第二次世界大戰 World War II
1941年12月8日日軍南侵香港 , 戰事只維持了18天 , 香港在聖誕節前夕向日軍投降 , 進入了三年零八個月的淪陷歲月。 直至1945年8月15日 , 美國先後在日本的廣島、長崎投擲原子彈 , 日軍才宣佈無條件投降。 9月16日 , 日軍在港督府簽署投降書 , 香港重光。
淪陷期間 , 港人在日軍鐵腕管治下 , 生活苦不堪言 , 姦淫擄掠無日無之 , 加上糧食短缺 , 日本管治當局 , 只向持配給證市民 , 每天發放白米六兩四錢 , 其後更停止配給普通市民 , 民眾唯有吃樹根、野菜充饑 , 餓死的人多不勝數；日方又強逼港人將港幣兌換成軍票 , 以搾取大量金錢投放到軍事侵略上。 這段日治時期 , 香港人口由1941年的165萬人劇減 , 到1945年8月只剩下50多萬。
The Japanese invaded Hong Kong Island on 8th December, 1941 following their occupation of New Territory and Kowloon Peninsula. Defense of the Island lasted for only 18 days and Hong Kong surrendered on Christmas Eve of the same year. 3 years and 8 months were the darkest times for the citizens of Hong Kong, but on 15th August, 1945, peace came to Hong Kong after the defeat of the Japanese. Hiroshima and and Nagasaki suffered nuclear attack by the Americans. On 16th September, 1945, Commanders of the Japanese Occupational Forces surrendered and signed a treaty at the then Governor's House in Central.
During the Japanese Occupation, Hong Kong and its people underwent hard and bitter days. Beating, robbing and raping by the Japanese army happened everyday. Due to shortage of food supply, the regime only distributed food to people holding rationing permits. 6.4 taels of rice per day for each person. Later the ration ceased, people had no choice but to eat wild plants and tree roots. Many died of starvation. The Japanese regime also forced locals to exchange their HK Dollars for Army Bills, which was then used to further invade other parts of the world. From 1941 till 1945, the population of Hong Kong dropped from 1.65 million to only half a million.
淪陷期間 , 港人在日軍鐵腕管治下 , 生活苦不堪言 , 姦淫擄掠無日無之 , 加上糧食短缺 , 日本管治當局 , 只向持配給證市民 , 每天發放白米六兩四錢 , 其後更停止配給普通市民 , 民眾唯有吃樹根、野菜充饑 , 餓死的人多不勝數；日方又強逼港人將港幣兌換成軍票 , 以搾取大量金錢投放到軍事侵略上。 這段日治時期 , 香港人口由1941年的165萬人劇減 , 到1945年8月只剩下50多萬。
The Japanese invaded Hong Kong Island on 8th December, 1941 following their occupation of New Territory and Kowloon Peninsula. Defense of the Island lasted for only 18 days and Hong Kong surrendered on Christmas Eve of the same year. 3 years and 8 months were the darkest times for the citizens of Hong Kong, but on 15th August, 1945, peace came to Hong Kong after the defeat of the Japanese. Hiroshima and and Nagasaki suffered nuclear attack by the Americans. On 16th September, 1945, Commanders of the Japanese Occupational Forces surrendered and signed a treaty at the then Governor's House in Central.
During the Japanese Occupation, Hong Kong and its people underwent hard and bitter days. Beating, robbing and raping by the Japanese army happened everyday. Due to shortage of food supply, the regime only distributed food to people holding rationing permits. 6.4 taels of rice per day for each person. Later the ration ceased, people had no choice but to eat wild plants and tree roots. Many died of starvation. The Japanese regime also forced locals to exchange their HK Dollars for Army Bills, which was then used to further invade other parts of the world. From 1941 till 1945, the population of Hong Kong dropped from 1.65 million to only half a million.
摩星嶺炮台 Mt. Davis Batteries
20世紀初 , 摩星嶺即被軍方選定為興建一系列共5座9.2吋口徑炮台的新地點。 由於維多利亞港西面入口航道闊達3,600碼(約3.3公里) , 與東面的鯉魚門入口的500碼相比 , 西面自然需要更強大的防禦火力 , 整個炮台的興建於1912年完成。
In the early 20th Century, Mt. Davis was chosen as site to build a series of 5 9.2 inches ball cannons, this was because the harbour entrance from the west Victoria spanned 3,600 yards (approx 3.3 Km). Which, compared with the Eastern entrnace at Lei Yu Mun of 500 yards, required more intensive and strong firing power. The whole battery was completed in the year 1912.
In the early 20th Century, Mt. Davis was chosen as site to build a series of 5 9.2 inches ball cannons, this was because the harbour entrance from the west Victoria spanned 3,600 yards (approx 3.3 Km). Which, compared with the Eastern entrnace at Lei Yu Mun of 500 yards, required more intensive and strong firing power. The whole battery was completed in the year 1912.
日軍開始攻佔香港後不久 , 摩星嶺炮台即受命攻擊位於新界及九龍的戰略目標以圖拖延日軍的攻擊 , 其中甚至包括遠至大欖角的一座橋樑。 但從11日開始 , 炮台本身亦成日陸、空軍的襲擊目標。 位於炮台高處的一門大炮率先於13日遭擊毀。 次日 , 炮台的一處防空炮位中彈 , 造成9名炮兵陣亡。 然而一枚擊中炮台指揮所的炸彈卻未有爆炸。 僥倖生還並藏身該處的約60名士兵中 , 包括後來成為著名本地史研究者白德博士 Dr. S. Bard (當時為義勇軍救傷隊的一名醫官)。 15日 , 炮台仍受日機的襲擊。 但一天後 , 炮台蒙受的攻擊就更猛烈。 當天日軍特別調來來自菲律賓戰線的飛行第14戰隊 , 和海軍的2支航空隊 , 共62架轟炸機助戰。 摩星嶺及香港仔一帶連續遭受多次襲擊。 空擊過後 , 炮台的作戰室被毀。 當晚 , 日軍繼續炮轟摩星嶺。 已經飽受襲擊的摩星嶺炮台及其所有軍事設施 , 最後在守軍投降前給其駐留的炮兵全數破壞。
Soon after the Japanese attacked Hong Kong, the batteries were used strategically to defend or slow down their advancement. The farthest point of reach from guns here was Tai Lam Chung. Starting from December 11th, it became the main attack target of the Japanese army and air forces. The cannon near the peak was the first to be destroyed on the 13th. The following day, the machine gun cluster was hit, killing 9 soldiers. Quite luckily, one large bomb hit the Command Centre but did not explode. Had it been the case, 60 soldiers might have been sacrificed. That included one well know local history researcher, Dr. S. Bard, who at that time was Army Medical Officer of the Hong Kong Volunteers. On the 15th, the Japanese attack became even heavier, and on the 16th, the Japanese sent 62 bombers from occupied Phillippines, the 14th Air Squadron and 2 more the the Navy Air Squadrons. From Aberdeen to Mount Davis, waves of air attack came one after another. During which the Mt. Davis Combat Planning Centre was destroyed. The Japanese army continue their shelling into the evening, where almost all the military facilities there were destroyed, now that everything had been devastated the defending soldiers had to then take their eventual retreat.
Soon after the Japanese attacked Hong Kong, the batteries were used strategically to defend or slow down their advancement. The farthest point of reach from guns here was Tai Lam Chung. Starting from December 11th, it became the main attack target of the Japanese army and air forces. The cannon near the peak was the first to be destroyed on the 13th. The following day, the machine gun cluster was hit, killing 9 soldiers. Quite luckily, one large bomb hit the Command Centre but did not explode. Had it been the case, 60 soldiers might have been sacrificed. That included one well know local history researcher, Dr. S. Bard, who at that time was Army Medical Officer of the Hong Kong Volunteers. On the 15th, the Japanese attack became even heavier, and on the 16th, the Japanese sent 62 bombers from occupied Phillippines, the 14th Air Squadron and 2 more the the Navy Air Squadrons. From Aberdeen to Mount Davis, waves of air attack came one after another. During which the Mt. Davis Combat Planning Centre was destroyed. The Japanese army continue their shelling into the evening, where almost all the military facilities there were destroyed, now that everything had been devastated the defending soldiers had to then take their eventual retreat.
炮台雖已荒廢 , 但炮座的烙印仍然清晰可見。
Battery destroyed but base of cannon is still clear to see |
當年運送大炮上山頂的大斜坡。
The concrete slope used for transporting heavy equipment |
地上的炮床鐵釘至今仍然存在。
Rivets for fastening heavy machine guns are still there |
日軍進軍路線圖
Routes through which the Japanese invaded Hong Kong |
日軍在北角登陸之情況。
Japanese Army landed at North Point |
一九四一年十二月二十八日 , 日軍司令官酒井隆為首的隊伍 , 在軒尼詩道舉行勝利入城儀式。
The Japanese Commander leading his forces in a parade along Hennessy Road on 28th December, 1941 |