Japan attacked the British Fourteenth “Forgotten” Army under General Bill Slim who was waiting for reinforcements. Besieged at the two seperate villages of Imphal and Kohima, the British desperately held out in what became known as the “Stalingrad of the East”.
With reinforcements the British broke out, joined up and defeated the Japanese.With over 30,000 casualties, this was Japan’s largest reverse in military history. It was the turning point in a most gruelling campaign and led to the Allies re-capture of Burma.
It is viewed by the British National Army Museum as “Britain’s Greatest Battle”.