For the first time since 1885, there was a Burman army commanded by heroic young patriots. As the Japanese invasion progressed, the BIA also established provisional administrations in liberated areas. Official historiography in Burma dates the history of the Tatmadaw, the presentday armed forces, from the BIA’s establishment. (2006, pp. 22-23) The invasion by Japan and the fighting that it entailed lasted less than a year, ending with Japan’s victory over the royal forces, thereby acquiring Burma as an extension of the Axis powers. The expulsion of Britain instigated more disconnect between Bamar and non-Bamar ethnic groups. Burma’s various non-Bamar ethnic groups were supportive of the British and even aligned themselves alongside the Crown’s army during the struggle with Japan. On the other hand, the Bamars showed overwhelming support for Japan, primarily because of the BIA, and the simple fact that it was because of Japan’s assistance that the British retreated to India. These alliances ultimately led to increased inter-ethnic violence. No better example of this exists than Arakan, the Burmese region closest to British India, which had to endure an influx of troops from both sides of the conflict. During the Japanese occupation, some 100,000 Rohingya died and an estimated 80,000 fled to Bengal. Arakan was no longer a violence-free area of ethnic groups, and segregation became a way of life. Britain’s retreat to India kept the military intact for the reoccupation of Burma that was initiated in 1944. After witnessing the hostile and abusive tactics employed by the fascist Japanese forces, Aung San and a band of BIA members formed the secret Anti-Fascist Organization and began renegotiations with the British. Shortly thereafter Burma joined the Allied forces and the Patriotic Burmese Forces (Ibrahim, 2016). By 7