The Japanese ambassador filed a wreath on the stele in memory of his four fellow citizens who disappeared during the war in 1942. Indeed, the Ironclad operation from May 5 to 7, 1942 which took place in the mail bay of Diego-Suarez demonstrates that Madagascar was a mini-scbene of the Second World War.
The Japanese threat was obvious. The Japanese army, after having occupied Ceylon (current Sri Lanka) continued its journey with the intention of invading the Big Island. Looking for the axis (Japan-Germany) to crisscross the perimeter, the British army made up of English, South Africans and Kenyans landed in Madagascar.
The country of the rising sun tried to attack the port with submarines on May 29, 1942, following the initiative Ironclad Led by the British, in the northern part of the red island. Indeed, it was intended to stop the advance of the Japanese who intended to use the naval base of Antsiranana, a strategic place in the southwest of the Indian Ocean. However, the archives testify that “on May 29, 1942, Japanese submarines (I-16 and I-20) attacked the port of Diégo-Suarez. One of them managed to enter the port and launch torpedoes while the other seriously damaged the HMS ramillies, a British warship, and sank the British tanker. The two members of the crews of pocket submarines were tracked down and killed by British troops… ”.
This stele, according to the speech of the Governor of the Diana Taciano Rakotanga region, ” soothes the minds of its four soldiers, and strengthens friendship between the two countries, namely Madagascar and Japan ». In addition, the monument built two decades ago in a way materialized the memory of the world’s largest conflict that the earth has ever known.
Although the memory is painful, the two countries are trying to move forward. The previously unwinding situation will in no case be an obstacle for a collaboration. In addition, the context turns out to be different. In the first half of the 1940s, Madagascar was occupied by France Vichyst. The population had no choice. This war was not his. At that time, the Empire of Japan feeling threatened, signed a pact with the axis in 1940, in order to protect itself from a possible attack by the Americans. The world was at war and everyone acted according to their interests.
Now the new generation wishes to turn the page without omitting what happened 80 years ago. On the contrary, the history of teaching. As a result, the resolution to make common cause develops between Japan and the Big Island. This manifested yesterday, Wednesday, September 10, by the signing of cooperation between the Embassy of Japan and the Diana region.
ISS HERIDINY
