World War II in Pictures- On May 2, 1942, the commander of Allied forces in Burma, General Harold Alexander, ordered a general retreat to India.

The Japanese invaded Burma on January 20, 1942, expelling the weak British, Indian, and Chinese forces from the country. The campaign was part of Japan's strategy to occupy resource-rich Southeast Asia, and cut off China's suppy line. Disgruntled Burmese fought alongside the Japanese to gain independence from the British.