Kohima and Imphal

The remote Indian village of Kohima was the site of bitter hand-to-hand fighting between vastly outnumbered Commonwealth troops and the Imperial Japanese army during April 1944. Although the garrison was relieved on 20th April, the fighting carried on until 6th June. Both Kohima and the nearby town of Imphal were strategic objectives for the Japanese as part of Operation U-Go and the invasion of India. Losing both proved a disaster for the Japanese forces and a turning point in the Burma campaign for the allies.