Total Defence Day (Singapore)
Total Defence Day marks the surrender of the British to the Japanese in 1942, precursoring 3 years and 6 months of Japanese Occupation. The commemoration seeks to remind people of the sufferings endured by our fore fathers during the Japanese Occupation. It is also an occasion to refamiliarise our people with the modern defence strategy of "Total Defence" that Singapore has adopted to ensure our continued survival and security.
Schools frequently organize activities, such as quizzes or fire drills, for students to remind them on the importance of Total Defence, to remind students that Singapore is defensible and is worth defending, and only Singaporeans would have the will to defend Singapore. Each year, the "Important Message" signal of the Public Warning System is sounded to commemorate the day.