The
Japanese occupation of Burma refers to the period between 1942 and 1945 during
World War II, when
Burma was occupied by the
Empire of Japan. The Japanese had assisted formation of the
Burma Independence Army, and trained the
Thirty Comrades, who were the founders of the modern Armed Forces (
Tatmadaw). The Burmese hoped to gain support of the Japanese in expelling the British, so that Burma could become independent.