not having air support. -The RAF consulting the Army and placing the airfields in defensible locations would have allowed the army to fight in smarter locations. -The Buffalos were in Malaya because the RAF considered they were good enough for fighting Japan. Intel on the Zero was ignored. And there were only 70 ready for combat when the war started, versus 200+ Zeros. 70 Spitfires would have also failed. Note the New Zealand Buffalo pilots were mostly untrained. -The Army based their plans on the RAF boast that they would destroy 40% of Japanese troops landing in Malaya. They actually stopped less than 1% of Japanese troops. Also, the forces supposed to advance on the Ledge (which would have shut down the Japanese advance on that section of the front) were expected to to arrive at the Ledge in 2 1/2 hours. They gave up trying after 51 hours... a failure from over-caution that would have unraveled even a British victory at Jitra.

[@MrWolfstar8]

Such a fantastic series

[@dyong888]

I'm guessing the pommies weren't willing to sacrifice themselves by charging japanese tanks with explosives. The brits let down the people of Singapore and Malaya. The brits thought their troubles were over once they surrendered.... but the nightmare was only just beginning.