DK - World War II Map by Map

120 THE WIDENING WAR 1942

BURMA

F R E N C H I N D O C H I N A

C

H

I

N

A

I

N

D

I

A T H A I L A N D

Bay of

Bengal

Gulf of

Tonkin

Gulf

of Siam

Andaman Islands Tenasserim

Brahma

putra

Chindwin

Sittang

Bilin

Salween Rouge

Mekong

Ir

ra

w

ad

d

y

SHAN

Victoria Point

I

s

t

h

m

u

s

o

f

(^) K
r
a
Chinese 5th
and 6th Army
Japanese
15th Army
Japanese
15th Army
Japanese
15th Army
Bu
rm
a^
R
oa
d
Ass
am
Phnom Penh
Bangkok
Mergui
Chumphon
Saigon
Tourane
Tavoy
Moulmein
Raheng
Rangoon
Sittang
Pegu
Paungde
Toungoo
Prome
Akyab
Yenangyaung
Migyaungye
Monywa
Mandalay
Chittagong
Imphal
Sittaung
Kohima
Sadiya
Myitkyina
Lashio
Calcutta
Chinese advance
Japanese advances
Burma Road
Major battle
CHINESE INTERVENTION
JANUARY–MARCH 1942
The Chinese 5th and 6th Armies entered eastern
Burma along the Burma Road and advanced south
to Toungoo, where they engaged the Japanese
from March 19. Japanese victory at Toungoo on
March 30 opened the way for their advance north
to Mandalay; they also lunged toward Lashio,
cutting off the Chinese army, which was retreating
back through the jungles into China.
2
Dec 15, 1941 Japanese forces
cross from Thailand to Victoria
Point in Burma and move north
to attack Mergui and Tavoy.
Jan 20, 1942 The Japanese
launch their main attack
against Moulmein from Raheng.
Apr 29, 1942
Japanese forces
take Lashio.
May 1, 1942 Japanese
take major central
city of Mandalay.
Jan 1942 British Empire
reinforcements arrive
in Rangoon from India.
May 4, 1942 British
Empire forces leave
Burma via Akyab.
Apr 11–19, 1942 The
British suffer a major
defeat near Yenangyaung.
May 19, 1942 Japanese
close in on Indian
border at Sittaung.
THE OCCUPATION OF BURMA
The Japanese took six months to
occupy Burma, entering the country
in the far south in December 1941 and
clearing British Empire and Chinese
forces out of the country by May 1942.
KEY
2
3
4
1
TIMELINE
1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946
5
British Burma, 1941
British India
Territories with Japanese
military presence
British base
Japanese base
Chinese army
Japanese army
Japanese
amphibious
landing
Japanese advances
British reinforcements
THE JAPANESE INVASION
DECEMBER 15, 1941–MARCH 23, 1942
Japanese forces landed in southern Thailand and
crossed to Victoria Point in the south of Burma on
December 15, then moved north up the peninsula.
On January 20, more troops invaded from Raheng.
British Empire troops from India tried but failed to
hold Moulmein; they then fought delaying actions
at the Salween and Bilin rivers and at Sittang Bridge.
By March 8 the Japanese had occupied Rangoon.
1
Major battles
Mar 23, 1942 The
Japanese take the British
Andaman Islands.
◁ Invading forces, 1942
Japanese soldiers drive their tanks
over a makeshift bridge in the early
stages of their invasion of Burma.
Mar 19–30, 1942 The
Chinese fight a 12-day
battle against strong
Japanese opposition
evacuate Prome and head west.Apr 2, 1942 The British at Toungoo.
Mar 8, 1942 The Japanese
occupy Rangoon.
Feb 19–23, 1942 The British
lose a key battle at Sittang Bridge.
US_120-121_Japanese_take_Burma.indd 120 19/03/19 5:40 PM