Japanese Forces

Potential Liberators

Burmese citizens cheer as Japanese troops pass by following the invasion. Initially many people in Burma, as was the case in other territories, regarded Japan as a potential liberator from European (in this case British) colonialism. This led to the formation of some pro-Axis groups in these countries, and puppet governments were set up to try and promote the pan-Asian philosophy being advocate by Japan. However, it very quickly became apparent that, for most of these countries, the independence they wished for was not going to arrive under Japanese rule.