Colonel Ba Htoo (; 1916 – 2 June 1945) was an officer in the

Burma National Army The Burma Independence Army (BIA), was a pro-Japanese and revolutionary army that fought for the end of British rule in Burma by assisting the Japanese in their conquest of the country in 1942 during World War II. It was the first post-col ...

. He is perhaps most well known for his leadership in driving out Japanese forces from

Upper Myanmar Upper Myanmar ( or , also called Upper Burma) is one of two geographic regions in Myanmar, the other being Lower Myanmar. Located in the country's centre and north stretches, Upper Myanmar encompasses six inland states and regions, including M ...

during World War II. Having declared war on the Japanese forces on the 8 March 1945, then-Major Ba Htoo took victory in around 20 battles, which alongside a successive campaign launched by General

Aung San Aung San (, ; 13 February 191519 July 1947), known honorifically as '' Bogyoke'' Aung San, was a Burmese politician, independence activist and revolutionary. He was instrumental in Myanmar's struggle for independence from British rule, but he w ...

on 27 March and assaults by the Allied Forces, ultimately resulted in the defeat and expulsion of Japanese forces from Myanmar and the end of over 100 years of colonial rule. However, as Major Ba Htoo and his forces drove the Japanese from

Mandalay Mandalay is the second-largest city in Myanmar, after Yangon. It is located on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, 631 km (392 mi) north of Yangon. In 2014, the city had a population of 1,225,553. Mandalay was founded in 1857 by Ki ...

and into southern

Shan State Shan State (, ; , ) is a administrative divisions of Myanmar, state of Myanmar. Shan State borders China (Yunnan) to the north, Laos (Louang Namtha Province, Louang Namtha and Bokeo Provinces) to the east, and Thailand (Chiang Rai Province, Chia ...

, he contracted severe malaria and, aged 29, died from the disease in the town of Aungban, Shan State, 2 June 1945. Unbeknownst to Ba Htoo at the time of his death, he had been promoted to the rank of Colonel by General Aung San, as outlined in a letter.

Legacy

A monument commemorating Colonel Ba Htoo and the other Burmese soldiers that fell during the war in Upper Myanmar was erected in Aungban 13 days following the Colonel's death. A sports stadium, Bahtoo Memorial Stadium, in Mandalay, Myanmar, and Major Ba Htoo Bridge, which connects North Okkalapa and North Dagon, are named in honour of the colonel. In 1953, Bahtoo Station, a

military base A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. A military base always provides accommodations for ...

near Lawksawk in southern

, was established in his honor.

References

{{reflist 1916 births 1945 deaths People from Shan State Burmese military personnel of World War II Military personnel killed in World War II Deaths from malaria