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(Click here for wartime map of Burma)
| 3rd January 1945 | There are British landings at
the Northwest top of Akyab Island in the Arakan area. 'A' Commando
and the Indian Brigade are involved but there is little resistance from
the Japanese. Inland troops of 33 Corps take Yeo in their advance to
the Irrawaddy.
(Click here for wartime map of Burma)
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| 10th January 1945 | Whilst the advance of 33 Corps
to the Irrawaddy is attracting the Japanese attention, 4 Corps is moving
southward tot he west of the Chindwin with the intention of crossing the
Irrawaddy near Meiktila. Gangaw is taken in this advance.
The 19th Indian Division takes bridgeheads over the Irrawaddy north of Mandalay, at Kyaukmyang and Thabeikkyin. Fierce Japanese attacks in these areas begin immediately. In the Arakan, there are landings or British Commando troops near Myebon on the mainland between Akyab and Ramree.
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| 20th January 1945 | On the Ledo road, the
Chinese forces have only a few more miles to clear. The advance from
Yunnan has reached Wanting on the border, and from the other direction, Mu-Se
is taken only 10 miles away.
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| 21st January 1945 | There are British landings at
the northern tip of Ramree Island. The 4th British and 71st Indian
Brigades are put ashore. The battleship 'Queen Elizabeth' and
an escort carrier are in support but there is little
resistance. In the 33 Corps sector on the mainland, Monywa on
the Chindwin, is taken by the 20th Indian Division.
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| 22nd January 1945 | The British 4 Corps takes
Tilin in it's continuing advance towards the Irrawaddy to the south.
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| 23rd January 1945 | Myinmu is taken by the 20th
Indian Division. This Division, and other 33 Corps units,
which have crossed the Irrawaddy north of Mandalay, are attracting
important Japanese counter attacks. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT GENERAL
SLIM HAS HOPED FOR. 4 Corps prepares the real advance further
south.
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| 26th January 1945 | There are British landings on
Chedube Island, south of Ramree. A small force of Royal Marines go
ashore on the first day and they are later reinforced by the 36th Indian
Brigade. On the mainland, the 81st African Division takes Myohaung.
Inland, in the advance of 4 Corps to the Irrawaddy, Pauk is taken by the
7th Indian Division.
(Click here for wartime map of Burma)
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| 27th January 1945 | THE LEDO ROAD INTO CHINA IS
FINALLY CLEARED when Chinese troops from Burma and Yunnan, link up near
Mongyu. General Sulton who leads the British, American and Chinese
is this area, has in fact announced the road opens from the 22nd
January. Sultan's forces are now moving south towards Mandalay and
Lasio by several routes.
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| 9th February 1945 | In the Arakan area, the 26th
Indian Division completes the capture of Ramree Island.
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| 12th February 1945 | West of Mandalay, 33 Corps
units begin to take their second series of bridgeheads over the Irrawaddy.
The advance here is by 20th Indian Division opposite Myinmu. To the
south, 4 Corps has reached the Irrawaddy at Myitche and Seikpyu and is
preparing to cross. British and U.S. units of Sultan's Northern Area
Combat Command are advancing south towards Lashio and Kyaukme, but are
being held for the moment in heavy fighting near the River Shweli.
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| 13th February 1945 | The 20th Indian Division has
now established a solid bridgehead over the Irrawaddy despite fierce
Japanese attacks.
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| 14th February 1945 | The 7th Indian Division from 4
Corps begins to cross the Irrawaddy near Myaungu. There is only
slight Japanese opposition because most of the Japanese forces having been
withdrawn to defend Mandalay. North of Mandalay, the 19th Indian
Division takes Singu despite the efforts of the defenders.
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| 17th February 1945 | The British operations in the
Arakan continue with successful landings at Ru-Ya, 40 miles south east of
Myebon. Heavy fighting continues in the area of 33 Corps bridgeheads
over the Irrawaddy and along the Shweli River farther north, especially
near Myitson.
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| 21st February 1945 | The 17th Indian and supporting
tank units begin to break out of 4 Corps bridgehead at Myaungu and advance
towards Meiktila. The Japanese know of the presence of British
units in this area but do not realise such strong forces are involved,
because the advance of 4 Corps has been well disguised.
Farther north, troops of the British 33 Corps, step up their efforts to
attract the main Japanese forces, when the British 2nd Division crosses
the Irrawaddy near Ngazun, to line up with the 20th Indian Division who
already have a bridgehead near there. Further north still, the
British 36th Division takes Myitson.
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| 24th February 1945 | In their advance on Meiktila,
the 17th Indian Division takes Taunetha.
(Click here for wartime map of Burma)
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| 26th February 1945 | The advance of the 17th Indian
Division towards Meiktila continues to go well. Mablaing and the
Thabutong airfield are taken - reinforcements for 4 Corps will be flown
into this airfield.
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| 28th February 1945 | The British 4 Corps begins to
attack Meiktila in strength. The Japanese command has known of the
presence of this force, but has believed it to be only lightly armed in
the Chindit pattern. They have therefore, left it to the local
troops at Meiktila to defend their own base. This is a
serious error because Meiktila is a vital communications centre, serving
all the Japanese forces around Mandalay and to the north.
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| 3rd March 1945 | MEIKTILA IS COMPLETELY
OCCUPIED BY 4 CORPS UNITS. They immediately dig in. The
main route for supplies to the bulk of the Japanese forces in Burma is
therefore cut, and they will be compelled to turnaway from the fighting
further north, and to try to clear their lines of
communication. At the same time they must do something to hold
off 33 Corps to the north.
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| 5th March 1945 | Japanese counter-attacks
against 4 Corps begin. The small town of Taungtha is retaken by the
Japanese and the 17th Indian Division is almost cut off in Meiktila.
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| 6th March 1945 | In their slow advance down the
Burma road, units of the Chinese 1st Army reach and capture Lashio.
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| 8th March 1945 | The 2nd British and 20th
Indian Divisions begin to break out of the bridgeheads over the Irrawaddy
to the west of Mandalay.
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| 9th March 1945 | The southward advance of the
19th Indian Division reaches the outskirts of Mandalay. Other 33
Corps units are advancing towards the city from the west. The
fighting around Meiktila is still very fierce as the Japanese continue to
bring troops from the Mandalay area in a desperate attempt to free their
communications.
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| 11th March 1945 | Mongmit is captured by a
converging attack by the two brigades of the British 36th Division which
moved in from the west.
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| 12th March 1945 | Myotha, southwest of Mandalay,
falls to the 20th Indian Division.
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| 14th March 1945 | Maymo, to the east of Mandalay
is taken by the 62nd Indian Brigade. The last rail line to Mandalay
is therefore cut. Other units of the 19th Indian Division are
still fighting in Mandalay but have captured much of the city in a bitter
house to house engagement.
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| 15th March 1945 | The Japanese step up their
efforts against Meiktila, but can make no important progress against the
17th Indian Division which is receiving supplies, reinforcements and
ground attack support, from the air.
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| 17th March 1945 | Units of the Chinese 6th Army
take Hswipaw on the Burma road, 50 miles southwest of Lashio. The
Chinese 1st Army is still trying to advance along the road from Lashio to
clear it of Japanese road blocks. The British 2nd
Division takes Ava on the bend of the Irrawaddy only a few miles south of
Mandalay. The heavy fighting in Mandalay and around Meiktila
continues.
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| 19th March 1945 | Mogok is taken by the British
36th Division.
THE 19TH INDIAN DIVISION COMPLETES THE CAPTURE OF MANDALAY. The Fort Fufferin position has been among the most stubbornly defended by the Japanese. 'On the Road To Mandalay', the theme song of the British forces in Burma, becomes a reality achieved and has remained so for all time, from the 19th March 1945.
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| 23rd March 1945 | As well as capturing Mandalay,
33 Corps units have been striking south. Wundwin is taken by
the 20th Indian Division on one flank of this advance.
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| 28th March 1945 | The Japanese have failed in
their efforts to retake Meiktila, and while they have been involved in
this area, 33 Corps has been making important gains to the
north. General Kimura commanding Japanese forces in Burma, decides
that with his main communications cut, he must try to retreat as
best he can. Many of the Japanese will manage to escape via Thazi to
the east of Meiktila.
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| 30th March 1945 | Kyaukse is taken by the 20th
Indian Division. The British forces now hold most of the important
positions on the road between Mandalay and Meiktila. The Japanese
forces in central Burma have been brought to battle and defeated, exactly
as General Slim had hoped. The Japanese have not been able to slip
away largely intact as they intended, and instead have been compelled to
fight the main action with improvised forces, against the carefully
organised British defence around Meiktila.
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| 31st March 1945 | Northeast of Mandalay, the
British 36th Division and units of the Chinese 6th Army, take
Kyaukme. THE BURMA ROAD FROM MANDALAY TO LASHIO IS NOW CLEAR.
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| 8th April 1945 | The British forces have
regrouped following their successes at Mandalay and Meiktila and are ready
for a rapid armoured and motorised advance to finish the campaign in
Burma. The British 4 Corps is to advance down the Sittang Valley and
33 Corps by the Irrawaddy Valley. All units have been specially
organised to make them more mobile.
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| 10th April 1945 | Thazi, east of Meiktila, is
captured by British 4 Corps.
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| 12th April 1945 | The 4 Corps advance is
beginning to make progress in the Sittang Valley. There is fighting
at Pyaubwe and Yamethin. To the west of Meiktila, 7th Indian
Division from 33 Corps take Kyaukpaduang.
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| 15th April 1945 | In 33 Corps' advance,
Taungdwingyi falls to the 20th Indian Division. Other units of 33
Corps are still fighting farther up the Irrawaddy - then the next
objectives for the 20th Indian Division which now moves forward to Magwe
and Thayetmyo.
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| 16th April 1945 | In the Arakan, Taungup falls
to the British forces.
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| 19th April 1945 | In the Sittang Valley,
Pyinmana falls to the 5th Indian Division which now leads 4 Corps'
advance. Further north, between Meiktila and the Irrawaddy, 33
Corps completes the clearance of the Mount Popo area and takes Chauk
also. To the south along the Irrawaddy, Magwe is taken by the 20th
Indian Division which has advanced southwest from Meiktila.
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| 21st April 1945 | The 4 Corps' advance in the
Sittang Valley is beginning to pull ahead of the parallel efforts in the
Irrawaddy Valley. Yedash is taken by the 5th Indian Division which
in the rear, the airfields around Pyinmana, are being cleared to be put
into Allied service. In the Irrawaddy Valley, Yenangyaung falls to
the 33 Corps units, mopping up in the rear of the main advance.
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| 22nd April 1945 | In the Sittang Valley, Tourgoo
falls to the 5th Indian Division.
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| 25th April 1945 | In the Irrawaddy Valley,
mopping up operations continue. Salin is captured by the British
forces. The main 33 Corps' advance is closing in on Allanmyo. The
spectacular progress of the 5th Indian Division in the Sittang Valley,
continues with the capture of Perwegen. The Japanese forces around
Rangoon are beginning to withdraw through Pegu to the east, so as to be
able to retreat into Thailand.
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| 29th April 1945 | In the Irrawaddy Valley,
Allandiyo falls to the advances of 33 Corps. The remaining Japanese
forces in this area are becoming very disorganised by the British
attacks. In the Sittang Valley, the 17th Indian Division has now
taken over the lead and after capturing Nyaunglebim, is attacking near
Payagyi.
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| 1st May 1945 | The British attacks in the
Sittang Valley have now reached nearly to Pegu. The monsoon begins
in southern Burma. As an alternative in case the land attacks have
not made sufficient progress before this break in the weather, an
amphibious operation to take Rangoon has been prepared and now goes into
action with parachute landings at the mouth of the Irrawaddy on the east
bank.
(Click here for wartime map of Burma)
HAMBURG RADIO ANNOUNCES THE DEATHS OF HITLER AND GOEBBELS |
| 2nd May 1945 | The British carry out
'Operation Dracula', the amphibious attack on Rangoon. Admiral
Martin leads the four escort carriers and other navel units.
The 26th Indian Division provides the landing force. There is no
Japanese resistance. Admiral Walker leads TF63 with the battleships
'Queen Elizabeth' and 'Richelieu', and two escort carriers as well as
cruisers and destroyers, in covering operations in which Dort Blair and
Car Nicobar are bombed and shelled.
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| 3rd May 1945 | RANGOON IS TAKEN BY THE 26TH
INDIAN DIVISION without any resistance from the Japanese. Further
north on the Irrawaddy, Prome is taken by 33 Corps.
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| 6th May 1945 | Troops from the 26th Indian
Division advancing north from Rangoon, link with units of 4 Corps at
Hlegu. although many scattered forces remain in Burma, west of the
Sittang towards Thailand and in the south west of the country, THE
CAMPAIGN IS VIRTUALLY OVER.
Mopping up operations will continue as far as the monsoon weather permits, but British attention will be directed more to preparations for the campaign in Malaya; this because of the next major move. This of course never takes place as THE JAPANESE SURRENDER.
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| 14th June 1945 | VICTORY PARADE IN
RANGOON
A grand parade is held in Rangoon to celebrate the recapture of the city.
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| 15th June 1945 | The mopping up in the Shan
mountains area ends
IT'S ALL OVER 15TH AUGUST 1945 THIS IS V.J. DAY
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Emperor Hirohito's broadcast
is made the the Japanese people, many of whom cannot accept at first, what
has happened because the tight control of the government has prevented
civilians knowing the full extent of the Japanese weakness.
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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
Click here |