![]() and Allied land forces Ĭhinese M4A4 Sherman in the CBI Battlefield In particular, the vigorously anti-Japanese Kachin people were vital to the unit's success." ĭetachment 101's efforts opened the way for Stilwell's Chinese forces, Wingate's Raiders, Merrill's Marauders, and the counter-attack against the Japanese Imperial life-line. Because Detachment 101 was never larger than a few hundred Americans, it relied on support from various tribal groups in Burma. The first unit of its kind, the Detachment was charged with gathering intelligence, harassing the Japanese through guerrilla actions, identifying targets for the Army Air Force to bomb, and rescuing downed Allied airmen. "On April 14, 1942, William Donovan, as Coordinator of Information (forerunner of the Office of Strategic Services), activated Detachment 101 for action behind enemy lines in Burma. Stilwell escaped to India, but the recovery of Burma and construction of the Ledo Road to supply China became a new obsession for him. Due to conflicts between Chiang, the British, Stilwell, and American General Claire Chennault, as well as general ill-preparedness against the more proficient Japanese army, the Burma defense collapsed. However, Chiang did release two Chinese armies for action in Burma under Stilwell. He did so and managed to feed his starving soldiers, but they were so poorly equipped and led that offensive operations against the Japanese in China were impossible. On the other hand, there were vast sums of American dollars available if he collaborated. Chinese Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek realized it was all fantasy. The United States conjured up visions of millions of Chinese soldiers who would hold the Japanese then throw them back, while providing close-in airbases for a systematic firebombing of Japanese cities. ![]() The British, primarily concerned with India, looked to Burma as the main theater of action against Japan and wanted Chinese troops to fight there. Moving north, the Japanese took Tounggoo and captured Lashio in northern Burma on 29 April. To cut off China from Allied aid, it went into Burma and captured Rangoon on 8 March 1942, cutting off the Burma Road. Its naval base could not defend its conquests, and its industrial base could not strengthen its navy. Merrill and Stilwell meet near Naubum Burma. China could be supplied only by flying over the Himalaya mountains (" The Hump") from India, or capturing territory in Burma and building a new road-the Ledo Road. Japan cut off Allied supplies to China that had been coming through Burma. Japan responded with a tightly co-ordinated offensive on 7/8 December, simultaneously attacking Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong, Guam, Wake Island, and Thailand. ![]() The embargo threatened the operations of the Kwantung Army, which had over a million soldiers deployed in China. Over the summer, as Japan moved south into French Indo-China, the U.S., Britain and the Netherlands instituted an oil embargo on Japan, cutting off 90% of its supplies. Roosevelt announced the defense of China to be vital to the defense of the United States. WORLD CONQUEROR 2 COUNTERATTACK SERIESmade a series of decisions to support China in its war with Japan: Lend Lease supplies were provided after President Franklin D. The infamous Rape of Nanking galvanized Western opinion and led to direct financial aid for the Kuomintang (Nationalists) and increasing economic sanctions against Japan. By 1937, Japan was engaged in a full-scale war of conquest in China. ![]() Western powers had exploited China through the open door policy, advocated by United States diplomat William Woodville Rockhill, while Japan intervened more directly, creating the puppet-state of Manchukuo. Japanese policy towards China had long been a source of international controversy. and Chinese fighting forces in the CBI included the Chinese Expeditionary Force, the Flying Tigers, transport and bomber units flying the Hump, including the Tenth Air Force, the 1st Air Commando Group, the engineers who built the Ledo Road, the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), popularly known as "Merrill's Marauders", and the 5332d Brigade, Provisional or 'Mars Task Force', which assumed the Marauders' mission. However, US forces in practice were usually overseen by General Joseph Stilwell, the Deputy Allied Commander in China the term "CBI" was significant in logistical, material and personnel matters it was and is commonly used within the US for these theaters. ![]() forces) in the CBI was officially the responsibility of the Supreme Commanders for South East Asia or China. Operational command of Allied forces (including U.S. China, Burma, India (also Thailand, French Indochina)Ĭhina Burma India Theater ( CBI) was the United States military designation during World War II for the China and Southeast Asian or India–Burma (IBT) theaters. ![]()
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