Eighty years ago, in March 1944, Imperial Japan launched an audacious invasion of India from Burma — a campaign that would become one of the most dramatic yet overlooked episodes of the Second World War in Asia. The invasion caught the British by surprise, leaving their rear areas exposed and largely undefended. Among the few forces standing in their way was the newly formed 50 Indian Parachute Brigade, still in training in the jungles of Manipur.
In his new book, Fight Your Way Out: The Siege of Sangshak, India/Burma Border, 1944, author David Allison uncovers the gripping story of the brigade’s desperate stand at Sangshak — a remote Naga village perched high in the Manipur hills. Drawing on extensive research across archives and first-hand accounts, Allison reconstructs the relentless encounter battles that unfolded as the Japanese forces pushed across the frontier.
Dive deeper into the discussion as Paul Woodadge speaks with David Allison about the Siege of Sangshak and the untold stories behind Fight Your Way Out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOwx6OW4ya0&t=2699s