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Hong Kong

Hong Kong was located close to Japanese air bases in China during World War 2, making its defense difficult. Britain reinforced Hong Kong's garrison to 10,000 troops led by Major General Maltby. Maltby created the "Gindrinkers Line" defense but knew it could only hold out for a week against Japan. The line was abandoned after just two days as the Japanese advanced with air and troop superiority, capturing Hong Kong Island within 18 days despite British resistance.

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74 views

Hong Kong

Hong Kong was located close to Japanese air bases in China during World War 2, making its defense difficult. Britain reinforced Hong Kong's garrison to 10,000 troops led by Major General Maltby. Maltby created the "Gindrinkers Line" defense but knew it could only hold out for a week against Japan. The line was abandoned after just two days as the Japanese advanced with air and troop superiority, capturing Hong Kong Island within 18 days despite British resistance.

Uploaded by

AinsleyKerr
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Long term affects

What happened

Defending Hong Kong


Hong Kong was located only 650km away from the Japanese air bases at Formosa, a dangerous location for a British colony- especially since Japan already had more than a million men stationed in China as part of the Sino-Japanese war that had started in 1937. Initially, Britain had accepted the capture of Hong Kong as inevitable and planned to withdraw their troops, but the decision was never fully implemented. In 1940 the Chiefs-of-Staff in London had described Honk Kong as an undesirable military commitment. However, Britain could not withdraw from it simply because this would undermine her prestige in the region. Britain accepted Canadas offer of reinforcements; an additional 2 to the 4 existing garrisons, making a total of 10, 000 men. The commander of the 10,000 strong garrison was Major-General Christopher M Maltby, a 50 year old Indian Army Officer who was under no false illusions as to either the magnitude of his task, or the inadequacy of his resources. Charged with Holding Hong Kong for as long as possible so as to deny the harbour to the Japanese, he created a means of defense named the Gindrinkers Line.

If Japan goes to war there is not the slightest chance of holding Hong Kong or relieving it. It is most unwise to increase the loss we shall suffer there. Instead of increasing the garrison it ought to be reduced. Japan will think twice before declaring war on the British Empire, and whether there are two or six battalions at Hong Kong will make no difference. I wish we had fewer troops there, but to move any would be noticeable and dangerous. ~ Churchill, Jan 7th, after reading telegrams urging the reinforcement of Hong Kong.

The Gindrinkers Line


Gin Drinkers Line (Chinese: ) was the British military defence line against Japanese invasion in Hong Kong in 1941. Bunkers, concrete fortified machine gun posts, trenches and artillery batteries were built along the line. Its name came from Gin Drinkers Bay, a bay nearby in Kwai Chung, Hong Kong. Maltby believed that the Gindrinkers Line would only hold out for seven days. When it was obvious that the line would falter, Maltby planned to pull everyone back to Hong Kong Island. Similar to the Maginot Line, a France war tactic that worked much along the same principal but was found to be very weak (Ex. Only 30 soldiers would be found defending a bunker with a capacity for 120), the Gin Drinkers Line was generally considered to be a complete failure. The line and the whole of Kowloon were abandoned by the British troops in just two days.

How we lost it

Fact File : Fall of Hong Kong

8 to 26 December 1941

Theatre: Pacific Area: Kowloon Peninsula (China) and Hong Kong Island.

Players: Allies: Hong Kong Garrison (six battalions). Japan: 12 battalions. Outcome: With overwhelming numbers and air cover, the Japanese forces advanced rapidly through the Kowloon Peninsula to capture Hong Kong Island within 18 days.

Hong Kong should be regarded as an important though not vital outpost to be defended for as long as possible.' - Chiefs of Staff Defence Review, 1937

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