On the 11th of November 1940, the German merchant raider Atlantis captured the SS Automedon, a British steamer and passenger ship. While the Automedon's cargo was valuable, the Germans captured something much more valuable: information. During the short battle all British officers had died so there had been noone to destroy the 15 bags of Top Secret mail for the British Far Eastern Command. Marked 'Highly Confidential' the bags contained one letter addressed to Robert Brooke Popham, commander of said Far Eastern Command. In the letter was a very detailed analysis of all strengths (and more) weaknesses of the British military situation in South East Asia.
The information was delivered to the German representative in Japan, who handed it over the Japanese government. Some sources place a high level of importance on this event with regards to the Japanese invasion of South East Asia. How important was this though? Would there not be a move South by the Japanese otherwise? Would the troop dispositions be different? Would anything have changed?
The information was delivered to the German representative in Japan, who handed it over the Japanese government. Some sources place a high level of importance on this event with regards to the Japanese invasion of South East Asia. How important was this though? Would there not be a move South by the Japanese otherwise? Would the troop dispositions be different? Would anything have changed?