Burma Campaigns

Burma Campaigns, military operations fought between Japanese and British Commonwealth troops in Burma (Myanmar) and north-eastern India during World War II. The Japanese invaded Burma in December 1941, shortly after Japan had launched coordinated attacks on Hong Kong, Malaya, and the Philippines; their chief objectives were to protect the flank of troops fighting in Malaya, to prevent supplies reaching opposing forces in China, and to threaten British India. Two divisions—accompanied by the Burma Independence Army (BIA), led by U Aung San—destroyed the 17th Indian Division at the Sittang River on February 23, 1942, forcing a British withdrawal. Road-bound Anglo-Indian forces were repeatedly outflanked and encircled by Japanese soldiers trained to fight in the jungle. On March 8 the port of Rangoon was captured, following which the demoralized, poorly trained, and ill-equipped Burma Corps, led by William Slim, retreated 1,500 km (900 mi) across rivers and difficult jungle-clad hills to the Indo-Burma frontier.

Allied strategy proved highly controversial, as British and United States objectives differed, but was ultimately aimed at recovering the country, keeping open the aerial supply route to embattled China over the “Hump” (the mountainous territory between Assam in India and Kunming in south-western China), and providing a springboard for invading Malaya. Throughout 1942-1943 the Allies remained primarily on the defensive, although early in 1943 the Chindits led by Orde Wingate marched across the mountains into Burma and, employing guerrilla tactics, operated for several months behind Japanese lines. To gain local support, the Japanese declared Burma independent in August 1943, but the puppet government was soon disillusioned and the BIA was employed attacking the local Karen population rather than the Allies. The coordination of Allied units in South East Asia dramatically improved when South East Asia Command was created in 1943. Before it could act, the Japanese invaded India to forestall an anticipated British counter-offensive. It was fought to a standstill by Anglo-Indian troops at Imphal and Kohima in March-July 1944, who decimated the sick, hungry, and overextended Japanese troops, deprived of sufficient logistical support because of the overconfidence of their high command. While the Japanese offensive was under way, the Chindits—landed and supplied from the air—operated in strength behind enemy lines, cutting supply lines and cooperating with US and Chinese troops during operations in northern Burma and attacks on Mogaung and Myitkina. The Anglo-Indian 14th Army crossed the Irrawaddy River in early 1945, and on March 28, the disaffected BIA changed sides, joining the advancing Commonwealth forces. At the decisive Battle of Meiktila in March, the Japanese army in Burma was destroyed as an organized fighting force. An armoured thrust southwards divided remaining Japanese forces, while Rangoon was captured on May 2, 1945, following an amphibious landing. In July, those Japanese units trapped in the Pegu Yomas highlands north of Rangoon suffered appalling casualties during repeated attempts to escape encirclement and reach Thailand.

Further operations towards Thailand and Malaya were suspended when the Japanese army surrendered in August 1945, following the longest and most difficult British campaign of the war. It had involved primarily British, Indian, African, and some Burmese forces, but also significant US air power and some ground troops. Despite the British victory, the Burmese nationalist movement gained considerable strength during the war, and in 1948 Burma became independent.