Burma Campaigns (World War II)

Burma Campaigns (World War II) (Jan. 1942–May 1945) The longest campaign involving troops from the Commonwealth and the British Empire during World War II. On 19 January 1942 two Japanese divisions advanced into Burma, accompanied by Aung San's Burma National Army. They captured Rangoon (8 March) and quickly reached Lashio at the southern end of the Burma Road, thus cutting off the supply link from India to China. In May they took Mandalay, forcing the British forces under General Alexander to withdraw to the Indian frontier. Attempts to regain the Arakan (October 1942 to May 1943) failed. Meanwhile, in February 1943 Wingate led 3,000 Chindit troops behind Japanese lines. They suffered heavy casualties, but provided an important boost to British morale. In 1944 the Allies repelled a Japanese attempt to advance into northern India, inflicting upon the Japanese Army the biggest defeat in its history. In October an offensive was launched by British and Commonwealth troops, and US-supported Chinese Nation-alists under General Stilwell. The Burma Road was reopened in January 1945. By now a discontented Aung San had contacted Mountbatten and in March his troops switched sides to join the Allies. As General Slim's 14th Army advanced down the Irrawaddy, a force of Indian, Gurkha, and West African forces moved through the jungle of the Arakan, supported by air-drop and amphibious operations. The Japanese headquarters at Akyab fell in January, while inland Mandalay fell to Indian and British troops, after fierce fighting, on 20 March. Rangoon was attacked by land and sea and fell on 2 May, and by 17 May Burma had been recaptured. Myanmar