Battle of Imphal
Imphal, Manipur, India
What happened
British and Indian forces under William Slim and Geoffry Scoones fought the Japanese 15th Army under Renya Mutaguchi, with units of the Indian National Army. Japan launched an attack from Burma to capture the Allied base at Imphal and then invade India. Japanese forces surrounded Imphal and cut its road, but Allied planes flew in soldiers, food and ammunition and flew out the wounded. The defenders held on, and the Japanese, short of food and worn out, called off the attack in July.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Together with the Battle of Kohima, it stopped Japan's advance into India and was a turning point of the war in Burma. It was the largest Japanese defeat on land up to that time.
What came next
Today the Imphal War Cemetery and the India Peace Memorial at Red Hills, about 12 km south of the city, remember the battle.
Did you know?
The Japanese commander planned to feed his army by herding cattle and buffalo across the Chindwin River, but most of the animals died on the way.
Timeline
- 8 March 1944The Japanese offensive toward Imphal begins.
- Spring 1944Imphal is surrounded and supplied by air.
- 3 July 1944The Japanese call off the offensive.