The japanese are now in retreat having suffered many casualties. Japanese armies attempted to destroy the allied forces at imphal and invade india, but were driven back into burma with heavy losses. Welcome to this months meeting of the history group of bowral probus. Now recognised as britains most famous battle of ww2. The battles of imphal and kohima was a crucial turning point in the attempted japanese invasion of india during world war two. The fact that british and commonwealth forces held them off at kohima, coupled with the japanese failure to take imphal, ended this offensive. Mar 15, 2020 an important point about imphal is that the scenery remains much as it was in ww2, so you really can see just what the british and japanese soldiers saw. Mar 31, 2018 the battle of imphal holds particular importance for us as this battle impacted india in many different ways, including its freedom struggle. The fighting was so intense, that the battle of kohima is often referred to as the stalingrad of the east. A japanese roadblock on the imphalkohima road being. The victory over the japanese at kohima and imphal, however, came a heavy cost with the commonwealth losing over 12,000 troops mostly indian soldiers and the japanese suffering over 50,000 casualties.
The battle of imphal together with simultaneous battle of kohima also known as stalingrad of the east on road by which encircled allied forces at imphal were relieved, was the main turning point of 2nd world wars burma campaign. The battle of kohima was one of the turning points in the war in the far east. The battle is often referred to as the stalingrad of the east. The battle and siege of kohima 4th april to 22nd june 1944 by tom moon a paper given to the bowral probus history group on june 10th 2010 chairman. In the south, the 17th black cat division once again found itself fighting its old adversaries the elite japanese 33rd white tigers infantry division. Railway edit in october 2012, indias cabinet committee on infrastructure approved an extension of the jiribam silchar railway to imphal. Nov 29, 2015 popularly known as the battle of kohima, it was an important event in the history of colonial india. When in imphal, taking one of hemants tours is a must.
The failure of the japanese to take imphal and kohima also signalled the start of the allied reconquest of burma. The cemetery is on the northern side of the imphal dimapur road state highway 39 and 200. It is also the main turning point of the second world wars burma campaign. A japanese offensive in the spring of 1944, called ugo, was an attempt to forestall this invasion by destroying commonwealth forces and supplies on the imphal plateau and cutting the imphaldimapur road by capturing kohima. This development saw the birth of the indian national army. So, it becomes pertinent to study it from our indian perspective. The battle of kohima and indian historical consciousness. The decisive japanese defeat in northeast india became the springboard for the fourteenth armys subsequent reconquest of burma.
The battle and siege of kohima ace internet services. The battle of imphal raged across most of the state of manipur in northeast india from march to july 1944. In april 20, imphalkohima was voted britains greatest battle by the uks national army museum. Battle of kohima wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Together with the simultaneous battle of kohima on the. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website more info.
Kohima at kohima, a small britishled garrison of about 2,500 men faced around 15,000 japanese troops. Jun 18, 2017 the battle of imphal and kohima, was fought in various phases in 1944. Imphal, along with the unsuccessful attack on the nearby garrison town of kohima ended the japanese drive to delhi. The war cemetery with over 1,500 graves at imphal and kohima bares testimony to the supreme sacrifice made by the allies. Battle of kohima by october 1942, the japanese army had southern part of imphal. The battle of kohima, northeast india, 4 april 22 june 1944 pdf. Battles of imphal and kohima fought between 8 march and 18 july 1944, these were the turning point of one of the most gruelling campaigns of the second world war 193945. The battle of kohima was fought between japanese and britishindian forces from. Feb 17, 2011 at imphal, two british divisions counterattacked north, to clear the road to kohima, and north east, to threaten the rear of the japanese division attacking kohima. The museum houses artefacts and visuals that illustrate the battle and context in which it was fought.
It pitted the britishled allies against the japanese and the indian national army ina in some of the bitterest fighting seen during the second world war. Indian and gurkha soldiers inspect captured japanese ordnance during the imphal kohima battle in world war ii, 1944. This location is on the ridge below and above the tennis court. The tide of the battle turned in favor of the british and indian forces when savvy commander field marshall viscount william slim was able to discern the intent of his. The only open, flat areas are just east of the chindwin river and the imphal plain. Divisions by air to reinforce both imphal and kohima. The decisive japanese defeat in northeast india in 1944. Had the japanese army overcome british resistance, it would have delivered a huge blow to. In the south, the 17th black cat division once again found itself fighting its old adversaries the.
Exceptional personalised tours of kohima and imphal tripadvisor. The battle of imphal took place in the region around the city of imphal, the capital of the state of manipur in northeast india from march until july 1944. Developing leaders who can turn threats into opportunities. Tale of the tape kohimaimphal, 1944 the art of battle. Tom hopea wearside man recalls horrors of the brutal battle of kohima with the durham light infantry 25 years ago the battle of kohima, northeast india, 4 april 22 june 1944. The overview kohima is well described and this should be a fine intro to those who are not already familiar with that pivotal battle a better read is not ordinary men.
In 20, the british national army museum voted the battle of imphal and kohima to be britains greatest battle. The battle of imphal 1944 ww ii the siege of imphal and the resulted failure of the japanese to take imphal in 1944 was to have a major impact on the war in the far east. Kohima was the site of a simultaneous battle in 1944. Jun 24, 2019 the battle of imphal together with simultaneous battle of kohima also known as stalingrad of the east on road by which encircled allied forces at imphal were relieved, was the main turning point of 2nd world wars burma campaign. A miles 210km road wound north from imphal to the hill town of kohima before running on to the railhead at dimapur.
The battles of imphal and kohima had indeed proved to be, as the japanese leadership almost certainly realized at the time, their last chance of inflicting defeat on the allies in mainland asia. The battle that saved north africa macmillan was published simultaneously in australia and the uk in may 2009. The battle of imphal and kohima, was fought in various phases in 1944. The battles of imphal and kohima were fought between march and june 1944, in the northeast indian states of manipur and nagaland. Jul 21, 2015 british and indian forces have been fighting the japanese at imphal on the burmese border for many weeks. Japans greater east asia coprosperity sphere and the battle. In march 1944 the japanese army launched operation ugo, an attack on assam in india intended to inspire a rising by the indian populace against british rule. The first battlefield tour around imphal was launched in early 20. Apr 01, 2007 the descriptions, for those that are using this book as an introduction to the battle are hard at times to understand though the book does, just barely, have enough maps. There was lively discussion at this meeting involving older veterans and younger members, after the fascinating presentations of a range of speakers, including japanese veteran chairman of the society, masao. The battle of imphal took place in the region around the city of imphal, the capital of the state of. Jul 23, 2018 view of kohima ridge after the battle. Battle of kohimaimphal animated battle map by jonathan webb tom hopea wearside man recalls horrors of the brutal battle of kohima with the durham light infantry 25 years ago the battle of kohima, northeast india, 4 april 22 june 1944. This is an analysis of the world war ii battles which centered around imphal and kohima near the indiaburma border during march.
In april 20, imphal kohima was voted britains greatest battle by the uks national army museum. They decided to attack kohima using the 5,760 soldiers of general kotoku satos 31st infantry division. The japanese defeat at kohima and imphal was the largest up until that time, with many of the japanese. The siege of imphal and the resulted failure of the japanese to take imphal in 1944 was to have a major impact on the war in the far east.
There are also two short films showing, one on the battle itself and a second, subtitled, of recollections of naga veterans of the conflict. The attack, however, was stalled at imphal by lieutenant general william slims british xiv army. The battle of kohima lasted for two months from 4 april 1944 and, with the battle of imphal to the south. Hemant singh katoch researches the battles of imphal and kohima of 1944, and designs and conducts battlefield tours around them. In 20, the national army museum of london, voted the battle of kohima and imphal as britains greatest battle beating out dday and waterloo. This in contrast to kohima,where so much of the battle field has now been built over. The battle ended on 22 june when british and indian troops from kohima and imphal met at milestone 109, ending the siege of imphal. By the close of 1943 the british were ready for a new offensive against the japanese in burma, mounting a second round of arakan and chindit offensives, this time in conjunction with the americans and chinese. Imphal and kohima commonwealth war graves commission. It was kohima s only contact with the outside world and would link the two remote settlements in the high hills of assam in some of the most savage fighting of the war. By october 1942 singapore, hongkong, malaysia and burma had all fallen to the japanese.
Imphal, kohima and the japanese invasion, 1944 is being published by pen and sword in 2011 and operation suicide, the true story of the cockleshell raid is being published by quercus in 2012. Battle of kohimaimphal animated battle map by jonathan webb. Kohima, some thirty miles from the border of burma, had to be taken by the japanese if their 1944 march on delhi was to succeed. Kohima was an important hill station on the only road that led from the major britishindian supply depot at dimapur to imphal. A new political development took place in east asia after the fall of malaya, singapore and burma which brought the japanese military leaders and the indian leaders in the region together. The kohima war cemetery is located in the center of kohima city, capital of the indian state of nagaland, at the location where a decisive battle was won by the allied forces during the second world war, forcing the japanese army to retreat. By failing to capture british supplies during an anticipated rout, the japanese could no longer effectively supply themselves, especially during the monsoon season.
Our speaker is our member tom moon who will speak on the siege and battle of kohima. And now, whilst general slim and his troops fought their way down through burma, the japanese concentrated still more on their attempt to frustrate the. Fought between 8 march and 18 july 1944, these were the turning point of one of the most gruelling campaigns of the second world war 193945. Nov 23, 2010 ospreys campaign title for the battle of kohima during world war ii 19391945, which saved india from japanese attacks. The fighting at imphal dragged on throughout march, leading japanese commanders to devise a strategy to break the impasse. Imphal is connected by the national highway to major cities like guwahati, kohima, agartala, shillong, dimapur, aizawl, and silchar. May 19, 2015 the siege of imphal and the resulted failure of the japanese to take imphal in 1944 was to have a major impact on the war in the far east.