Burma

The Japanese crossed the Burma frontier on December 11, 1941, and struck at Moulmein, which fell at the end of January. The American Volunteer Group, or Flying Tigers, a group of volunteer pilots under Brigadier General Claire L. Chennault, had been aiding China before the United States entered the war. Now the Flying Tigers joined the fighting in Burma and did heavy damage to the invaders, but were not strong enough to affect the result.

Rangoon fell on March 7, 1942. The Burma Road was closed with the capture of its terminus, Lashio, on April 29. Mandalay was taken on May 1. British forces and two Chinese divisions retreated to India. The Chinese were commanded by an American officer, Lieutenant General Joseph W. Stilwell, who was serving as Chiang Kai-shek's chief of staff.