Burma National Army

Burma National Army

Flag of the Burmese Puppet State by Martin Grieve

Background: Almost two and a half weeks after the Japanese surprise attack on the US Pacific Fleet (stationed at Pearl Harbour) the Burma Independence Army (BIA) was formed in Bangkok with 200 members on December 26, 1941. It was founded by Minami Kikan, with Suzuki as its then Commander-in-Chief and Lieutenant-General Aung San as its Chief of Staff. The BIA however proved to be an unreliable unit to the Japanese (having made several declarations of independence, all disallowed in turn by the Empire of Japan) and was soon disbanded. It was therefore replaced by the Burma Defence Army (which was later renamed the Burma National Army).