Wingate and the Chindits: the Hugely Significant Contribution They Made to Allied Victory in Burma

In many deeply divided polities and war-torn societies, conflict is a normal occurrence that challenges state-building, nation-building, and peace-building efforts.

In March 1944 Orde Wingate and his Special Force, 'The Chindits', launched Operation Thursday, an audacious glider-borne attack putting 20,000 men deep behind Japanese lines in occupied Burma. At the time it was the largest airborne invasion of WWII which saw Wingate and his force lauded as national heroes.

In many deeply divided polities and war-torn societies, conflict is a normal occurrence that challenges state-building, nation-building, and peace-building efforts.

In March 1944 Orde Wingate and his Special Force, 'The Chindits', launched Operation Thursday, an audacious glider-borne attack putting 20,000 men deep behind Japanese lines in occupied Burma. At the time it was the largest airborne invasion of WWII which saw Wingate and his force lauded as national heroes.

The Japanese had the highest respect for the Chindits and General Mutaguchi, who led their army in northern Burma, accepted he had met his match in Wingate and his jungle fighters.