Hi, I’m the History Guy. I have a  degree in history and I love history,  
Hi, I’m the History Guy. I have a  degree in history and I love history,  

and if you love history too,  this is the channel for you.
and if you love history too,  this is the channel for you.

Seventy-three years ago, in June of 1944, a  battle was raging around the city of Imphal,  
Seventy-three years ago, in June of 1944, a  battle was raging around the city of Imphal,  

the capital of the princely state of Manipur  on the northeast of British India. The battle  
the capital of the princely state of Manipur  on the northeast of British India. The battle  

is a turning point in the Southeast  Asia campaign of the Second World War,  
is a turning point in the Southeast  Asia campaign of the Second World War,  

but it is largely forgotten. The news in Great  Britain and America in June of 1944 was all  
but it is largely forgotten. The news in Great  Britain and America in June of 1944 was all  

focused on northern France. And the battle  has even been largely forgotten in India,  
focused on northern France. And the battle  has even been largely forgotten in India,  

where decades of conflicts over independence  have left little energy to remember the time when  
where decades of conflicts over independence  have left little energy to remember the time when  

Indian troops were fighting under the flag of the  British Commonwealth. And that is though, too bad,  
Indian troops were fighting under the flag of the  British Commonwealth. And that is though, too bad,  

because the battles of Imphal and Kohima were  so important, such a turning point in the war,  
because the battles of Imphal and Kohima were  so important, such a turning point in the war,  

that they've been compared to El Alamein and  Stalingrad. And the brave stand, the four core  
that they've been compared to El Alamein and  Stalingrad. And the brave stand, the four core  

of the British 14th army, composed largely of  native Indian troops, deserves to be remembered.
of the British 14th army, composed largely of  native Indian troops, deserves to be remembered.

The Japanese conquest of British Burma in 1942  occurred with surprising speed. While they were  
The Japanese conquest of British Burma in 1942  occurred with surprising speed. While they were  

outnumbered, the Japanese forces were more veteran  and better equipped than the British Commonwealth  
outnumbered, the Japanese forces were more veteran  and better equipped than the British Commonwealth  

and Chinese nationalist forces that were opposing  them. They made better use of the jungle terrain,  
and Chinese nationalist forces that were opposing  them. They made better use of the jungle terrain,  

and they were actively supported by a Burmese  population that was weary of British rule. By  
and they were actively supported by a Burmese  population that was weary of British rule. By  

the time that the British Commonwealth forces  managed to straggle back into India they were  
the time that the British Commonwealth forces  managed to straggle back into India they were  

a defeated force, they had lost most of their  equipment, their morale was shattered. The only  
a defeated force, they had lost most of their  equipment, their morale was shattered. The only  

thing that stopped the Japanese offensive was the  rainy season, which made supply nearly impossible.  
thing that stopped the Japanese offensive was the  rainy season, which made supply nearly impossible.  

If Japan had been able to continue the offensive  in 1942, all of British India might have fallen.
If Japan had been able to continue the offensive  in 1942, all of British India might have fallen.

Manipur, which is a princely state,  meaning that it had nominal autonomy,  
Manipur, which is a princely state,  meaning that it had nominal autonomy,  

was on the northeast side of British India and the  border with Burma, and was now the front line. But  
was on the northeast side of British India and the  border with Burma, and was now the front line. But  

in 1943 the Japanese decided not to continue the  offensive. The terrain was too inhospitable and  
in 1943 the Japanese decided not to continue the  offensive. The terrain was too inhospitable and  

the supply problems insurmountable they thought,  and so they moved onto the defensive in Burma.  
the supply problems insurmountable they thought,  and so they moved onto the defensive in Burma.  

While the Allies faced their own challenges,  they did manage some small operations in Burma  
While the Allies faced their own challenges,  they did manage some small operations in Burma  

in 1943. They didn't achieve much, but one behind  the lines raid that briefly cut the north-south  
in 1943. They didn't achieve much, but one behind  the lines raid that briefly cut the north-south  

railroad in Burma might have impacted Japanese  decision-making for the much more active 1944.
railroad in Burma might have impacted Japanese  decision-making for the much more active 1944.

But the situation was much changed by 1944,  the war was turning against the Japanese  
But the situation was much changed by 1944,  the war was turning against the Japanese  

in the Pacific and Allied armies in India had  made significant strides in training equipment,  
in the Pacific and Allied armies in India had  made significant strides in training equipment,  

morale and supply. The Allies had  built several airfields in Manipur  
morale and supply. The Allies had  built several airfields in Manipur  

and that was not only allowing them to  supply the nationalist armies in China,  
and that was not only allowing them to  supply the nationalist armies in China,  

but had given the Allies air superiority  in the Burma theater. And in 1944,  
but had given the Allies air superiority  in the Burma theater. And in 1944,  

allied armies were actively massing in Manipur  in preparation for the offensive to retake Burma.
allied armies were actively massing in Manipur  in preparation for the offensive to retake Burma.

In the face of that the Japanese came up with a  daring plan, one of the last great land offensives  
In the face of that the Japanese came up with a  daring plan, one of the last great land offensives  

of the Japanese army, of the Second World War.  The Japanese reasoned that they might be able to  
of the Japanese army, of the Second World War.  The Japanese reasoned that they might be able to  

catch the divisions in Manipur while they were  dispersed in the field preparing for an attack  
catch the divisions in Manipur while they were  dispersed in the field preparing for an attack  

rather than in a defensive position. If they  could defeat those divisions in the field and  
rather than in a defensive position. If they  could defeat those divisions in the field and  

take northern India, they would deny the Allies  the airfields which had given the Allies air  
take northern India, they would deny the Allies  the airfields which had given the Allies air  

superiority and cut off the allied supply route  to China. Not only that, but by taking northern  
superiority and cut off the allied supply route  to China. Not only that, but by taking northern  

India they would forestall any attack on Burma.  But maybe even more than that, it was an attempt  
India they would forestall any attack on Burma.  But maybe even more than that, it was an attempt  

to regain the initiative that the Japanese had  had in 1941 and 1942. They hoped that once again  
to regain the initiative that the Japanese had  had in 1941 and 1942. They hoped that once again  

an audacious Japanese attack could cause Allied  armies to crumble, and reinforce that feeling  
an audacious Japanese attack could cause Allied  armies to crumble, and reinforce that feeling  

of invincibility that they had had just two years  previously. But the offensive, which would include  
of invincibility that they had had just two years  previously. But the offensive, which would include  

more than a hundred thousand Japanese troops,  was risky and opposed by many field commanders.  
more than a hundred thousand Japanese troops,  was risky and opposed by many field commanders.  

The problems of terrain and supply that they had  seen in 1942 had not gone away, and the Japanese  
The problems of terrain and supply that they had  seen in 1942 had not gone away, and the Japanese  

knew that once the rainy season started there  would be no way that they could move supplies  
knew that once the rainy season started there  would be no way that they could move supplies  

to armies in Manipur. Rather, the Japanese army  would go into the field with three weeks of  
to armies in Manipur. Rather, the Japanese army  would go into the field with three weeks of  

rations in their packs, and after that, feeding  the Japanese army depended upon them capturing  
rations in their packs, and after that, feeding  the Japanese army depended upon them capturing  

allied supply depots. It was an offensive  with a very tight timeline and little room  
allied supply depots. It was an offensive  with a very tight timeline and little room  

for error. Any delay could literally mean that  the Japanese armies would starve in the field.
for error. Any delay could literally mean that  the Japanese armies would starve in the field.

The area around Imphal was defended  by four core of the British 14th army,  
The area around Imphal was defended  by four core of the British 14th army,  

and included three infantry divisions, a  paratrooper brigade and a tank brigade.  
and included three infantry divisions, a  paratrooper brigade and a tank brigade.  

The infantry divisions included both British and  Indian troops, but were composed mostly of Indian  
The infantry divisions included both British and  Indian troops, but were composed mostly of Indian  

troops. At the beginning of the offensive  they were dispersed in the field, but the  
troops. At the beginning of the offensive  they were dispersed in the field, but the  

Japanese were not able to, as they had hoped,  destroyed the infantry divisions in the field.  
Japanese were not able to, as they had hoped,  destroyed the infantry divisions in the field.  

That they were able to fight their way through  and form a defensive perimeter around Imphal.
That they were able to fight their way through  and form a defensive perimeter around Imphal.

An important part of the Japanese plan was to  take the town of Kohima in the Indian state  
An important part of the Japanese plan was to  take the town of Kohima in the Indian state  

of Nagaland to the north of Manipur. This  would cut off the only road of supply to  
of Nagaland to the north of Manipur. This  would cut off the only road of supply to  

the defenders of Imphal. But the 50th Indian  Parachute Brigade was in the area undergoing  
the defenders of Imphal. But the 50th Indian  Parachute Brigade was in the area undergoing  

advanced jungle training. They occupied a  hill outside of Kohima and the Japanese had  
advanced jungle training. They occupied a  hill outside of Kohima and the Japanese had  

to attack. It was a difficult position for the  paratroops, they had no access to fresh water,  
to attack. It was a difficult position for the  paratroops, they had no access to fresh water,  

and yet they held out under sustained  Japanese attack for more than six days  
and yet they held out under sustained  Japanese attack for more than six days  

before they had to finally withdraw, due to  the lack of water. It was a brutal fight that  
before they had to finally withdraw, due to  the lack of water. It was a brutal fight that  

cost many casualties for the paratroopers, but  their brave stand delayed the Japanese attack,  
cost many casualties for the paratroopers, but  their brave stand delayed the Japanese attack,  

which had little room for error, by more than six  days. And that gave the Allies time to reinforce  
which had little room for error, by more than six  days. And that gave the Allies time to reinforce  

the garrison in Kohima, and to consolidate  their defensive positions around Imphal.
the garrison in Kohima, and to consolidate  their defensive positions around Imphal.

But when the paratroopers pulled back, the  Japanese were able to isolate the garrison's  
But when the paratroopers pulled back, the  Japanese were able to isolate the garrison's  

both in Kohima and Imphal, but the Allies  were able to keep the garrison supplied by  
both in Kohima and Imphal, but the Allies  were able to keep the garrison supplied by  

airdrop. The Japanese were able to overrun  some supply depots, but for the most part,  
airdrop. The Japanese were able to overrun  some supply depots, but for the most part,  

the Allies managed to strip those Depot's  of ammunition and food before they could be  
the Allies managed to strip those Depot's  of ammunition and food before they could be  

overrun. The conditions in the jungle fighting  were particularly brutal, and left the troops  
overrun. The conditions in the jungle fighting  were particularly brutal, and left the troops  

subject to dehydration and tropical disease. And  while both sides suffered, the Allies because they  
subject to dehydration and tropical disease. And  while both sides suffered, the Allies because they  

were receiving supply, suffered much less than  the Japanese. The surrounded garrison at Kohima  
were receiving supply, suffered much less than  the Japanese. The surrounded garrison at Kohima  

was able to survive nearly constant attacks  for weeks in what has been described as the  
was able to survive nearly constant attacks  for weeks in what has been described as the  

“Stalingrad of the East’. But as Allied forces  were able to come and reinforce that garrison,  
“Stalingrad of the East’. But as Allied forces  were able to come and reinforce that garrison,  

the Japanese were eventually pushed back, their  armies increasingly disabled by lack of supply.  
the Japanese were eventually pushed back, their  armies increasingly disabled by lack of supply.  

Retaking Kohima meant that the Allies could  then fight south and break the siege of  
Retaking Kohima meant that the Allies could  then fight south and break the siege of  

Imphal. Although the Japanese managed to keep  up attacks clear until mid-July, their army was  
Imphal. Although the Japanese managed to keep  up attacks clear until mid-July, their army was  

virtually useless at that point. Their troops were  literally starving to death, for lack of supply.
virtually useless at that point. Their troops were  literally starving to death, for lack of supply.

The Japanese casualties in their attempt to invade  India were devastating. They lost as many as  
The Japanese casualties in their attempt to invade  India were devastating. They lost as many as  

55,000 dead. Most of those died due to disease and  starvation. And while Allied casualties were high,  
55,000 dead. Most of those died due to disease and  starvation. And while Allied casualties were high,  

some 17,000, it was hardly comparable. The  Japanese depended upon strategies that had  
some 17,000, it was hardly comparable. The  Japanese depended upon strategies that had  

worked in 1941 and 1942, but in 1944 they were  running into Allied armies that were significantly  
worked in 1941 and 1942, but in 1944 they were  running into Allied armies that were significantly  

better trained, equipped and motivated, than  they had been just two years previously. Allied  
better trained, equipped and motivated, than  they had been just two years previously. Allied  

air superiority was critical, and it not only  allowed them to supply their besieged Garrison,  
air superiority was critical, and it not only  allowed them to supply their besieged Garrison,  

but meant that the Japanese army was subject to  constant air attack, with very little defense. The  
but meant that the Japanese army was subject to  constant air attack, with very little defense. The  

battle secured the critical supply route to China.  It ended Japanese initiative in the Burma theater,  
battle secured the critical supply route to China.  It ended Japanese initiative in the Burma theater,  

and it allowed the Allies to concentrate their  forces for the offensive that would eventually  
and it allowed the Allies to concentrate their  forces for the offensive that would eventually  

retake Burma. And had the Japanese succeeded,  cutting off the supply routes might not only  
retake Burma. And had the Japanese succeeded,  cutting off the supply routes might not only  

have changed the course of the war in China, but  would have been a devastating blow to the Allies.  
have changed the course of the war in China, but  would have been a devastating blow to the Allies.  

In brief, it was a critical battle, a turning  point that Lord Mountbatten, the commander of  
In brief, it was a critical battle, a turning  point that Lord Mountbatten, the commander of  

all troops in India, compared to the Battle  of Thermopylae. And it was a decisive victory,  
all troops in India, compared to the Battle  of Thermopylae. And it was a decisive victory,  

one largely by Indian troops defending their  homeland, and they deserve to be remembered.
one largely by Indian troops defending their  homeland, and they deserve to be remembered.

I’m the History Guy and I hope you enjoyed this  edition of my series, five minutes of history,  
I’m the History Guy and I hope you enjoyed this  edition of my series, five minutes of history,  

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