Burma 1944: Road to Victory - Panel Discussion

[@HG_NL]

Great show! Bill Slim, always interesting.

[@johnlucas8479]

Another excellent panel discussion on a rarely discuss theatre, well done Woody

[@XZoomie]

Thank you Woody & gentlemen! My late Dad was a USAAF mechanic in NE India & later in China. He spoke sometimes of the flights over the hump, particularly those full of Chinese troops coming to India for training. Many was the plane that had to be hosed out on arrival before it could be worked on ahead of a return flight full of supplies. My Dad and his team replaced engines overnight and patched bullet holes. Thanks so much for the extra context to his war.

[@michaeldunne338]

Very interesting panel discussion. I do have Robert Lyman's Osprey book on "The Reconquest of Burma 1044-45," so always great to hear from an author of a book on hand (I am just getting into it, having recently procured it). It is very interesting about how this campaign was a case of Slim seeing opportunities for capitalizing on the Japanese defeat at Imphal and Kohima. As Robert Lyman mentioned, there seemed to have been no clear strategy at the top, but then Slim managed to get his plan for Operation Capital off the ground, leading to an unusually successful offensive, across difficult ground, over significant distances, against a still-formidable enemy, with tight constraints on resources. Otherwise, have had an interest in Burma because my mother in-law's father was an officer in the Imperial Army of Japan, who served in that theater in 1945. He lost his life there, so would hear of her mother still returning to Burma in the 1980s/1990s, to pay respects, even when the country became Myanmar and was a isolated internationally.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@michaeldunne338 One of the interesting things about Slim is that he applied some of the principles of the German "Mission Command" Slim's briefing of the commander's intent to subordinate commanders instead of issuing detailed orders as to what to do. They were then left to decide the best way to achieve their objectives.

[@KevinJones-yh2jb]

Another missed presentation watched. A fantastic panel discussion, Rob,Jack,John and Woody, I learnt so much. Thank you panel and Woody for getting this together, WW2TV at its best

[@iant2215]

Three great Historians discussing Burma with Woody what's not to like. Another brilliant show from this superb channel.

[@cameronsimpson-ld8nk]

Another amazing subject - I loved this episode as Rob, Jack and John really helped me understand the context of the campaign in Burma in 1944. So many interesting facts.

[@philmcraig]

Agreed! 😊

[@wgowshipping]

LOVE THIS! Nothing more needs to be said!

[@mikemerritt1443]

Thanks Paul. Fantastic panel of experts. Lots more to learn.

[@tonyvart7068]

Excellent panel discussion......many thanks to all.

[@abrahamoyevaar2226]

Many thanks all panel members and Woody. So many topics covered. Am really enjoying the varied topics your covering Woody these last few weeks. Thanks again.

[@philmcraig]

Another terrific episode with great guests. 😊 Onya Paul!

[@georgecooksey8216]

Terrific discussion. Thanks gentlemen.

[@michaelfleming6420]

As usual awesome detail.

[@susanyu6507]

Terrific panel! Having these discussions is great. We get to hear "What do you really think?" I'm glad that they discussed China's involvement in the war, and how it ties into today. I would have liked to ask, what did we learn then, to prevent another war now? There is a documentary just out produced by PBS called "Valor and Memory" about the Flying Tigers, China, Burma, and US China relations. A high overview with little bit of everything including interviews with veterans ( I know four of them). A mystery solved about missing airmen. I don't know if it's available outside the US. Thanks Jack, Jon, Robert and Woody. An early Christmas gift.

[@jonrettich4579]

Thank you all for covering this issue and so much around it. Stillwell died of cancer in ‘46. I wonder if it was a sudden surprise or if he had experienced symptoms on campaign. Barbara Tuchman is my source for Stilwell though several excellent video presentations,among them yours, have certainly taken the luster from his performance from me. She and some other presentations on ChangKai Chek have led me to believe he was profoundly problematical to himself and us. Best you have now clarified how much we understood how important that part of the world was to us at the time and therefore how incredibly frustrating and difficult our task was. I indeed would like to understand more about Kwang Tung officers and that culture. Thank you so much again

[@marchuvfulz]

Great panel. Chops to Woody for making sure all three had ample opportunities to talk (one was kinda quiet unless called on).

[@garyaugust1953]

Panel discussions are always so interesting. The challenges of the region, the difficulties in supply and support, the health impacts, and the terrain (jungle). It's no wonder this is still a major training ground for modern-day elite troops.

[@johnlucas8479]

Excellent discussion of the strategic importance of Burma China Theatre.

[@brianlinville5420]

My great grandpa was in burma 475th infantry regiment. Helped train Chinese troops after the war.

[@KeithHathaway-ju9cy]

Great Show Top Shelf Guests

[@prestonrizor6887]

To add to the point near the end that indians knew what japan was doing in china, richard frank got the title of his most recent book from a letter from an indian poet to his japanese friend. The japanese man had argued that japan was invading china to drive out european imperialism from asia. The indian replied "all you're doing is building a tower of skulls"

[@seamuskavanagh2566]

Hi Woody, I loved your discussion. All Burma/Far-East content is appreciated. I know you're probably sick of me making suggestions about what subjects you should cover, but can I suggest you cover HMS Warspite. "The Grand Old Lady", the most decorated ship in Royal Navy history. Honestly, if someone wrote a fiction novel about a ship with Warspite's history and honours, the reader would scoff at it for being too unrealistic, put it down and never read it again, but it's 100% true. It's arguably the greatest battleship ever built, and it fought in some of the most important naval battles and campaigns in both World Wars. Thanks.

[@KillerKane0]

Fun fact: which officer headed Slim's headquarters? Lt. Col. Brian Montgomery, Bernard's brother.

[@philmcraig]

Never knew that. Thanks!

[@KillerKane0]

@@philmcraig Slim said in a speech in the U.S. that he had two excellent planners on his staff. One was British Army Lt. Col. Harry Fisher, a Cambridge-trained lawyer, son of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and later a fellow at the very prestigious All-Souls College at Oxford. The other was a U.S. Army National Guard officer who sold refrigerators in civilian life. I imagine the look on Slim's face when he heard that for the first time. Both, he said were superb planners.

[@moo5289]

I'm an American who knows quite a bit about Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, but not so much about New Guinea or Burma. I never really thought about it, but it makes sense that the people who fought the battles became the people who ran the school boards and edited the history text books.

[@iancarr8682]

Until reading Defeat into Victory I did not appreciate how under threat Slim initially considered Calcutta and Ganges delta to be following retreat to India, when organised forces, both land sea and air, were very limited and / or disorganised.

[@zainmudassir2964]

A long muddy road indeed

[@iancarr8682]

Japanese would have been aware when invading of the oil (Burmah Oil), rice production and mineral resouces, notably tungsten of Burma.

[@iancarr8682]

Never really clear why Thailand appears to be treated with kid gloves by the Allies. Both the invasions of Malaya and Burma are not impeded or are facilitated by allowing Japanese over their territory.

[@philmcraig]

🤯 moment LOL

[@michaelfleming6420]

As usual awesome detail.