The British made efforts to defend Singapore by building naval bases, military airfields, and underground bunkers. However, they underestimated the Japanese and failed to stop their attack. The people initially did not take the threat seriously but life changed drastically under the harsh Japanese occupation. The Japanese imposed strict control through tactics like Operation Sook Ching and food and communications shortages developed. Resistance groups formed to sabotage the Japanese forces and life slowly returned to normal after the British regained control in 1945.