1945年8月15日日本戰敗,至10月25日中國政府接收爲止,即從「終戰」到「光復」接收這段期間,正是臺灣人摸索適應歷史新變局的時期。然而過去往往因二二八悲劇發生之故,爲特意凸顯二二八事件之荒謬性,常使得學者忽略許多存在之事實,而視這段時間爲「動亂」或「政治真空」的時代,或是對於辜振甫臺獨案與三民主義青年團等有所誤解。本文即是透過日文史料探討這段時間的經濟、社會治安、民心變化與總督府作爲等,以考證前述問題之事實真相。 就結論而言,面對第二次世界大戰的結束,臺灣人的反應其實是相當兩極與複雜。固然有人歡迎回歸中國,但同時也有人對此感到難過與恐慌。特別是曾協助日本統治的臺人士紳們,他們爲保身家安全與繁榮,而希望臺灣獨立。戰後的臺獨運動是臺籍士紳主動要求總督協助,而非日本人鼓動。這是一種無組織的行爲,但在總督的反對下,無疾而終。之後,在總督府謹慎對應統治下,將統治權順利移交給中國,臺灣並未發生混亂。一般所謂的「政治真空期」,只能說是部分人民的感覺,但並非真正存在,總督府直到「光復」前夕,仍有效的統治臺灣。經濟、治安與社會真正出現破綻與混亂,則是在中國接收之後。臺灣省行政長官公署以另一種「新殖民」政策統治臺灣,導致各方問題持續的惡化,終至二二八事件的爆發,才出現全面性反政府的大事件。
The period between the end of World War Ⅱ (August 15, 1945) and the takeover of Taiwan by Nationalist Government (October 25, 1945) is a transitional period in which the Taiwanese were trying to adapt themselves to a new era. However, many scholars have neglected the existence of that period due to the happening of the 228 tragic incident in 1947, and have regarded this period as 'a chaotic and political vacuum period.' Besides, the scholars have had some misunderstanding toward the Taiwanese independence movement and San-Min-Chui-Yi Youth corp. The purpose of this study intends to find out the truth, to discover the economic situation, social order, and the aspiration of the people in Taiwan during the period between the end of World War Ⅱ and the power transfer to Nationalist Government. The conclusions are three fold: first, in the postwar period, the Taiwan independence movement was initiated by Taiwaneses, not encouraged by the Japanese. Second, there was no so-called ”political vacuum period” because the Japanese government was in power until the smooth power transfer to Nationalist Government. Third, the so-called San-Min-Chui-Yi Youth corp. did not play any role in keeping peace. On the contrary, it provoked hostility toward the Japanese and caused social unrest.