These rare photos, taken by John Florea in October 1945, show what life was like in Saigon as Japanese forces laid down their arms following four years of occupation.
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In what was once the “pearl” of France’s colonies in Indochina, the defeated Japanese military began to handover their equipment and offices to British forces that were tasked with holding down the city until the French were strong enough to retake possession of their colonial crown.
Interestingly, it may have been some of the Japanese soldiers in these photos, taken by John Florea, who would ultimately train and arm the Viet Minh.
