A major battleground; Burma was devastated during World War II. By March 1942; within months after they entered the war; Japanese troops had advanced on Rangoon and the British administration had collapsed. A Burmese Executive Administration headed by Ba Maw was established by the Japanese in August 1942.

Wingate's British Chindits were formed into long-range penetration groups trained to operate deep behind Japanese lines. A similar American unit; Merrill's Marauders; followed the Chindits into the Burmese jungle in 1943. Beginning in late 1944; allied troops launched a series of offensives that led to the end of Japanese rule in July 1945. However; the battles were intense with much of Burma laid waste by the fighting. Overall; the Japanese lost some 150;000 men in Burma.

Although many Burmese fought initially for the Japanese; some Burmese; mostly from the ethnic minorities; also served in the British Burma Army. The Burma National Army and the Arakan National Army fought with the Japanese from 1942 to 1944; but switched allegiance to the Allied side in 1945. Pictures From History Pictures From History