The campaign of Burma during World War II was one of the most brutal and longest fought throughout the war.
In December of 1941, the Japanese invaded Burma. The Allied forces, made up of soldiers from Britain, China, India and the U.S., made a stand but were eventually forced to retreat. The next four years consisted of grueling warfare that took place in jungles, rivers, monsoons, and mountains, utilizing tanks, ships, planes and even elephants.
See the epic battles that took place in this exotic yet unforgiving territory.
1
The scene on Scraggy Hill, captured by the 10th Gurkhas during the Battle of Imphal.
1944
2
View of the Garrison Hill battlefield, the key to the British defences at Kohima.
1944
3
Indian troops move ammunition in very muddy conditions whilst on the road to Tamu.
1943
4
Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander, seen during his tour of the Arakan Front.
February, 1944
5
An M3 Stuart of an Indian cavalry regiment during the advance on Rangoon.
April, 1945
6
Indian troops wade ashore at Akyab.
January, 1945
7
Lieutenant General Kawada, commander of the Japanese 31st Division, surrenders to Major General Arthur W Crowther, DSO, commander of the 17th Indian Division, near Moulmein, Burma.
1945
8
East African troops in Burma.
1944
9
A Chindit column crossing a river in Burma.
1943
10
The 20th Indian Infantry Division search for Japanese in Prome, Burma.
May, 1945
11
An RAF Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC flies alongside Ava Bridge, which spans the Irrawaddy River near Mandalay, Burma.
1945
12
M4A4 Sherman tank, part of the Provisional Tank Group in Burma.
1943
13
British troops destroy equipment and machinery at the Yenangyaung oil fields before retreating.
1942
14
View of bomb damage in Rangoon after the Japanese aerial attack.
December, 1941
15
Electrical equipment and oil installations at Yenanguang being destroyed as part of the "scorched earth" policy, in the face of the Japanese advance.
1944
16
Japanese Army in Burma.
1942
17
Thai Phayap army fighting in the Burma campaign.
1943
18
Thai Phayap army soldiers wearing Adrian helmets, carrying artillery in Burma.
1943
19
Burmese people and soldiers of the BIA with their flag.
1942
20
James Howard Williams, aka “Elephant Bill”, riding a Burmese elephant as part of the British guerrilla warfare special forces unit.
1942
21
Japanese troops on an elephant in Burma.
1942
22
Chinese Troops in Burma riding an elephant.
1942