What was the impact of the British Fourteenth Army "The Forgotten Army" in WW2?

by ZaltPS2
nickik

In a strategic sense, the vicory in Burma insured and expanded communication with China. China was supplied by "The Hump", a air route, from India to China and eventually by the Ledo Road. Supplying China by these route was one of the major strategic corenerstone of american strategy. If this strategy was sound or not is a matter of great debate that I will not go into here.

Its interesting to know that operations in Northern Burma were pushed very strongly by the Americans. The British wanted to either just defend India or focus on reopening the Burma Road (by caputring all of Burma, most importantly Rangoon), instead of investing resources in the "The Hump" and the "Ledo Road". The viewed China as far less important.

It has to be understood that the airplanes flying "The Hump" could have been used to creatly expand the stricking power of the 14th army and could have allowed a reopening of the Burma Road earlier. Air lift was one of the great shortages the Indian Army had to deal with, it limited them greatly.

Essentially their were some dealings between the COS (Chiefs of Staff) and the British promised operations in Burma for some other agreements.

On a more basic level its a fantastically fought campain. From the troupes all the way to the logistical support and the generals, they all get pretty good marks. The IJA army was handly defeated worse then it ever has been up to that point. Imprtantly they were defeated in the Jungle, something many belived was not possible. Its important to note that this was mainly a campain by the Indian Army, and and its probebly the greatest achivment of the Indian Army. Their were also British, African and Burma troupes innvolved.

So we end up with a campain of douteful grand stategic value, that was however a brilliant operational and tactical success that achived all its stategic goals (if anything overshoot on those goals).

Sources:

  • Defeat into Victory by Field Marshal Bill Slim (one of the best books by a general)

  • War Diaries, 1939-1945 by Field Marshal Alan Brook (for the strategic view)