Kohima The Story of the Japanese Invasion of India in 1944 and the 'British-Indian Thermopylae'

by Edwards, Leslie

• ISBN13: 9780750988940
• ISBN10: 0750988940
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2019-03-01
• Publisher: The History Press

Summary

By the end of 1943, the Japanese had occupied most of South-East Asia. On March 6, 1944, the first units of the Japanese 15 Army crossed the inhospitable border of what was then Burma, and invaded India. At the township of Kohima they were met by a small, hastily assembled force of Indian and British troops, later reinforced by 2 Division of Slim's 14 Army, who fought valiantly and forced the Japanese to retreat. Described by Mountbatten as "the British/Indian Thermopylae," Kohima was a turning point in Japanese fortunes, heralding their continued defeat in battle until their formal surrender on September 2, 1945. Using extensive research in primary sources and many previously unpublished first-hand accounts, Leslie Edwards presents a definitive analysis of this pivotal battle.

Author Biography

Leslie Edwards has been researching this work for the past decade, using primary sources from India, Japan, and the UK. His cartographic and illustrative skills have allowed him to present detailed troop movements with excellent clarity. He has written several technical books on the subject of civil engineering. This is his first military history book.