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Divisional Histories:

Indian Divisional Histories

There were twenty infantry formations in existence during the Second World War, although not all existed at the same time. These were:

2 Indian Infantry Division (India and later Persia & Iraq (Static Formation)

DOWNLOADABLE DOCUMENTS (pdfs)

» 25 Indian Infantry Division
» 26 Indian Infantry Division
» 36 Indian Infantry Division

4 Indian Infantry Division (Egypt – Eritrea – Egypt & Libya – Tunisia – Italy – Greece)
Fourth Indian Division
By: Lieutenant Colonel G. R. STEVENS, O.B.E..
Published by: McLaren and Son Limited, TORONTO, Canada (n.d. circa 1948)

5 Indian Infantry Division (Eritrea – Egypt/Libya – Persia/Iraq – Burma – Singapore – Netherland East Indies)
Ball of Fire – The Fifth Indian Division in the Second World War
By: Antony BRETT-JAMES
Published by: Gale and Polden, ALDERSHOT (1951)

6 Indian Infantry Division (Persia & Iraq)

7 Indian Infantry Division (India – Burma)
The Golden Arrow – The Story of the 7 Indian Division in the Second World War 1939 – 1945
By: Brigadier M. R. ROBERTS, D.S.O.
Published by: Gale and Polden, ALDERSHOT. (1952)

8 Indian Infantry Division (Persia & Iraq – Syria – Italy)

9 Indian Infantry Division (Malaya)
Concise history being written. Please contact the webmaster for details.

10 Indian Infantry Division  (Persia & Iraq – Egypt – Cyprus – Italy)

11 Indian Infantry Division (Malaya)
Concise history being written. Please contact the webmaster for details.

12 Indian Infantry Division  (Persia & Iraq [Static Formation])

14 Indian Infantry Division (Burma [Arakan] – India [Training])
Concise history has been written. Please contact the webmaster for details.

17 Indian Infantry Division (Burma)
Concise history being written. Section completed covers the 1942 Burma Campaign. Please contact the webmaster for details.

19 Indian Infantry Division (India – Burma)

20 Indian Infantry Division (Burma)

21 Indian Infantry Division (Burma [Temporary Formation])

23 Indian Infantry Division (Burma)
The Fighting Cock – Being the History of the 23Indian Division 1942 – 1947
By: Lieut.-Col. A. J. F. DOULTON, O.B.E.
Published by: Gale & Polden Limited, ALDERSHOT (1951)
Reprinted by: Naval and Military Press Ltd
[ISBN 1-84342-462-2]

25 Indian Infantry Division (Burma – Malaya)
Concise history has been written, please contact the webmaster for details.

26 Indian Infantry Division (Burma – Netherland East Indies)
Concise history has been written, please contact the webmaster for details.

34 Indian Infantry Division (Ceylon)

36 Indian Infantry Division (Burma)
Concise history has been written, please contact the webmaster for details.

1 Burma Infantry Division (later 39 Indian Infantry Division) (Burma & Training)
Concise history being written, please contact the webmaster for details.

There was another infantry formation, namely Special Force otherwise known as The Chindits. This formation was given the designation of:

3 Indian Infantry Division (Burma)

During the Second World War, India provided several divisions for deployment in a number of theatres. There were four armoured divisions, although only one was operational. These were:

31 Indian Armoured Division (Persia & Iraq – Syria);
32 Indian Armoured Division (India);
43 Indian Armoured Division (India);
44 Indian Armoured Division (India).

In addition, there was one airborne division formed towards the end of the war. This was the:

44 Indian Airborne Division (India).

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