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Troops Recruited For War
At the begininning of the World War, the British Empire starting recruiting troops. They recruited 1,440,500 men from India for their army in fighting against the Axis Powers. Many of the Indian soldiers fought against the Japanese troops in Burma, as well as fighting in places such as North and East Africa. They also had troops fighting in Italy and Greece. -
Declared War On Nazi Germany
British India declares war on Nazi Germany. India, being British control declares war on Germany when the world war begins and is part of the Allied Nations. -
First Airborne Troops
The Indian Paratroopers were formed in Delhi where they were used through out World War II in battles such as Sangshak and Elephant Point. The Indians had developed their airborne division before the beginning of the war, and the war just allowed them to grow. Photo credit: http://www.indianparachuteregiment.kar.nic.in/images/g15.jpg -
Battle Of Sittang Bridge
The Indian 17th Division under the command of a British Major General fought to keep the Japanese from nearing the Sittang River. The Japanese 55th division had a great victory over the Indian troops over a span of nine days where the Japanese troops crushed the Indian troops. This was one of the nine invasions in Burma that took place when the Japanese invaded Malaya. -
Battle of Singapore
On January 31, 1942 the Japanese 25th Army invaded Malaya. The Japanese were outnumbered by British troops, which included many Indian soldiers, however the Japanese utilized their forces to hit the British troops hard. From the air, the Japanese sank the British battleships, HMS Repulse and the HMS Prince of Wales. This was considered the worst defeats of the Allied Powers. Photo credit: http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/japadvance/images/singapore/singapore.gif -
Quit India Movement
In 1942, when the second World War was just beginning, Britain offered India its independence if they would help the allies fight in World War II. Although over 2.5 million Indian's volunteered to help fight in the war against the Axis powers, The Indian National Congress proposed the Quit India movement, which united the Indian people against the British Rule. This was organized by Mahandas Karamchand Gandhi. Photo credit: http://historypak.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/image.jpg -
Second Battle of Cassino
On February 15, 1944 the Indian and New Zealand troops were hit hard by the German and Italian troops in the Second Battle of Cassino. The Allied forces believed that the German troops were using the Monte Cassino for protection, hiding within the abbey. The decision was made to bomb the abbey and attack the German soldiers within. However it was later found that the Germans were not hiding within the historical site. -
Battle of Imphal
On March 4th 1944, the Japanese began their uncessessful siege on the Indian city of Imphal. This was one of the last cities targeted by the Japanese on their conquest for Delhi. Due to the rapid Japanese success in Burma, supply lines were overstretched and the Japanese forces needed to reconsolidate and resupply. This gave the Indian soldiers of the 5th Indian Division under Lieutenant-General Evans the time they needed to also regroup and defeat the Japanese forces at Imphal. -
Allies Pierced the Gustav Line
On May 11, 1944 the Allied forces finally made ground against the Germans in Monte Cassino. British, Indian and Polish troops of the Eighth Army finally made progress after the failures in the Battles of Cassino. The Allies took control of key points named Castle Hill and Hangman's Hill, where they plotted their attack on the Germans. The Germans retreated towards Rome, but the Allies were already headed for Rome, forcing the Germans to retreat north of the Italian capital. -
The Ending of The War
By the end of World War II, the Indian Army had won 31 Victoria Crosses, 4,028 awards for gallantry, 24,338 were killed and 64,354 were wounded and 11,754 were missing. Of the total forces deployed to Burma, 1,000,000, there were 700,000 Indians. The Indians played a huge role in supporting the British in fighting the World War.
