Since we're living in a place that was greatly affected by the Japanese offensive of WWII, we've been on a kick to learn more about the war's Pacific theater. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (if you haven't read it, go and get it -- it's an incredibly compelling read) first gave us a broad and personal understanding of the war in the Pacific and what captured Allied troops endured during and after the war. We then visited the Changi Museum in Singapore. which deepened our respect for life in an internment camp for tens of thousands of Allied troop and civilians -- artifacts and stories of British, Indian and Australian nationals were heart-wrenching and inspiring. We also watched HBO's excellent miniseries The Pacific, which showed how American troops coped with unrelentingly terrible conditions, insane violence and paralyzing fear. And we've caught shows on the History Channel that explore facets of the war directly related to Asian audiences, most of which would never be aired back in The States because they don't relate enough to what Americans experienced.
As Malaysia works to become a developed nation since the end of Japanese occupation (and with it, the end of British colonialism), WWII still feels like a recent event here. Although the physical wounds have mostly faded and the landscape has healed, personal struggles endure. Photos of bombed out streets and houses pop up in local museums and shops. Several books by Malaysian authors, such as The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka, have helped shed light on what happened in Penang during the war. The Penang War Museum also offers a glimpse into the strategies and daily life of British forces defending the island.
The British base, which lay at the south-western tip of Penang, felt pathetically small and under-equipped even though a thousand troops were stationed there. Just a few big guns to ward off sea or air attacks.
The Japanese knew it would have nonetheless been tough to capture the base, so they just went around it, bombing Penang from the air and invading from the northeast. 70 years later, the base is a fascinating compound of concrete structures and replica guns.
The jungle has grown back all around the perimeter, so the sea is almost invisible and the air is thick and motionless. It looks a little like something out of a movie set, although it's the real thing.
Even playing around a bit with the replica anti-aircraft guns, it was impossible to imagine living in such a place, waiting for the invasion to come. It gave us new respect for those who fought in WWII and those who lived through it.
As Malaysia works to become a developed nation since the end of Japanese occupation (and with it, the end of British colonialism), WWII still feels like a recent event here. Although the physical wounds have mostly faded and the landscape has healed, personal struggles endure. Photos of bombed out streets and houses pop up in local museums and shops. Several books by Malaysian authors, such as The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka, have helped shed light on what happened in Penang during the war. The Penang War Museum also offers a glimpse into the strategies and daily life of British forces defending the island.
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