Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.s2.t2.4

v2.c14.s2.t2.4

Even as new personnel from China continued to arrive in Ramgarh, divisions of the CAI began to move to Ledo to prepare for fighting in Burma as early as April 1943. The New 38ᵗʰ Division first took part in the campaign to repulse the Japanese troops from the India-Burma border. The combined forces of the New 38ᵗʰ Division and the New 22ⁿᵈ Division took part in the Hukawng Valley campaign, which ended in victory for the Allied forces in March 1944. The Chinese and American forces combined then expelled the Japanese from the strategically situated town of Myitkyina in August 1944. In the second phase of the campaign, Bhamo, Namhkam and Mongyu were retaken by January 1945, permitting the opening of the Ledo (Stilwell) Road, crucial for the transport of supplies and personnel between northeastern India and southwestern China. At Mongyu, troops of the CAI were reunited with Chinese troops from China. They went on to partake in the remaining part of the Burma campaign, following which they were airlifted back to China by the end of June 1945 to aid in the counter-offensive against the Japanese there.