Chindits

The Chindits – officially in 1943 77th Indian Infantry Brigade and in 1944 3rd Indian Infantry Division – were a British India "Special Force" that served in Burma and India in 1943 and 1944 during the Burma Campaign in World War II. They were formed to put into effect Orde Wingate's newly developed guerilla warfare tactic of long range penetration. The Chindits were trained to operate deep behind Japanese lines, and their operations were marked by prolonged marches though extremely difficult terrain by underfed troops weakened by malaria and illnesses such as dysentery. A continuing controversy over the force has centered around its extremely high casualty rate and the debatable military value of its achievements.