Burma Road

E17529

The Burma Road was a vital overland supply route used by the Allies during World War II to transport military aid from British-controlled Burma into China, helping sustain Chinese resistance against Japan.

Aliases (2)

Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf military supply route
road
alsoKnownAs Burma–China Road
alternativeRoute Ledo Road
cargo ammunition
fuel
military equipment
other war supplies
closedBy Japanese forces
closureEvent Japanese invasion of Burma
closureYear 1942
connects Burma
China
constructedBy Burmese laborers
Chinese laborers
constructionEndDate 1938
constructionStartDate 1937
country British Burma
Republic of China
follows old caravan routes
historicalPeriod Second Sino-Japanese War
World War II in Asia
influenced Allied logistics planning in the China–Burma–India Theater
length approximately 1100 kilometers
approximately 700 miles
locatedIn Burma
China
notableFor difficult construction conditions
high casualty rate among laborers
opened 1938
partOf China–Burma–India Theater
passesThrough Shan States
Yunnan
rugged mountainous terrain
purpose support Chinese resistance against Japan
transport military aid to China
strategicImportance major supply line to China after Japanese blockade of Chinese ports
supplied Chinese Nationalist forces
Chinese war effort against Japan
supported Allied strategy in Asia
terminus Kunming
Lashio
usedAgainst Empire of Japan
usedBy Allies
Republic of China
United Kingdom
usedDuring World War II


Please wait…