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(Click here for wartime map of Burma)
| 7th March 1944 | The Japanese offensive 'U-GO'
begins. The aim is to destroy all British forces around Imphal
and Kohima, and then to push on through the passes to Dimapur, cutting off
the Chinese and Americans in the north, and with the road to India
ahead. Three divisions of General Mutaguchi's 15th Army are to
be employed in the initial operations. The offensive begins with
General Yamagid's 33rd Division against the positions of General Cowan's
17th Indian division around Tiddim. These attacks are meant to
commit the British reserves so that when the main attack goes in, it's
task will be easier. The British are well aware that the
Japanese plan to attack, but they underestimate the strength of the force
to be used. The plan is for the 17th and 20th Indian
Divisions, both in fairly advanced positions, to fall back around Imphal
and protect and live off, the large base organisations there. The
British forces at this stage are all from General Scoone's IV Corps.
It is an essential part of the Japanese plan to capture large quantities
of British supplies because most of their advances are to be made over
jungle tracks which are impassable to supply vehicles. Food is the
crucial element of the problem. It is precisely because of
these difficulties that the British expect a smaller attack.
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| 9th March 1944 | News of the advance of the
33rd Division reaches General Cowan's headquarters but it is not at first
believed.
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| 10th March 1944 | The Japanese 33rd Division as
well as attacking the 17th Division, is infiltrating behind 20th Division,
but their advances in this sector are held near Witok. More Chindit
forces are flying to central Burma and are already disrupting Japanese
communications with the forces facing Stilwell's Chinese and the American
troops. In the Arakan, Buthidaung falls
to the British.
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| 13th March 1944 | General Scoones authorises the
17th and 20th Divisions to withdraw from their advanced positions to
Imphal.
General Gracey with 20th Division has made better preparations for this move to Imphal, than Cowan with the 17th. Scoones and his superiors, Slim and Gifford, agree that reinforcements are needed and Mountbatten therefore sends requests to the highest level, for the use of American aircraft (those normally used for ferrying supplies to the Chinese) to move the 5th Division from the Arakan. The Japanese begin air attacks against the Chindit's 'Broadway' airfield.
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| 15th March 1944 | The main effort of the
Japanese offensive begins with crossings over the Chindwin by the 15th and
31st Divisions, in several places north of Homalin.
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| 17th March 1944 | There are heavy Japanese air
attacks on the Chindit's landing ground at 'Broadway'. Several of
the supporting spitfires are destroyed on the ground.
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| 20th March 1944 | The 1st Brigade of the 5th
Division arrives at Imphal by air. A battalion is sent to Kohima.
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| 24th March 1944 | GENERAL WINGATE IS KILLED IN
AN AIR CRASH. The senior Chindit, Brigadier Commander
Lentaigne replaces him.
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| 27th March 1944 | General Stopford's 33 Corps is
put under Slim's control and ordered to concentrate at Dimapur before
advancing to Kohima. A second Brigade of the 5th Division arrives at
Imphal by air and the third brigade is being sent to Dimpaur also for
Kohima.
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| 29th March 1944 | The roads between Imphal and
Kohima is cut by Sato's 31st Division at Maram. Slim sticks to his
pan to supply the garrison at Imphal by air.
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| 2nd April 1944 | Mutaguchi's troops continue
their advance. They now cut the road between Kohima and Imphal.
South of Imphal, the 17th Indian Division has nearly completed it's
retirement to the main position.
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| 4th April 1944 | The Japanese 31st Division
begins to put real pressure on the British positions at Kohima, cutting
both routes out of the town at the rear. It is vital for the
Japanese to capture this British supply centre as they are relying on it's
resources for their own replenishment.
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| 7th April 1944 | Near Kohima, the Japanese
encircle the 161st Brigade from Stopford's 33 Corps at Jutsoma, and block
the main road to the west near Zubza.
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| 10th April 1944 | SLIM now feels that he has the
complete picture of the situation and that an offensive is practical and
necessary. The troops SURROUNDED at Imphal and Kohima are to
continue to be supplied by air and particularly in the case of the Imphal
garrison, are to break through and RELIEVE KOHIMA.
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| 14th April 1944 | The Japanese road block at
Zubza is broken and the 161st Brigade at Jotsoma is relieved by the
attacks of other units of the 2nd Indian Division.
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| 30th April 1944 | In the continuing battle for
Imphal, the Japanese attacks are being gradually worn down, especially as
their food shortage becomes serious. The defence of the 20th
Division on the Shenam Ridge is particularly stout. The battle
goes on.
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| 17th May 1944 | MERRILL'S MARAUDERS help the
Chinese forces to capture Myitkyina airfield.
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| 24th May 1944 | There are strong counter
attacks by units of the Japanese 18th Army, south of Myitkyina.
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| 2nd June 1944 | The final siege of Myitkyina
begins.
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| 5th June 1944 | At Kohima, an outflanking
attack at last forces the Japanese off the Aradura Spur and INTO
RETREAT. It still remains to clear the road to Imphal.
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| 6th June 1944 | 'D' Day in
Europe
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| 22nd June 1944 | The siege of Imphal is raised
when advance units of the 2nd British Division link with the 5th Indian
Division at Milestone 107 on the Imphal to Kohima road. The Japanese
are taking ever heavier losses both in combat and, more seriously, because
of food shortages and illness, as their supply system collapses.
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| 3rd August 1944 | Myitkyina is finally taken by
the Chinese and American attack after the bulk of the Japanese garrison
have managed to slip away.
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| 4th August 1944 | The British 2nd Division from
33 Corps takes Tamu.
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| 4th November 1944 | In the 14th Army's advance,
the 5th Indian Division takes 'Kennedy Peak' south of Tiddim.
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| 5th November 1944 | Fort White, just south of
Tiddim, is taken by the British advance.
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| 12th December 1944 | A British offensive begins in
the Arakan; the attacking unit is 15 Corps and the objective
is Akyab. Three divisions are in on the attack.
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MAPS OF BURMA |
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Examples of WWII Japanese propaganda Click Here |
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Read about the A
Nurses Story
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