Burma and the Second World War
In December 1885, Burma was established as a province of the the British Indian Empire. Anti-British riots in the 1930s led to the passing of the Government of India Act and in April 1937 Burma became a British crown colony with a certain amount of self-government.
Burma was invaded by the Japanese 15th Army on 11th December 1941. The island was defended by only a few units of the British Army and a locally recruited 1st Burma Division and the 35,000 Japanese soldiers had little difficulty in making early gains.
In March 1942, General William Slim was given command of all Allied troops in Burma. Soon afterwards he was joined by General Joseph Stilwell and two Chinese armies. On 2nd May 1942, General Harold Alexander, Allied commander in Burma, ordered a general retreat to India.
During the summer of 1943 Slim attempted to recapture Akyab but the offensive ended in failure. After Lord Mountbatten arrived to become head of the Southeast Asia Command Slim became commander of the 14th Army. In March 1944 he successfully defended Assam against the Japanese Army.
In February 1943, Orde Wingate and 3,000 Chindits were sent to Burma. Their task was to disrupt Japanese communications, attack outposts and destroy bridges. The operation was very costly and of the 2,000 who returned, 600 never recovered to be able to fight again.
Orde Wingate met Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt in August 1943 and explained his theory of Long Range Penetration. Churchill was impressed and agreed to expand the size of the Chindits and Wingate was promoted to major general and given six brigades (3rd Indian Division). Roosevelt also decided to create a similar group led by the the American officer, Frank Merrill.
Wingate returned to India in September 1943 and began to plan Operation Thursday. The plan was aimed at destroying Japanese communications from southern Burma to those fighting General
