On February 19, 1945, during the Second World War, one incredible and terrible incident occurred. During the fighting on the small island of Ramri, located southwest of Burma, the Japanese unit was attacked by cresty crocodiles that live in local swamps. This incident went down in history as one of the worst episodes in history concerning the relationship between man and these reptiles.
The battle for Ramri Island, which went down in history as Operation Matador, began on January 14, 1945. On this day, the 26th British (Indian) division landed on the island. The main goal of the landing was to capture the local airfield in the north of the island. The island's Japanese garrison consisted of the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment and other units. Heavy fighting began. The British, supported by naval artillery and aircraft, pushed the Japanese inland. On January 21, the 71st Indian Infantry Brigade was additionally landed on the island. It was then that a turning point came in the battle for the island. On February 17, hostilities ceased, the Japanese left their positions in the north of the island and began to move south, in order to connect with the rest of the garrison. Their path ran through the local mangrove swamps.
The British land on the island. Ramry.
British units did not pursue the Japanese, the soldiers did not have uniforms for operations in swampy areas. The command limited itself to sending small reconnaissance groups on the trail of the retreating enemy. Although it is believed that the British specifically allowed the Japanese to go into the swamps.
The Japanese during the fighting for Burma.
The Japanese unit entered the marshland. In addition to problems with water, which was undrinkable, the Japanese were plagued by snakes, insects, and rough terrain. But the worst was ahead. On the night of February 19, while on the move, the Japanese were attacked by local cresty crocodiles, which lived in large numbers in the swamps. British intelligence officers noted in their reports about the emerging panic in the ranks of the enemy, indiscriminate rifle shooting. The next day, the British managed to find 20 Japanese people, very frightened. There was no information about the rest of the garrison that entered the territory of the swamps. According to British information, about a thousand people went there.
The exact number of Japanese soldiers who died while crossing the swamps is still unknown. It is believed that several hundred Japanese nevertheless came to the southern part of the island. Well, this case itself later even entered the Guinness Book of Records, as the case of the worst disaster when crocodiles attacked people. The very same operation "Matador" and the battles for this small Burmese island finally ended on February 22, 1945.
Captured surviving Japanese soldier
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