On this day in military history

Quite a few military anniversaries today. Two from last century were the Battle of Avre in 1918, a British victory in the Great War of 1914-18, and the start of the Battle of Kohima in 1944.
In many ways Kohima was to the Far East what El Alemein was to North Africa. Kohima marked the Japanese high tide mark and their greatest defeat in that theatre when Slim's British and Indian armies smashed them and they began their long retreat.

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Allelse · 36-40, M

I'd never heard of the Battle of Kohima before, thanks for bringing it up so I can go read about it.

MandyMitchell · 80-89, F

@Allelse It was a major victory for the Allies - arguably the largest mainland victory over the Japanese. I say arguably because I honestly don't know much about the Japanese campaigns in China.

wonkywinky · 51-55, M

@MandyMitchell It was actually in Burma.Something with the Japanese launching an offensive to break into India.The battle of Imphal and Kohima was where the British 14th Army under Gen Slim,was ordered to hold at all costs..In some places British units were cut off but a key part of the campaign was to supply them by airdrops.Some battles literally took place either sides of a tennis court.The Japanese eventually withdrew.Not a campaign i know much about,but thats about the bare basics.

MandyMitchell · 80-89, F

@wonkywinky just over the border in India. As I said, I think it was the largest allied mainland victory; certainly the largest in the Burma -India theatre. I don't know much about the campaigns in China to compare, though. I think - only think - there were 50,000 Japanese casualties.

wonkywinky · 51-55, M

@MandyMitchell Japan did its best to overrun China from about 1937,and occupied a smallish portion of the vast country.The Chinese resisted well with US help of course,then in August 1945 the Red Army attacked them in Manchuria and the defeat was brought about.

MandyMitchell · 80-89, F

@wonkywinky Yes indeed - the troubles began in 1931 in Manchuria and spread. The Japanese had a small war with the USSR in 1939 and were heavily defeated, but expanded their invasion of China with terrible atrocities which the Chinese have still not forgotten. Britain sent supplies via Burma and by air from India, while a small US force and some British/Indian Chindits gave some assistance in 1944. Britain pushed at the Japs in Burma as well, bleeding their armies. Russia joined in once the German war was over.