Chapter 261

< World War II - Imphal (2) >

May 22, 1942

Empire of Japan, Tokyo

Operation U-Go.

The Imperial General Headquarters's reaction to the Imphal Offensive Operation conceived by Mutaguchi Renya was extremely negative.

The British Army had already managed to resolve the chaos in India long ago, and they had established a relatively solid defense line with the reinforcements sent by Ethiopia.

Furthermore, Imphal, which they had to pass through to capture India, was a hellish region where jungles and mountain ranges were mixed.

However, all the concerns harbored by the Imperial General Headquarters were shattered by a single word from Prime Minister Tojo Hideki.

"Then, is there another alternative?"

There was none.

The Empire of Japan was continuing its sluggish battles, failing to capture even the Philippines.

Due to a shortage of military forces, they were unable to capture Fujian and Zhejiang in southeastern China, which they had practically encircled, nor could they push the Republic of China any further.

They had reached the culminating point of attack long ago, and now they even began to requisition valuable skilled personnel and skilled workers from the home country to send them to the front.

"Just how long did it take to gather these invaluable military forces in Burma! If it had gone according to the initial plan, these forces should have been gathered a long time ago!"

At Tojo Hideki's pent-up anger, the Imperial General Headquarters also flinched.

In truth, the Imphal Offensive Operation plan itself had begun much earlier.

That damn requisition of military forces was dreadfully delayed by all sorts of sabotage from each faction within the Imperial General Headquarters, so by the time they gathered, the war with France had completely ended and the British Army was in a state of utmost preparedness.

"The Allied Forces from the European Front will also be dispatched soon. On the Eastern Front, their military forces reached 4 million! If they pour into Asia now, what the hell are we supposed to block them with!"

Had they known the reinforcements coming from Europe were a mere 350,000, the Empire of Japan might have given it a second thought, but the majesty of the Allied Forces shattering the Soviet Army—an opponent Japan lacked the confidence to defeat—in real-time had already driven Japan into a state of panic.

"India, if we can just capture India! We can commit the military in Burma to China to sweep away those damn Chinese pests and eliminate the path for the Allied Forces to come! I will not accept any dissenting opinions!"

"Y-Yes, sir!"

Ultimately, with Tojo Hideki's full support, Operation U-Go was approved.

However, that did not mean the Imperial General Headquarters compliantly offered their cooperation.

-

May 24, 1942

Southern Burma, Rangoon

Tragic news arrived for Mutaguchi, who was waiting only for the final supply unit reinforcements right before the execution of Operation U-Go, the Imphal Offensive Operation.

"What? The supply unit can't come, what kind of nonsense is that?"

"T-That is. They say that supplying additional supply units to Burma is difficult due to the German and American submarine fleets."

Mutaguchi Renya clicked his tongue.

That was probably just an excuse. There was a transport route leading inland anyway, so it wasn't impossible if they really wanted to do it.

It was definitely an act by the opposing faction, who had been full of dissatisfaction with his masterpiece, Operation U-Go, all along.

However, Prime Minister Tojo Hideki and his backers were pressing him to start the operation as soon as possible.

"Commander, without trucks, how will we manage the supplies to maintain our large military force?"

"…! Bwahahaha!"

At the worried staff officer's question, Mutaguchi received a sudden flash of inspiration and burst into laughter.

"C-Commander?"

'Did he go crazy from a venereal disease after visiting brothels too much?'

Under the anxious gazes of his subordinates, Mutaguchi opened his mouth.

"What is the worry? If we don't have trucks, we can load the supplies on cows and horses, and when we use up the supplies and no longer need the cows and horses, we can just eat them, can't we? Why didn't I think of something so simple?"

"Y-Yes…?"

While all the staff officers were at a loss for words, Mutaguchi let out a hearty laugh and shouted with confidence.

"Yes, use livestock to transport the supplies, and the useless livestock will become food! Nothing goes to waste! Let's name it the Genghis Khan Strategy! How about it, isn't it wonderful?"

One of the speechless staff officers raised his hand.

"Um, Commander. Right now, because our superiors haven't cooperated, we don't have the Army Air Service, so how about air superiority…"

"Where are we supposed to use airplanes in the jungle? When you look down at the jungle from the sky, can you even see what's inside it?"

"U-Uh…"

Unable to bear watching Mutaguchi smiling with satisfaction over whatever he found so great, the 31st Division Commander Sato Kotoku raised his hand.

"Commander."

"Hmm? What is it, Sato."

"…Will that really be enough? The military force participating in this offensive is a massive unit of 200,000.

If there are disruptions to the supplies…"

"Come now, what kind of weak remark is that right before the execution of an operation on which the fate of the Empire hinges? Since ancient times, supplies have always been meant to be taken from the enemy!"

"…"

Nevertheless, as Sato and the other division commanders and staff officers still looked unconvinced, Mutaguchi made a boastful declaration.

"Do not worry. When you meet the enemy, just point your guns to the sky and fire three shots. They will automatically surrender."

Chewing up all opposition in that manner, Operation U-Go was executed.

"There is no way those weak White Brutes and Black slaves can properly fight against the healthy young men of the Greater Japanese Empire…"

Filled with such nonsensical hopes, a massive military force of 200,000 headed toward the jungles of Imphal.

-

June 10, 1942

Eastern British India, Dhaka (Modern-day Bangladesh) - Allied Headquarters

The British Army Commander, General Alan Brooke, was burning with motivation.

He had to unfairly take the blame instead of Prime Minister Churchill and the drafter, Montgomery, for political reasons during the operation to recapture Southern England, and was pushed into a minor post.

However, as Bernard Law Montgomery was blocked by Charles de Gaulle's defense and couldn't achieve any notable feats, while endlessly causing conflicts with the Allied Forces represented by Rommel, the utterly disgusted British Government finally decided to give an opportunity to General Brooke, who had managed to somewhat block de Gaulle's sharp attacks.

Therefore, General Brooke, dispatched to India, hit it off with General Claude Auchinleck, who had been defending India thus far, and Seyoum Mengesha, a general of the Ethiopian Army, and they had been preparing a thorough defense…

"Is this… really the telegrams the Japanese Army is exchanging?"

"That's correct, General Brooke."

At the translated answer, General Brooke narrowed his eyes and looked at the officer of the yellow monkey—no, the Daehan something or other army, who was supporting the Ethiopian Army.

'Could these guys be double agents for the Empire of Japan?'

No, surely not.

He also knew of the colonies' desire for independence, and in any case, the possibility that these Peninsulars from the Far East, with the goal of their Fatherland's liberation at stake, would harbor ulterior motives was low.

General Alan Brooke thought that and shook his head, but still, this was hard to believe readily.

[Sender: 31st Division Commander of the Greater Japanese Empire, Sato Kotoku

Recipient: Commander of the Burma Area Army under the Southern Expeditionary Army Group Headquarters, Mutaguchi Renya

A significant number of livestock prepared for supplies were already lost crossing the Chindwin River.

Massive disruptions in supplies are occurring, and the Sons of the Emperor are starving. Request immediate additional supplies.

Long live the Emperor!]

[Sender: Commander of the Burma Area Army under the Southern Expeditionary Army Group Headquarters of the Greater Japanese Empire, Mutaguchi Renya

Recipient: 31st Division Commander of the Greater Japanese Empire, Sato Kotoku

The Japanese are originally herbivores. Surrounded by such green mountains, it is impossible to have a shortage of food.

Struggle harder for local procurement!

Long live the Emperor!]

General Alan Brooke glared intently at the decrypted Japanese Army telegram.

This is real? Not counter-intelligence? Really?

Does a commander who orders his troops to advance while grazing on weeds in a jungle full of poisonous plants actually exist in Modern Times?

The Japanese Army's code system itself had been decrypted almost perfectly by the British genius Alan Turing and the German Konrad Zuse.

However, even if the code system was decrypted, the British Army wasn't fluent in Japanese, so they received the cooperation of that Daehan something or other's Korea Liberation Army or whatever, but no matter how he thought about it, this was a content that couldn't be understood with his common sense.

General Brooke's glabella furrowed even further as he went down to the next telegram.

[Sender: 33rd Division Commander of the Greater Japanese Empire, Yanagita Genzo

Recipient: Commander of the Burma Area Army under the Southern Expeditionary Army Group Headquarters of the Greater Japanese Empire, Mutaguchi Renya

This division expresses regret for being unable to meet the army's expectation. However, we request that you devise fundamental countermeasures so that other divisions do not follow in the same footsteps.

Currently, the capture of Imphal within the deadline is in a desperate state, and a miserable result is expected due to the arrival of the Rainy Season and difficulties with supplies.

Our ally's situation and equipment are severely outmatched, so it is judged that continuing the operation will only pointlessly waste human lives, and if the operation is sustained like this, it could lead to the loss of Burma itself.

Long live the Emperor!]

[Sender: Commander of the Burma Area Army under the Southern Expeditionary Army Group Headquarters of the Greater Japanese Empire, Mutaguchi Renya

Recipient: 33rd Division Commander of the Greater Japanese Empire, Yanagita Genzo

The shortage of supplies and weapons cannot be the cause of defeat. The fate of The Empire rests on this battle, so gentlemen, exert yourselves even more!

Long live the Emperor!]

Nonsense that would make Sun Tzu, who died thousands of years ago, kick open his grave and slap them back and forth was being exchanged as official military orders.

After a long period of silence and deliberation, General Alan Brooke raised his head.

"W-We cannot ignore the possibility that this is counter-intelligence sent by the Empire of Japan, so ensure our defensive posture is even more prepared to the utmost."

"Yes, sir!"

Under the judgment that no matter what, that couldn't be real, the Allied Forces solidified their defense line and prepared their defensive posture to the utmost.

And while the Allied Forces did that, the Imperial Japanese Army was increasingly withering away the entire time they passed through Imphal.

-

June 15, 1942

Border area between India and Burma, Imphal

"W-Watch out!"

"Aargh, aaargh! S-Save meeee!"

"Hyugo!"

A crocodile that suddenly surged from the swamp snapped up the pitiful Japanese soldier and dragged him straight down into the swamp.

None of the Japanese Army dared to step forward, and they could only stare dumbfounded at the swamp where bubbles rose after their comrade was dragged in.

"T-This is already a failed operation!"

"Hah…"

There was no one on the scene who didn't know that.

The Japanese Army hadn't even managed to engage in a proper engagement with the Allied Forces.

Soldiers who got poisoned after grazing on anything just to fill their stomachs, and those who died of exhaustion from the jungle's heat.

Even the soldiers who neglected the ordered march and struggled to cook whatever bugs, birds, or snakes they caught just to try and eat something.

The livestock intended for supplies all collapsed from exhaustion before making it very far, and the result of forcing the low-ranking soldiers to carry the heavy supplies that the animals should have transported was disastrous.

The soldiers carrying them either collapsed from exhaustion, or couldn't bear it and secretly threw them away bit by bit while passing through the jungle, causing the supplies to evaporate into thin air.

Either way, hurtling toward catastrophe was the same.

Less than a month after initiating the operation, before they even reached the area defended by the Allied Forces, less than half of the Japanese Army's supplies remained.

"This damn Mutaguchi bastard! Are there still no answers from our superiors?"

"I-I apologize, Division Commander.

Still no answers…"

Their superiors, whose only responses were absurd nonsense and telling them to exert themselves, had stopped sending even those nonsense replies entirely as the protests poured in.

The moment the division commander let out a deep sigh as if the ground were caving in, a report flew in.

"Long live the Emperor! There is an enemy defense line ahead!"

"Such foolishness. The opportunity to fight has finally come? What is the frontline situation?"

"It's been a long time since we lost a significant number of heavy equipment, and our ammunition is also lacking, I apologize but at this point…"

The staff officers' indication was spot on, but after going through all that immense suffering to get here, if they just returned saying they couldn't fight at all, all that would be left was seppuku.

'What do I do? Should we retreat? Or should we try to attack no matter how it turns out?'

While the division commander was worrying nervously, another report came in.

"Long live the Emperor! Division Commander, the enemy forces stationed ahead are Black people, they say.

They appear to be the Ethiopian Army!"

As soon as they heard that report, a bright color spread through the utterly gloomy Japanese Army's division headquarters.

"O-Ooooh…!"

"Indeed, the Empire of Japan is a nation watched over by the gods!"

Amidst everyone cheering, the division commander drew his military sword in ecstasy and shouted.

"Launch an all-out attack immediately! The Black slaves of the White Brutes are weak, so we can sweep them away in an instant! Long live the Emperor!"

"Long live the Emperor!"

The Japanese Army began their attack, spearheading with the Chi-Ha medium tanks that had at least succeeded in passing through the jungle safely.

"Charge, charge! If we defeat the enemies, we can take their supply materials!"

"O-Oooh!"

For this moment at least, to the Japanese Army, not the Emperor nor anything else but the enemies' supplies were the greatest motivation, and the Japanese Army began to rush in with quite good vigor.

However-

"Aargh!"

"Ugh!"

The Ethiopian Army, whom they had considered merely colonial slave soldiers, spat fire from their machine guns from properly established trench positions and, receiving firepower support from field artillery, began to shatter the Imperial Japanese Army.

While the infantry was being swept away, the main gun of a Chi-Ha that had been boldly leading the way spat fire with a Thump!, but the ammunition bounced right off the enemy tank's sloped armor and ricocheted.

"U-Ugh!"

And soon after, when the enemy tank spat fire, the Chi-Ha's paper-thin armor was penetrated straight through, causing an explosion.

"A-All hands, watch out! The enemies possess a powerful new medium tank!"

The Empire of Japan's proud main force medium tank, the Chi-Ha, lost face spectacularly as it suffered a crushing defeat from the very first battle against the German-made Leopard tanks driven by the Ethiopian Army.

Of course, the fact that the Leopard was a light tank wasn't important.

Still, the Japanese Army displayed their grit and continued their offensive.

If they were pushed back here, they would starve to death!

"They are weak! All hands fix bayonets! Charge, charge! The enemies' food is right before our eyes!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live foodddd!"

Lacking both equipment and supplies, and with nothing else working, the Japanese Army simply attached their bayonets, drew their military swords, and launched a charge.

Naturally, the Allied Forces, having already received reports from the US Army, didn't panic this time either.

The MG41 machine guns frantically spat fire, grinding down the Japanese Army, and an uncountable number of men suffered senseless deaths.

Still, the Japanese Army charging with grit finally succeeded in reaching the enemy trench line-

The starving and feeble Japanese Army, to the contrary, was terrified to see giant Black soldiers charging back at them.

"Long live Haile Selassie!"

"Victory to Ethiopia!"

Before the Mehal Sefari, the Ethiopian Emperor's Royal Guard composed of only the most courageous and well-built soldiers among the naturally well-built African Black people, the malnourished Japanese Army were nothing more than little children.

"H-Heeek!"

"Aaaargh!"

The Japanese soldiers, staring dumbfounded at the scene where the soldiers charging in the lead were shattered before the overwhelming physiques, unknowingly threw away the guns in their hands, turned their backs, and began to run away.

Into a jungle where it was hard to find even a single thing to eat, even if they did run away.