Myanmar (Burma) World War II
Rangoon (WW2) 1942 - 1945.
April 1942
By the Battle of the Sittang Bridge, it was clear that Rangoon could not be held, and destruction of essential stores, and evacuation of troops and supplies was ordered . Port installations were blown (although not perfectly) and the prisons and asylums opened. The delay of the Japanese troops arriving in Rangoon led to some several days of anarchy, arson, rape and pillage by the civilian population. Rangoon was an open city.
Law and order was restored by the arriving Japanese troops. There are few existing records of what occurred immediately upon the Japanese occupation. However, large numbers of Chinese residents disappeared, possibly in association with the Sook Ching massacres in Singapore.
Burmese and Indian self government movements in cooperation with the Japanese established bases in Rangoon. Subhas Chandra Bose, the leader of the Indian National Army, established his house on Pagoda Road. Ba Ma became the Prime Minister of the Independence Movement for the Burmese people, but was never given full independence .
The Japanese took over Government House (the site is now the former Parliament Building) but their harsh treatment of the population, including the luminaries of the Burma Independence Movement, and their encouragement of denouncing pro allied individuals, led to defections, leading to the March 1945 defection of the Burma National Army under General Aung San.
The Battle of the Sittang Bridge
A famous action in the retreat of the allies in the face of swift Japanese adavance, during which the Sittang rail bridge was blow to prevent to advance of the enemy, but left many allied forces on the wrong side of the river. Amongst thefamous people who saw action there was "Sam Bahadhur" Menekshaw ( Field Marshal and late C.I.C Indian Army). Field Marshal S. H. F. J. Manekshaw was severely wounded defending Sittang Bridge from Japanese attack. He received an immediate award of Military Cross.
April 1942
By the Battle of the Sittang Bridge, it was clear that Rangoon could not be held, and destruction of essential stores, and evacuation of troops and supplies was ordered . Port installations were blown (although not perfectly) and the prisons and asylums opened. The delay of the Japanese troops arriving in Rangoon led to some several days of anarchy, arson, rape and pillage by the civilian population. Rangoon was an open city.
Law and order was restored by the arriving Japanese troops. There are few existing records of what occurred immediately upon the Japanese occupation. However, large numbers of Chinese residents disappeared, possibly in association with the Sook Ching massacres in Singapore.
Burmese and Indian self government movements in cooperation with the Japanese established bases in Rangoon. Subhas Chandra Bose, the leader of the Indian National Army, established his house on Pagoda Road. Ba Ma became the Prime Minister of the Independence Movement for the Burmese people, but was never given full independence .
The Japanese took over Government House (the site is now the former Parliament Building) but their harsh treatment of the population, including the luminaries of the Burma Independence Movement, and their encouragement of denouncing pro allied individuals, led to defections, leading to the March 1945 defection of the Burma National Army under General Aung San.
The Battle of the Sittang Bridge
A famous action in the retreat of the allies in the face of swift Japanese adavance, during which the Sittang rail bridge was blow to prevent to advance of the enemy, but left many allied forces on the wrong side of the river. Amongst thefamous people who saw action there was "Sam Bahadhur" Menekshaw ( Field Marshal and late C.I.C Indian Army). Field Marshal S. H. F. J. Manekshaw was severely wounded defending Sittang Bridge from Japanese attack. He received an immediate award of Military Cross.
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