Battle of Hong Kong 1941 - Pacific War DOCUMENTARY

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  • Опубліковано 30 січ 2021
  • The first 100 people to go to www.blinkist.com/kingsandgene... are going to get unlimited access for 1 week to try it out. You’ll also get 25% off if you want the full membership
    Kings and Generals 3d animated historical documentary series on modern warfare continues with a video on the battle of Hong Kong of 1941. Japanese Empire is waging another Sino-Japanese war against China and decides that it is time to take over Hong Kong, as the British were using it to supply the Chinese. This battle is considered one of the first in the Pacific War within World War II.
    Previous videos in the series: • Winter War
    Cold War channel: / @thecoldwartv
    Modern Warfare series: • Modern Warfare
    Winter War: • Winter War 1939-1940 -...
    Russo-Japanese War - Battle of Khalkhin Gol 1939: • Battle of Khalkhin Gol...
    Support us on Patreon: / kingsandgenerals or Paypal: paypal.me/kingsandgenerals or by joining the youtube membership: / @kingsandgenerals We are grateful to our patrons and sponsors, who made this video possible: docs.google.com/document/d/1o...
    The video was made by Leif Sick, while the script was developed by Ivan Moran. The video was narrated by Officially Devin ( / @offydgg & / @gameworldnarratives )
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    Production Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com
    #Documentary #HongKong #PacificWar

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,4 тис.

  • @KingsandGenerals
    @KingsandGenerals  3 роки тому +834

    More Pacific and World War II battles on the way!

    • @Galland780
      @Galland780 3 роки тому +19

      Nice! Excited for it :)

    • @syuibnorzaimi5943
      @syuibnorzaimi5943 3 роки тому +4

      Yea me too and all of your subscribers

    • @yousufkhan5787
      @yousufkhan5787 3 роки тому +4

      Me excited

    • @hkarmy7526
      @hkarmy7526 3 роки тому +1

      Yes this us amazing!
      Love you guys :)

    • @syedazam2568
      @syedazam2568 3 роки тому +15

      This is a great series if you are doing the Pacific War. Your Stalingrad, Kursk and the Bulge were magnificent masterpieces. I can't even wait to imagine Fall of Singapore, Midway and Philippine Sea by you guys. Top Work

  • @jazung
    @jazung 3 роки тому +412

    As a local Hong Kong citizen, I'd like to express my gratitude for K&G team for making this amazing video! My grandmother and her family avoided death by surrendering the family house to the Imperial army... She's still alive and healthy today!

    • @tekis0
      @tekis0 2 роки тому +2

      That's amazing!

    • @jt19933
      @jt19933 2 роки тому +1

      Bless her!

    • @sirexo3168
      @sirexo3168 2 роки тому

      🚀🚀

    • @rodneywarr5696
      @rodneywarr5696 2 роки тому

      Hong Kong Fu- e

    • @bigploppa154
      @bigploppa154 Рік тому +1

      @@VasilikiSiliaKapsis1921 must be interesting to talk to. i had a grandfather who served in the Pacific, wouldve been really interested to hear about his time there, had he not passed before i was born

  • @devilpuppetsinc
    @devilpuppetsinc 3 роки тому +1132

    This part of the war seems so rarely covered, it’s nice to see this on Kings and Generals. We need more on the Asian theater!

    • @connorbutler5900
      @connorbutler5900 3 роки тому +27

      ​@Metallus Zorax I mean, the Pacific Theatre was pretty well covered in things like The Pacific, Hacksaw Ridge, Unbroken, Letters from Iwo Jima etc. But I'd definitely love see more!

    • @linkofvev
      @linkofvev 3 роки тому +23

      @@connorbutler5900 I think its because it didn't involve one of the big 3: Russia, Germany or the USA.

    • @tamasharbula3317
      @tamasharbula3317 3 роки тому +21

      It was a shameful episode for the british, its perfectly normal they don't want to talk about it or about the losing of the Prince Of Wales.

    • @tamasharbula3317
      @tamasharbula3317 3 роки тому +10

      @@connorbutler5900 the American side is always covered. Why they don't make a lot of movies about shameful episodes in their history?

    • @linkofvev
      @linkofvev 3 роки тому +22

      @Metallus Zorax I think you're just looking for racism at this point. Pearl Harbour, one of the most well known events of the war, was a humiliation and defeat of "the whites".

  • @OtterSam
    @OtterSam 3 роки тому +464

    The Gin Drinkers Line, the most British thing I ever heard.

  • @Woodsy2575
    @Woodsy2575 3 роки тому +798

    My grandfather was living there as a kid when the Japanese invaded, everything of value was stolen from his home and his dad was one of those tortured after the Japanese secured control of the island. I can see why he never wanted to talk about it, the battle lasted a lot longer than history books make it out.

    • @vernonmcphee6746
      @vernonmcphee6746 3 роки тому +152

      One of my uncles was in one of the Canadian battalions at Hong Kong. He survived the battle and 3.5 years as a POW of the Japanese and even decades later he would never buy a Japanese car, TV , etc. even if it was 1/2 the price of similar domestic products.

    • @Woodsy2575
      @Woodsy2575 3 роки тому +92

      My grandpa was pretty pissed when my parents bought their first Japanese car. I don’t take it quite that far, but it is disappointing to see how many people in the west fetishize the culture that justified all of the terrible things they did during the war.

    • @jordinagel1184
      @jordinagel1184 3 роки тому +104

      @@Woodsy2575 it is of course also necessary to ask if the culture is still the same. I’m German, and I am extremely grateful that the world’s perception of us has shifted away from “those Nazi guys,” mostly because we ourselves have realized how fucked up all that was and have been owning up to it ever since. I don’t believe that people should have to be blamed for the sins of their grandfathers, but of course that depends entirely on whether the mindset in Japan has changed. Personally I don’t know much about the subject, so someone else will have to be the judge of that.

    • @Woodsy2575
      @Woodsy2575 3 роки тому +120

      In the case of the Japanese, they venerate war criminals and deny that they ever committed atrocities, they basically skip the Imperialist period in schools altogether. Germany has sought to atone for their role in the destruction of WWII, Japanese governments have tried to brush it all under the rug

    • @jordinagel1184
      @jordinagel1184 3 роки тому +29

      @@Woodsy2575 that’s... disappointing to hear, especially for someone like me. I’m curious as to why we went off in different directions, but I’m guessing it comes down to the Holocaust. It was something never seen before, or at least nowhere near that scale, genocide reduced to an industrial process. Compared to that, Japanese war crimes must have seemed much more “mundane” (still horrifying, but nothing previously unheard of in warfare), with the possible exception of the sickening “experiments” the Japanese did (as did the Nazis under Mendele). It’s probable that the latter’s existence was eclipsed by the Holocaust, or perhaps even hushed by the US in exchange for some of the knowledge gained from the experiments. It’s hard to say.

  • @Furniture121
    @Furniture121 3 роки тому +60

    It's nice to see the Canadian and Indian troops recognized, rather than called "British" like many histories do.

  • @gertrudasozinkas4950
    @gertrudasozinkas4950 3 роки тому +627

    "The spies in Hong Kong motivated desertions" I imagine their motivating: "C'mon the Japanese are nice, they will totally not execute civilians, medical personnel, Fort garissons...

    • @whathell6t
      @whathell6t 3 роки тому +16

      @@johnhuang3278
      Do you have proof?

    • @Cailus3542
      @Cailus3542 3 роки тому +174

      @@johnhuang3278 Well, yeah. The Chinese government are violating the treaty they made with Britain. The whole point of the treaty (keeping democracy for a while) was so that Hong Kong would switch over peacefully and smoothly. Now China have broken the treaty, beginning the shift to communism far earlier than they promised. Of course people are angry. What did the government expect?

    • @thigrifstef
      @thigrifstef 3 роки тому +105

      @@whathell6t By looking at his surname “Huang” you can know he’s from Mainland China as 黃 is spelled “Wong” in Romanised Cantonese.

    • @debrickashaw9387
      @debrickashaw9387 3 роки тому +72

      @@johnhuang3278 Go cry to winnie the pooh about it

    • @pedroivantaveraferreira3037
      @pedroivantaveraferreira3037 3 роки тому +7

      @@Cailus3542 Exactly!! What's the hurry?!
      USA is falling apart by itself being unable to sell the "American Dream" ideology any further (even inside its own territory), losing market shares in everything due to lower quality caused by "this quarter profits, forever cuts" etc.
      The reigh of USA seems to be close to end and nothing in Earth can stop China as it is the "only" industrial power in the world. Why the chinese can't become king of the world in an organized slow march?

  • @haggis525
    @haggis525 Рік тому +26

    My Uncle was captured at Hong Kong on Christmas day of 1941. He was a Rifleman with the Canadian Army. He spent the next nearly 4 years - until liberated at the end of 1945 as a POW of the Japanese. He was tortured, nearly starved, beaten for no reason and went from a strong young man of 5'11" tall and 175 pounds at capture to under 100 pounds at liberation. He was a slave labourer in Japan at a ship yard, a coal mine and a steel plant. He managed to survive the war and return to Canada... but he died young... only 52 years old. A result of his poor treatment as a POW.
    His name was Russell Lancaster.... never forget!

  • @thelifehacker5706
    @thelifehacker5706 3 роки тому +68

    Never forget Brigadier John Lawson, commander of the East Brigade, who was surrounded and killed at Wong Nai Chung Gap, along with his staff. Lawson radioed his commanders that he was "going outside to fight it out" and left his pillbox with a pistol in each hand. He was killed in the ensuing fight.

  • @eugene7145
    @eugene7145 3 роки тому +402

    HOLY SMOKES!!! My home city is featured on Kings and Generals? This is the best day ever!! On behalf of the entire Hong Kong population, thank you for making this video to let more people know this exceptional historic event!!

    • @wilson0712
      @wilson0712 3 роки тому +47

      Hell yeah, especially someone is trying to alter history. You know what I'm talking about.

    • @thedoruk6324
      @thedoruk6324 3 роки тому +33

      @@wilson0712 unfortunately the (party) already succeeded as they reacquired and absorbed Hong Kongs unique city and culture

    • @BreadWinner330
      @BreadWinner330 3 роки тому +55

      @@wilson0712 Here's to the people who say the Brits did nothing for Hong Kong, and don't forget the Indians and Canadians. Chinese communists did next to nothing to win WW2 and yet they claim the victory as their own

    • @edmondlaw8615
      @edmondlaw8615 3 роки тому +19

      @@BreadWinner330 in common western military sense
      Loosing about 10 to 15%of the force is a tremendous loss which will almost definitely lead to the abandon of the operation
      Yet the British empire garrison lost 25% and only surrender when the last water storage site is lost
      LONG LIVE THE BRITISH EMPIRE!!!!

    • @atilla8433
      @atilla8433 3 роки тому +5

      Your home city is one of the biggest and most well known cities in the world why are you so surprised :D

  • @wes7706
    @wes7706 3 роки тому +217

    Man it feels so weird hearing places referred to that I can see out of my apartment where so many years ago there was conflict and now pretty much just buildings.

    • @Conanap
      @Conanap 3 роки тому +10

      It' so weird to hear Shatin, where I used to go to hangout all the time, being mentioend as a site of battle

    • @longyu9336
      @longyu9336 3 роки тому +8

      Imagine living in Wolgograd. I guess for the first few years after WW2 they must have dug up scores of human remains when constructing a new house.

    • @tamjeff1751
      @tamjeff1751 3 роки тому +2

      @@longyu9336I was thinking of the same thing an hour ago. But you can say the same thing of places in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. There were deaths everywhere.

    • @tamjeff1751
      @tamjeff1751 3 роки тому

      @@Conanap Shatin was just a piece of land in the 50s I think. Much like Richmond British Columbia, a piece of land with a few farms...

    • @longyu9336
      @longyu9336 3 роки тому +1

      @@tamjeff1751 There is a German poem describing the aftermath of the fields of Verdun, how farmers find half rotten corpses every week emergin from the fields and when he buries the first batch, the second batch comes up after ploughing too.

  • @talsamChan
    @talsamChan 3 роки тому +56

    As a Hongkonger, thank you so much for covering the history of my hometown.

  • @willkp50
    @willkp50 3 роки тому +133

    Considering nobody else is talking about them in the comments, my respect to “The Hughsiliers” and their last stand, especially considering that they weren’t professional soldiers. 🇬🇧 🇭🇰

    • @leiyue1411
      @leiyue1411 3 роки тому +9

      After British surrender, a communist led guerrilla called 港九游击队 fought Japanese till 1945.

    • @ngauryan5176
      @ngauryan5176 3 роки тому +9

      From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

    • @timoc5880
      @timoc5880 8 місяців тому +1

      @@leiyue1411They are useless.

  • @WChu351
    @WChu351 3 роки тому +171

    I'm really grateful to see the Battle of Hong Kong covered! I've heard so many stories of hardship about the war from my grandparent's generation in Hong Kong, so it is quite meaningful to see WW2 material that directly covers my own family history.

  • @felician7874
    @felician7874 3 роки тому +93

    As a Hong Kong person and a local tour docent I am so proud that this battle (a) lasted 18 gruesome days against vastly superior Japanese forces and (b) made it into this channel!!

  • @niccolocaramori7288
    @niccolocaramori7288 3 роки тому +246

    Ok, now i can't wait for a video about Singapore siege, one of the most humiliating british military defeat in history, excellent video as always

    • @exudeku
      @exudeku 3 роки тому +2

      @DiscordChaos next to the Yanks, The Brits' Colonies are getting fucked up

    • @yegorperepelytsya7812
      @yegorperepelytsya7812 3 роки тому +1

      @DiscordChaos dunkerk

    • @yegorperepelytsya7812
      @yegorperepelytsya7812 3 роки тому +1

      @DiscordChaos indeed , however in terms of casualities and equipment loses its nowhere near ,furthermore most of the garrison consisted of commonwealth forces

    • @lacepub
      @lacepub 3 роки тому +1

      @@yegorperepelytsya7812 we have to know the differences between death and tortured until death

    • @danishkfd
      @danishkfd 3 роки тому +2

      Indians and Australians were winning the British were just to paranoid.

  • @kaze987
    @kaze987 3 роки тому +22

    I've visited the Commonwealth Cemetery in Stanley. Lots of fellow Canadians buried there but plenty of local Chinese as well, British of course, and Indian troops too

    • @carlnilssonyoung8961
      @carlnilssonyoung8961 Рік тому

      There’s another one, Sai Wan war memorial cemetery near Cape Collinson.

  • @yesno-cu3ey
    @yesno-cu3ey 3 роки тому +69

    I'm a Hongkonger and I'm glad this video is made. I am currently working on a project to remove the dirt and vegetation which covers part of the Shing Mun Redoubt here, part of the Gin Drinkers Line, and after that people can access it more easily
    If you would like to know more about the Battle of Hong Kong, I recommend reading Tony Banham's books
    Edit: I will be dedicating my entire holiday on maintaining Shing Mun Redoubt. Since I haven't gone there for 2 months due to exams it's probably a bit overgrown again, I will be heading there on this Friday to clean up the vegetation and continue digging up a trench which is half covered. While the design of the redoubt is seriously flawed, they did a good job on drainage and ventilation, I can stay there in summer and not drop a sweat. I really hope the government would preserve these places, but I guess they aren't interested in that.
    I posted a video of a timelapse of 10 minutes of digging on my channel, might do a full video tour later
    Edit: Fun story, usually during my cleanups I tour random people through the redoubt tunnels because obviously your average visitor isn't going to be able to navigate in the dark. I once found a group of people who cleaned up trash nearby and had paint remover on them, I toured them through the entire redoubt so that they could clear the graffiti and trash inside, teamwork ;)

    • @andro7862
      @andro7862 3 роки тому +14

      Thank you preserving local history.

    • @Marcusjnmc
      @Marcusjnmc 3 роки тому +1

      ^

    • @propaneranger1000
      @propaneranger1000 3 роки тому +2

      I agree that these historical sites should be kept well. Thank you for your contributions towards the preservation of these sites, there should be more people like you in Hong Komg

    • @keieichsee
      @keieichsee 2 роки тому +2

      Hats off to you on your attempt to upkeep the Shing Mun Redoubt. You are doing a great job of keeping Hong Kong as Hong Kong, not something else. I'm with you on this one: the local government does not give me the impression that they care about what they imagine as something British. They do give me the impression that they want to 'erase' British Hong Kong from the history books.

    • @OK-ws7ti
      @OK-ws7ti 2 роки тому

      I love and appreciate you. While the price of Hong Kong and the current government make me not want to visit Hong Kong, I do love all history and culture, and so I pray one day I am able to appreciate all the work you've done in person

  • @hng5260
    @hng5260 3 роки тому +84

    I grew up in the quiet neighborhood of Jardine Lookout .. didnt even know about its bloody past. Thanks for the video!

    • @---iv5gj
      @---iv5gj 3 роки тому +4

      hello neighbour from childhood

  • @nimblehuman
    @nimblehuman 3 роки тому +26

    Being the son of a Rajput myself I find this history both fascinating and inspiring!

    • @salopiansheep8913
      @salopiansheep8913 2 роки тому +1

      And the Free World owes so much to him and his colleagues.

    • @wanhoor4504
      @wanhoor4504 2 роки тому +1

      There is one fact missing, the Rajput hold Devil’s Peak until main forces retreated to the island. Those are brave men.

  • @tcleung4228
    @tcleung4228 3 роки тому +30

    The Hughesiliers defending North Point were formed mostly by workers from Taikoo Dockyard and the HK Electric company. Most of them were seniors and fought in WW1. It's commander, John Paterson, was 55 years old at the time and was the incumbent executive council and legislative council member, a high-level advisor and lawmaker to the governor.

  • @yb4b34
    @yb4b34 3 роки тому +29

    I am a Hong Konger. Thank you for your fantastic document. This is the history that every Hong Kongers will never forget.

    • @eugene7145
      @eugene7145 3 роки тому +4

      @@sid2112 Thank you so much.

    • @ethanramos4441
      @ethanramos4441 3 роки тому +9

      Let not forget the sacrifice of the Canadian troops

    • @yb4b34
      @yb4b34 3 роки тому +8

      @@ethanramos4441 of course. Absolute salute to those who across the entire ocean to protect Hong Kong.

    • @ethanramos4441
      @ethanramos4441 3 роки тому +4

      @@yb4b34 Yeah including Sgt Major John Osborne

    • @cococly
      @cococly 3 роки тому +2

      I grew up in Hong Kong, and suprised to know about the Battle of Hong Kong 1941, as we weren't taught at all about the details of this, apart from the 44-month Japanese Occupation period.
      While Canadians know more about this Battle as it is taught in High School Social Studies.

  • @johnnewton3592
    @johnnewton3592 3 роки тому +8

    I am from Canada and all I can say is the Canadians in this invasion put up a ton of grit and fought hard. It amazes he well we managed despite the odds against them.

  • @A19B32P
    @A19B32P 3 роки тому +319

    Thank you to brave Canadians and Punjabis who defended Hong Kong, thousands of miles away from their homes.

    • @ShubhamMishrabro
      @ShubhamMishrabro 3 роки тому +47

      Rajputs too

    • @HingerlAlois
      @HingerlAlois 3 роки тому +21

      To be fair the Brits occupied it in the first place lol.

    • @Arthur_Morgaan
      @Arthur_Morgaan 3 роки тому

      E

    • @joshuabonilla3491
      @joshuabonilla3491 3 роки тому +11

      @@willblack8575 It wasn’t empty it was a trading port what do you mean.

    • @benpage5088
      @benpage5088 3 роки тому +25

      @@joshuabonilla3491 But nothing compared to what it became under the British I think is his point

  • @Boatswain_Tam
    @Boatswain_Tam 3 роки тому +29

    I use to stay in Tsuen Wan District, and you can take a hike to see the Shing Mun Redoubts. The pillbox in Jardine Lookout is still there. My mother's side of the family fled to Macau and stayed there for the rest of the war. They were the lucky few that didn't have to endure the 3 years and 8 months occupation that was to follow.

    • @ethanramos4441
      @ethanramos4441 3 роки тому +1

      Mate lucky you. I reed the story of Sgt Major John Osborne

  • @saikou135
    @saikou135 3 роки тому +113

    Man, Canadians fought hard and well. Makes me proud

    • @ethanramos4441
      @ethanramos4441 3 роки тому +16

      Not to mention one of them won the Victoria Cross

    • @shinestar2912
      @shinestar2912 3 роки тому +11

      Sadly they along with the Indians were used as cannon fodder to buy time while Maltby and the British escaped and had time to negotiate surrender.

    • @saikou135
      @saikou135 3 роки тому +6

      @Katarina Love Nice rapping videos HAHAHHA
      Pipe down little boy Lmfao

    • @torpedoboatdestroyer
      @torpedoboatdestroyer 3 роки тому +4

      Both Malby and Governor Young were captured after surrendring.

    • @vaterix4202
      @vaterix4202 3 роки тому +4

      Indians fought harder.

  • @kartinos6129
    @kartinos6129 3 роки тому +28

    It is said that 1 man stopped the Japanese at the gates of the temporary hospital at at Stephen’s college, he was a Chinese teacher at that school. he said “You cannot come in here, there are women and injured soldiers here” before being brutally murdered by the Japanese. Today he is a legendary figure at the college with a plaque of his heroic deeds plastered next to the college library, where the hospital once stood.

  • @eod6348
    @eod6348 3 роки тому +25

    The British Canadian general in charge of the defence of Hong Kong John K Lawsons last stand inspired the star wars character captain Keeli.

    • @RaymondCFung
      @RaymondCFung 3 роки тому +9

      He was also the highest ranking Canadian killed in action in WWII. He left the message "I am going outside to fight it out", then died fighting in Wong Nai Chung Gap.

  • @blainp16
    @blainp16 3 роки тому +11

    My great uncle fought with the Royal WINNIPEG Rifles in Hong Kong and spent 5 years as a POW. I am very happy to get a blow by blow account of what happened. Thank you

  • @tenchhofaiyongsawa255
    @tenchhofaiyongsawa255 3 роки тому +23

    I'm a Nepali living in Hong Kong and this video is what I wanted

    • @edmondlaw8615
      @edmondlaw8615 3 роки тому +3

      I believe yr ancestor help defend our city in some point

    • @tenchhofaiyongsawa255
      @tenchhofaiyongsawa255 3 роки тому +4

      @@edmondlaw8615 In ww2 scots, Brits and the rajput(indian) fought for Hong Kong but I haven't heard gurkhas

    • @ShubhamMishrabro
      @ShubhamMishrabro 3 роки тому

      @@edmondlaw8615 could work too. Lot of people from Indian subcontinent went for work or indentured labour during colonisation

    • @godlovesyou1995
      @godlovesyou1995 3 роки тому

      @@tenchhofaiyongsawa255 scots are brits

  • @BLUEKOMMEH
    @BLUEKOMMEH 3 роки тому +16

    Wow, I don't know if this is the first time these 3d graphics have been used, but they're incredible! This channel deserves massive recognition. This is better than most professional documentaries.

  • @tkwc2
    @tkwc2 3 роки тому +10

    Being from HK, this is definitely the video that captivated me the most from the channel.

  • @aleattorium
    @aleattorium 3 роки тому +56

    Awesome as always, the pacific theater is so underrated, but yet so interesting. Hope situations like Bataan, Marianas, and others comes up.

    • @SD-mw7sc
      @SD-mw7sc 3 роки тому +7

      Burrrrrrrrrma

    • @kawaiku
      @kawaiku 3 роки тому +8

      I never thought it was underrated. I think most of the focus is always on the US island hopping campaign and little focus on the land war in China, Burma and other locations.

    • @aleattorium
      @aleattorium 3 роки тому +1

      @@saint_matthias That is true! Even "mainstream" podcasters are commenting it more nowadays. Some years ago it was all about the western front, sometimes the Russian front.

    • @aleattorium
      @aleattorium 3 роки тому +1

      @@kawaiku that's also true, but I think it is underrated, so much happened in the Pacific, each battle has so much detail. The Australians done some really brave things, that is almost never mentioned.

  • @arniewilliamson1767
    @arniewilliamson1767 3 роки тому +4

    Great coverage. I have an Uncle who fought with the Canadian Army there. Interestingly he was a 185 pound man when they went into captivity and only 90 pounds when he was liberated. He always talked so fondly of the crew on the American destroyer that picked them up for the return home. After 3 1/2 years of starvation the crew put on an enormous spread of bacon, eggs, toast, orange juice and coffee. Most of them chowed down only to be sick afterwords as thier bodies couldn't handle such rich food after years of starvation.
    A great presentation and thanks from a Canadian family for sharing.

  • @settekwan2708
    @settekwan2708 3 роки тому +43

    I'm from Hong Kong. Thank you for making this video !

    • @wilson0712
      @wilson0712 3 роки тому +4

      Same here!

    • @hitler1263
      @hitler1263 3 роки тому +9

      Fight for freedom...

    • @tongzijun
      @tongzijun 3 роки тому +12

      @@hitler1263 Stand with Hong Kong

    • @eugene7145
      @eugene7145 3 роки тому +4

      @@johnhuang3278 I feel so ashamed for your parents.

    • @eugene7145
      @eugene7145 3 роки тому +5

      @@johnhuang3278 Imagine defending a neo-facist regime in the 21st century on UA-cam.

  • @calebhobden719
    @calebhobden719 3 роки тому +11

    An interesting story about the battle tells us about a dog named Gander (Newfoundland) who was with the Royal Rifles of Canada at the Battle of Hong Kong, the story goes that during the battle gander fought with the Canadians and at one point of the battle picked up a Japanese grenade and ran towards the enemy. Gander was awarded the Dickin Medal which is the metaphorical animal equivalent of the Victoria cross

  • @pagarb
    @pagarb Рік тому +6

    I heard a lot about the Winnipeg Rifles, of who few survived the abuse they received as POW's for having fought so bravely and well as they did. It was what I heard about guys like this that inspired me to serve in an SF team. There's a very nice beach on the east side of HK called Sheko. On the road down to Shecko there used to be a badly scarred concrete bunker held by a Canadian platoon who called in fire from Fort Stanley where there was a big 8" naval gun. That fire caused a lot of casualties to the regiment that landed at Sheko. The Canadians were trapped in this bunker, some were killed in the fight and the rest were wounded. They ran out of ammunition and surrendered but the attacking forces instead to taking them prisoner, left them there to slowly die. It was a very tragic end to a really heroic stand.

  • @hermannliang4765
    @hermannliang4765 3 роки тому +11

    My families were living in Hongkong before the battle. My great-grandma carried my 1-year-old grandma on her back and fled to mainland China. Sadly for her, she lost 50% of her hearing due to the bombardment, but she remained a tough woman and raised her kids out of poverty. 80 years later, watching this video I can hardly imagine what she went through. And yet you will never find any mention of this battle in the history book if you are raised and educated in mainland China like me.

    • @bigploppa154
      @bigploppa154 Рік тому

      unfortunate, im sure every nation teaches with some sort of bias/propaganda but from my perspective the PRC might do it the most. I had a professor who had recently immigrated from China a few years ago who would spew misinformation and i never knew if it was intentional or not (the course was African and Asian human geography). he said that the pollution problem in East Asia was Japans fault, he said Vietnamese love PRC for keeping the West away, said Taiwanese are being held hostage by ROC and want to be freed, and he said that any ethnic minority in China is treated significantly better than the Han people. as an American, i know my government lies to us, but those lies seemed so blatant that i couldnt tell whether he was just pushing that narrative or if he truely believed those things

    • @timoc5880
      @timoc5880 8 місяців тому

      Only the stories of the glorious communist guerrilla warfare against the Japanese , which hardly kill any enemy.

  • @deluca1031
    @deluca1031 3 роки тому +3

    Glad you do some underrated battles of WW2,we were really genuine to see more of this kind of content!

  • @jackiecheung1465
    @jackiecheung1465 3 роки тому +430

    the amount of war crime committed in this single invasion shows the savagery of the Japanese imperial army at the time, its chilling how they executed, tortured and raped non-combatants and surrendered troops...

    • @Dom-ny7vh
      @Dom-ny7vh 3 роки тому +67

      Look up the rape of Nanking.

    • @woodchuckcider1
      @woodchuckcider1 3 роки тому +53

      Because surrendering was considered so dishonorable to the Japanese, basically anyone who surrendered was considered to be something less than a cockroach.

    • @chrisjeon326
      @chrisjeon326 3 роки тому +62

      @@richardv9648 I mean not necessarily. For example let’s look at the American Civil war. The confederate states lost the war to the union but their point of view/perspective is still taught through the lost cause myth backed by strong supporters in the south.

    • @mp3ifier
      @mp3ifier 3 роки тому +106

      @@richardv9648 no evidence of what? Japanese atrocities in ww2?

    • @vonherceg8256
      @vonherceg8256 3 роки тому +3

      Taught Where?

  • @allanlank
    @allanlank 3 роки тому +4

    A fascinating video. My wife grew up in Hong Kong and I served in the Canadian Army, so each of us has a vested interest. Well done.

  • @ulyssesperry886
    @ulyssesperry886 3 роки тому +3

    As a mixed British Hong Kong and a Canadian citizen, I would like to shout out to Winnipeg Granadiers and Royal Rifles of Canada a big thank you for defending my home 🙏🇨🇦🇭🇰

  • @connorbutler5900
    @connorbutler5900 3 роки тому +1

    Crazy to see how far this channel has come. Awesome work guys, keep it up!

  • @ianrobson9601
    @ianrobson9601 3 роки тому +1

    My day just got a whole lot better with new uploads by both Kings and Generals and Fall of Civilizations. My two favourite History channels

  • @ethanramos4441
    @ethanramos4441 3 роки тому +9

    During the battle of Hong Kong a company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers got cut off on Mount Butler. The group was led by Sgt Major John Osborne. Seeing the position untenable Osborne order a company withdrawal as the soldier started leaving Osborne and his small group held off the Japanese but when it’s his groups turn he single-handedly held off the Japanese by himself and was exposed to heavy fire before he retreated. But sadly by now they were completely surrounded and cut off. The Japanese started throwing grenades into their positions Osborne picked up several and threw them back at the Japanese. However, one grenade landed in a position where it was impossible to throw. Then Sgt major Osborne did the most heroic action during the battle he pushed a soldier a side and then throw himself onto the grenade which exploded killing him. His sacrifice save many of his comrades but it was all in vein as they surrendered after they ran out of Ammunition. However his heroic acts weren’t forgotten after his death Osborne became the first Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross for his actions.

    • @ptitgavroche
      @ptitgavroche 3 роки тому

      Thank you for this tidbit of history. What a heroic man he was!

    • @ethanramos4441
      @ethanramos4441 3 роки тому

      @@ptitgavroche Indeed in fact Simple History did a video on him

    • @stevyjobs8436
      @stevyjobs8436 3 роки тому

      Pretty sure he wasn’t the 1st Canadian to win a v.c. Doyou mean 1st of ww2?

    • @ethanramos4441
      @ethanramos4441 3 роки тому +1

      @@stevyjobs8436 Yes he was the first in WWII

    • @salopiansheep8913
      @salopiansheep8913 2 роки тому +2

      His memorial on Jardine's Lookout is a tribute to a fine and brave man, and we are grateful to him and all who fell with him. Lest we forget.

  • @montgomeryzhukov3788
    @montgomeryzhukov3788 3 роки тому +10

    Thanks for being concern on the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941, but I have to point out that there is some mistakes. The British government did think Hong Kong is unable to defend at the very beginning, but afterward though Hong Kong is a symbol showing the guaranty of defensing Asia to those Allies in the region. That's why British government strengthened the defense of Hong Kong by building more pillbox and send more troops there.

  • @sampeeps3371
    @sampeeps3371 3 роки тому +2

    Just got in, turned on my phone and this greeted me. Thank you King's and Generals

  • @aidabagirova4933
    @aidabagirova4933 3 роки тому

    I highly appreciate all the videos of KG on modern warfare, including this video. Thanks, guys

  • @cadeweathington1893
    @cadeweathington1893 3 роки тому +9

    It's really interesting to see an in-depth video about the battle of Hong Kong, I grew up there and have even hiked around and seen some of the old pillboxes and battery’s, in the museums, it talks a little bit about the defense of the Island and the Mainland but not at this level. I am glad to learn more about the history of the place that I have called home for the last 20 years and to see how everything has changed over the years is truly a sight to see.

  • @ronitparikh2293
    @ronitparikh2293 3 роки тому +4

    Hundreds of thousand Indian soldiers fought for the British Empire in both World Wars fighting in foreign lands all over Europe, Africa, and Asia but are never given any recognition whatsoever in the mainstream. Most people outside of India have no idea that so many Indians alongside other allied nation soldiers too fought to win these wars and in many battles played pivotal roles. Thank you for shedding light on this part of history.

    • @godlovesyou1995
      @godlovesyou1995 3 роки тому +5

      Anyone from europe (especially the uk) who knows their world war history knows about it :). By the end of ww2 it had over 2.5M men- the largest volunteer army in history.

  • @bradleypetrushak
    @bradleypetrushak 3 роки тому

    Thank you for covering this battle!

  • @rickadagger
    @rickadagger 6 місяців тому +1

    I am also a local Hong Kong Citizen.. OMG!!! I love this!!!
    I would also like to express my gratitude to you for taking so much time and effort in putting this together!!! Truly an amazing video.. Thank you!!!!!!!
    I failed history at school but if all my history lessons were as detailed and visually understanding as yours, then I would have passed History exams.
    At the 13.50, you mentioned the word 'Sai Wan', which I think should be 'Sai Wan Ho'.
    Sai Wan is more to the left of the Hong Kong Island, next to Central. Sai Wan Ho is nearer or next to Taikoo Dockyard, which is now Taikoo Shing MTR.
    Massive Thank you again for the history lesson of my beloved Hong Kong.

  • @andro7862
    @andro7862 3 роки тому +4

    K&G is on a roll with quality content again.

  • @sidewalks29
    @sidewalks29 3 роки тому +6

    Little story: 57 brengun carrier en route for Canadian troop units in Hong Kong were in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded both Hong Kong and the Philippines, with with 40 brengun carrier taken over and operated by the US 1st Provisional Tank Group!

  • @friedrichritter1978
    @friedrichritter1978 3 роки тому

    Thank you, Kings and Generals team. Awesome video on some of the places where I go hiking every now and then (Wong Nai Chung Nap, Jardine's Lookout, Violet Hill)! In a way, I'm glad these spots have turned into hiking trails where you get to take a walk while thinking of the history behind it almost 80 years ago.

  • @ernestwong7011
    @ernestwong7011 3 роки тому

    Thanks so much Kings and Generals, didn't expect the Battle of Hong Kong would be featured!

  • @arnoldussineamico498
    @arnoldussineamico498 3 роки тому +193

    Salute to the indians, Canadians, british, Portuguese, french n hkers who participated in the defense of my home🙇

    • @arnoldussineamico498
      @arnoldussineamico498 3 роки тому +14

      Please name a Chinese unit that fought in this battle, the only “Chinese Force" in HK at the battle was probably the Dongjiang Column, which was busy at murdering a padre in Saikong

    • @arnoldussineamico498
      @arnoldussineamico498 3 роки тому +4

      @Kumar HasanIQ83 it would be wise to remain silence when u know nothing. Dongjiang Column was a Communist guerilla unit

    • @alvinlin8140
      @alvinlin8140 3 роки тому +7

      @@arnoldussineamico498 there were Chinese units under the British control. He mentioned for the volunteer defense Corp. also they weren’t there to defend your home their there to defend their prized Asian colony. Hong Kong was called the pearl of the orient for a reason

    • @Abhishek-sr2pu
      @Abhishek-sr2pu 3 роки тому +4

      @@arnoldussineamico498 he is a troll look at his name. He is not indian I think.

    • @tamamatu6395
      @tamamatu6395 3 роки тому +4

      Sorry to say they weren't exactly there to defend your home they were there to defend their home since Hong Kong was owned by the British

  • @pikachu-chan8893
    @pikachu-chan8893 3 роки тому +5

    Oh, great, it's my homecity. Thanks for creating the video of military history about that, K&G.

  • @FerasLab
    @FerasLab 3 роки тому

    Grate video as always. Love seeing wars and battles I never knew about. Thanks

  • @MostLoved868
    @MostLoved868 3 роки тому +1

    Cant say this enough, I really enjoy watching these kinds of videos.

  • @thelifehacker5706
    @thelifehacker5706 3 роки тому +15

    On the day of the surrender, the Liaison officer of China in HK, Chan Chak, decided to break out of the territory with the remaining Motor Torpedo Boats. Chan was shot in the wrist whilst breaking out but survived and together with a band of British soldiers walked four days through Japanese Territory to reach Huizhou, where they were transferred to India.

  • @DarkKing009
    @DarkKing009 3 роки тому +49

    Take a shot every time Japan commits a war crime

    • @storm0fnova
      @storm0fnova 3 роки тому +1

      War itself is a crime though. war crime is quite redundant of a concept, both sides did bad things. history is written by the victors

    • @janoycresva2279
      @janoycresva2279 3 роки тому +16

      @@storm0fnova yeah but i dont think the allies raped and killed prisoners for fun now did they? and there's literally pictures of Japanese soldiers using Chinese babies as bayonet practice.

    • @thelogician3845
      @thelogician3845 3 роки тому

      @@janoycresva2279 The allied countries slowly drained their colonies and subsequently the world through economics and as this isn't considered as bad as torture and slaying they have gotten away

    • @janoycresva2279
      @janoycresva2279 3 роки тому +2

      @@thelogician3845 that's literally just how the world works. They just did it better than anybody else. Its just an excuse at this point for their own problems they don't want to fix themselves.

    • @storm0fnova
      @storm0fnova 3 роки тому

      @@janoycresva2279 you gotta realize in war, there are no good or bad, they are all bad, to win, you must commit the worst things possible, the difference is some become winners others, deadmen. the fact you think the allied forces never committed atrocities proves their success in writing the history.

  • @jayl3855
    @jayl3855 3 роки тому

    Thank you sooo much for covering this topic!!

  • @samuelmargueret9626
    @samuelmargueret9626 3 роки тому

    That video is just insane..... as always you are doing such a good job . The fact that you revesit différents part of history is very nice ... Keep Going on you have my full support from France !! Love this channel

  • @nazmakhan178
    @nazmakhan178 3 роки тому +10

    Very informative.
    A detailed discussion on a lot less spoken but important part of the ww2 history.

  • @lunaticmelon2691
    @lunaticmelon2691 3 роки тому +15

    Hell yeah!
    Fingers crossed for a battle of Shanghai. Better yet, the defense of Sihang warehouse.

    • @andro7862
      @andro7862 3 роки тому +1

      Yes, the legendary 452 men and Yang Huimin

  • @jordanfctseng
    @jordanfctseng 2 роки тому

    Very well crafted video. As someone that lives in HK, I can say the indications of geographical features are very spot on.

  • @injanammanchey6632
    @injanammanchey6632 3 роки тому

    Keep on making these great documentaries 👍.

  • @henrychu495
    @henrychu495 3 роки тому +24

    Thanks for the superb documentary, happy to know that the Southeast Asian war effort finally gets some coverage!

    • @JC-uz3ey
      @JC-uz3ey 3 роки тому

      HK is not in SEA...

    • @henrychu495
      @henrychu495 3 роки тому

      @@JC-uz3ey it is

    • @JC-uz3ey
      @JC-uz3ey 3 роки тому

      @@henrychu495 Hong Kong is in EAST ASIA, not South East Asia.

  • @QwentyJ
    @QwentyJ 3 роки тому +12

    Shout out to my grandad who was working for the British colonial government there at the time. At the fall of Hong Kong he and Admiral Chan Chak of the Chinese Navy (with several units of SOE and Royal Navy) fled across Aberdeen Harbour and managed to flee though the blockade into what was left of free China!

  • @Grimspear05
    @Grimspear05 3 роки тому

    Fantastic video yet again K&G!

  • @collintrytsman3353
    @collintrytsman3353 3 роки тому

    nicely done with plenty of named places and units very thorough keep up the good work

  • @codyshi4743
    @codyshi4743 3 роки тому +22

    Those Hongkong defenders are very brave and determined, despite that they were outnumbered. RIP Hongkong defender.

  • @TIGERgaming-db1lc
    @TIGERgaming-db1lc 3 роки тому +6

    I want battle of Haifa love your videos from🇮🇳 India

  • @denniscleary7580
    @denniscleary7580 3 роки тому +1

    A great way to start my morning thanks kings

  • @loupiscanis9449
    @loupiscanis9449 3 роки тому

    Thank you , K&G .

  • @grvc44
    @grvc44 3 роки тому +4

    can you do battle of bataan and corrigedor next?

  • @shadmanhasan1931
    @shadmanhasan1931 3 роки тому +7

    K&G telling military details, people in comment section telling their grandparents' first hand experiences.
    Amazing

  • @richardcharay7788
    @richardcharay7788 3 роки тому

    Excellent presentation!

  • @-RONNIE
    @-RONNIE 3 роки тому

    Good video thanks for sharing 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

  • @annakaise
    @annakaise 3 роки тому +3

    a very epic battle fought on a tiny piece of land. I am forever grateful to the defending forces.

    • @annakaise
      @annakaise 3 роки тому +3

      Golden hill and Red hill had some major fighting too

  • @enixbluerain7213
    @enixbluerain7213 3 роки тому +3

    I hope you cover the Fall of Luzon and Bataan someday.

  • @Hoot_hoot777
    @Hoot_hoot777 3 роки тому

    Thank you for the video!

  • @kibagames4327
    @kibagames4327 3 роки тому +1

    As a Hongkonger I can't thank you enough for this video!!!!! Great channel!!

  • @xXArnOdu974Xx
    @xXArnOdu974Xx 3 роки тому +19

    Do the fall of Singapur next plz

  • @Strangelove101
    @Strangelove101 3 роки тому +2

    I'm a HK local....I live in the North Point district and there's a popular mountain trail nearby that has WW2 IJA concrete structures used for ammo storage, and also small tunnels in the mountains which presumably were bunkers. Japanese and Allied bunkers are everywhere in the mountains of HK, and are bit of an attraction for weekend hikers. And once in a while, at various construction sites nowadays, they would up dig WW2 bombs that disposing, most of these bombs were US navy 250 pounders dropped by SB2C Helldivers.

  • @joshuapilling3641
    @joshuapilling3641 3 роки тому +1

    Great vid, would defo reccomend the 'world at war' documentary if you like this!

  • @wong625
    @wong625 2 роки тому +1

    I am a Hongkonger. I am surprised u can make such comprehensive documentary video for this. Thanks!

  • @allnameoccupied-us9eh
    @allnameoccupied-us9eh 3 роки тому +5

    Thank you soooo much for featuring history of my home city. Those fallen defenders are still highly respected among us, we never forgot the sacrifice of those brave souls!!!

    • @Ktsquare2008
      @Ktsquare2008 3 роки тому +1

      Is the Saiwan Cemetery where 200 plus fallen Canadians were buried visited often?

  • @thewoodmaniac
    @thewoodmaniac 3 роки тому +13

    I had an uncle who fought the Japanese - he didn't talk much about the war but he did make known the Japanese soldiers he faced were brutal and sadistic. I will not go into detail but they tortured people in unspeakable ways. Hard to remember how it wasn't that long ago. I know people who fought them who ended up thinking they were subhuman as they seemed to lack even basic compassion.

    • @thunderbird1921
      @thunderbird1921 2 роки тому +3

      Nazi Germany, Japan and North Korea soon after them are hands down three of the most dirty and sadistic armies I've ever heard of. For those who don't know, the Norks slaughtered a whole hospital in Seoul, regularly killed POWs, and even forced kids to fight as slave soldiers after being taken from their families (a 1951 U.S. documentary on the Korean War shows this). Absolutely outrageous.

  • @shumdesk9720
    @shumdesk9720 2 роки тому

    Thank you for your service !

  • @Daruliable
    @Daruliable 3 роки тому

    Finally I've caught up we you guys, you introduce me Magellean TV, and I've been absorbed so far that It's been a while since I haven't see any of your videos. So since friday it's been a K&G marathon in my house, keep up, great video 👍🏽

  • @lucaskywalkermusic7697
    @lucaskywalkermusic7697 3 роки тому +20

    what a shame, the Canadians fought with such heart but this was consistently squandered by bad leadership. In this example, at least.

    • @tamjeff1751
      @tamjeff1751 3 роки тому +7

      Churchill really did the Canadians dirty, first the debacle in Dieppe then this BS, I mean, these soldiers really thought they were heading to a country club of some sorts three weeks before the batttle.

    • @jnewhouseillustration6075
      @jnewhouseillustration6075 3 роки тому +2

      My Grandfather was there fighting for the Royal Rifles of Canada. There was no hope of stopping the Japanese but they fought 17 days until the Governor Sir Mark Young officially surrendered the Island. The 3 years 8 months he spent as a POW were a nightmare of starvation, beatings, torture, and forced labour. As a Canadian I was not taught of any of this in school - teachers probably knew nothing about it.

  • @jeffgould3877
    @jeffgould3877 3 роки тому +10

    The Canadians soldiers were some of the best during ww2 but you don't here about it very often.

  • @AhsansPerspective
    @AhsansPerspective 3 роки тому

    Great work Kings and Generals 👍🏻

  • @gracegate85
    @gracegate85 2 роки тому

    Thank you for the history review !

  • @Synystr7
    @Synystr7 3 роки тому +6

    You left out the fact that the highest ranked Canadian to have been killed in combat during WW2 died here at Wong Nai Chong Gap. Brigadier John Lawson.
    "After fierce fighting, Japanese forces surrounded Lawson's headquarters at around 10 a.m. on 19 December. Lawson radioed his commanders that he was "going outside to fight it out" and left his pillbox with a pistol in each hand. He was killed in the ensuing fight."

  • @syuibnorzaimi5943
    @syuibnorzaimi5943 3 роки тому +8

    Never have I clicked so fast on this video loo

  • @brokenbridge6316
    @brokenbridge6316 3 роки тому

    This video was a good one. I liked it. Hope to see another video on the Imjin War soon. My compliments to all those who made this video a reality.

  • @cavemanmeat8321
    @cavemanmeat8321 3 роки тому

    Thank you for awesome history lessons.