The Japanese invaded Thailand (at that stage Siam) on the 8th of December 1941. This was the same day they also invaded Manila, Singapore and Indonesia. The Thai army only resisted for 5 hours before giving in and letting the Japanese land on their soil.
The Japanese wanted to invade Thailand because it was a strategically important location in Asia to have control of. Thailand provided a passage to Malaya (now Malaysia) and Burma (now Myanmar). The Japanese wanted to rid these two countries from Western involvement as the Japanese feared they were being contaminated. Thailand was also the only country in the area that wasn't colonised by Europeans.
After the Japanese had helped the people of Thailand win the Thai-Franco War it meant they could now easily persuade the Thais to do what the Japanese wanted. Just five days later, the Japanese and the Thais signed a mutual offensive-defensive military agreement. This meant that Thailand and Japan were now military allies. This agreement was then revised on December 30 so that Japan had full access to all Thai weaponry, roads, communication, transportation and barracks. This agreement was signed because it was the best option of the two that Thailand had, either to become friends or enemies with Japan. As Japan were much stronger the best option for Thailand was to join the war on the Axis side. Axis were the opposition to the allies. The largest Axis powers were Germany, Italy and Japan. In World War 1 Thailand had been with the Allies. Japan promised to help Thailand gain land they believe to be rightfully their own. They promised to guide them to prosperity and a land free of negative influences. Japan was slowly manipulating Thailand until they were no more than puppets of the Japanese and were treated as a conquered land rather than an ally.
Japan’s propaganda to the Thai people was many about ridding all Western influences. They strongly said that Asia should be ruled by Asians and many pictures showed a representation of Thailand being stronger and better than all Western nations, especially Britain, with Japan's help. Britain was shown as an evil puppeteer. Japan also promised economic growth in South East Asia. They promised to buy raw goods from Thailand to increase economic growth. This propaganda was very effective and it made Japan very popular in Thailand.
Some people were highly opposed to the treatment of Thailand by the Japanese. The underground Seri Thai or Free Thai movement was formed as an anti Japanese organisation who wanted to rid Thailand of Japanese. This movement was active from 1940-1945. After the war people in the Seri Thai movement became the political leaders for a short time.
Japan was popular until late 1942 as then Japan started losing the war. This was when the Seri Thai were most powerful as many people were then neutral or pro Western as Japan were not delivering promises.
The Japanese had a huge impact on the Thai people. The most remembered, famous part of the Japanese alliance is the Thai Burma Railway built so the Japanese could supply troops in Burma and further advance into India. This had a large impact on Thai people and government. Shop owners were forced to give produce for the workers in the Thai Burma railway and the Japanese military. Some thai people worked to work on the railway but only at the very start and for a brief time because the Japanese found the Thai people hard to manage and they ran away a lot as it was their home country. The government also gave money.
After the Japanese had helped the people of Thailand win the Thai-Franco War it meant they could now easily persuade the Thais to do what the Japanese wanted. Just five days later, the Japanese and the Thais signed a mutual offensive-defensive military agreement. This meant that Thailand and Japan were now military allies. This agreement was then revised on December 30 so that Japan had full access to all Thai weaponry, roads, communication, transportation and barracks. This agreement was signed because it was the best option of the two that Thailand had, either to become friends or enemies with Japan. As Japan were much stronger the best option for Thailand was to join the war on the Axis side. Axis were the opposition to the allies. The largest Axis powers were Germany, Italy and Japan. In World War 1 Thailand had been with the Allies. Japan promised to help Thailand gain land they believe to be rightfully their own. They promised to guide them to prosperity and a land free of negative influences. Japan was slowly manipulating Thailand until they were no more than puppets of the Japanese and were treated as a conquered land rather than an ally.
Japan’s propaganda to the Thai people was many about ridding all Western influences. They strongly said that Asia should be ruled by Asians and many pictures showed a representation of Thailand being stronger and better than all Western nations, especially Britain, with Japan's help. Britain was shown as an evil puppeteer. Japan also promised economic growth in South East Asia. They promised to buy raw goods from Thailand to increase economic growth. This propaganda was very effective and it made Japan very popular in Thailand.
Some people were highly opposed to the treatment of Thailand by the Japanese. The underground Seri Thai or Free Thai movement was formed as an anti Japanese organisation who wanted to rid Thailand of Japanese. This movement was active from 1940-1945. After the war people in the Seri Thai movement became the political leaders for a short time.
Japan was popular until late 1942 as then Japan started losing the war. This was when the Seri Thai were most powerful as many people were then neutral or pro Western as Japan were not delivering promises.
The Japanese had a huge impact on the Thai people. The most remembered, famous part of the Japanese alliance is the Thai Burma Railway built so the Japanese could supply troops in Burma and further advance into India. This had a large impact on Thai people and government. Shop owners were forced to give produce for the workers in the Thai Burma railway and the Japanese military. Some thai people worked to work on the railway but only at the very start and for a brief time because the Japanese found the Thai people hard to manage and they ran away a lot as it was their home country. The government also gave money.