Burma campaign

The Burma campaign was a major series of battles during World War II. It took place in the British colony of Burma.

The conflict involved the Allied powers fighting against the Empire of Japan. The Allies included the British Empire and the Republic of China. The United States also provided support to these groups.

Japan was supported by the Thai Phayap Army. They also worked with two local groups: the State of Burma and the Provisional Government of Free India. This campaign was unique because it was the only land campaign in the Pacific Theatre that lasted from the start of the war until the very end.

The geography of the region made military operations extremely difficult. The land was filled with thick jungles and high mountain ranges.

Weather was also a massive factor in the fighting. The climate is dominated by seasonal monsoon rains. These rains meant that effective campaigning could only happen for about half of each year. Because there was very little transport infrastructure, soldiers had to rely on military engineering. They also used air transport to move supplies and evacuate the wounded.

The campaign can be divided into four distinct phases. The first phase was the Japanese invasion in 1942. This led to the expulsion of British, Indian, and Chinese forces from Burma. The second phase lasted from late 1942 to early 1944. During this time, the Allies made several failed attempts to retake lost territory. The third phase involved a Japanese invasion of India in 1944. This included the major battles of Imphal and Kohima.

The final phase was the successful Allied offensive that liberated Burma from late 1944 to mid-1945.

In January 1942, the Japanese Fifteenth Army began its invasion.

This army was led by Lieutenant General Shōjirō Iida. They moved from northern Thailand through jungle-clad mountains into the province of Tenasserim. Their main goal was to capture Rangoon, the capital and a major seaport. Capturing Rangoon would close the overland supply lines to China. The Japanese also successfully attacked the Kawkareik Pass and the port of Moulmein. By March 1942, the city of Rangoon was lost after its port and oil refinery were destroyed.

The invasion caused a massive humanitarian crisis. Around 600,000 Indians, Anglo-Indians, and Anglo-Burmese fled Burma toward India. Sadly, about 80,000 of these people died from starvation, exhaustion, and disease. The retreat was very difficult for the Allied troops. Soldiers and refugees had to use primitive roads and tracks. Many people had to live in the open under torrential rains. In India, the authorities were slow to respond to the needs of the sick and wounded.

Political complexity also shaped the war. Japan pursued a policy called the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere." This led to the establishment of the State of Burma, which was a puppet state controlled by Japan. The Burma Independence Army helped lead the initial attacks. However, the aggressive attitude of the Japanese military leaders eventually caused local hopes for independence to fade. This led to a revolt by the Burma National Army in 1945. On the Allied side, leaders like General Joseph Stilwell and Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek had clashing strategic priorities.

By 1944, the Allied forces grew significantly in size. The British Empire forces reached a peak of about 1 million land and air forces. These troops came from many different places. They included forces from British India and 100,000 East and West African colonial troops.

Other smaller numbers of troops came from various Dominions and Colonies. These large numbers allowed the Allies to finally recapture Burma in 1945.

The campaign had a lasting impact on the independence struggles in both Burma and India after the war ended.