December 14th, 1971 - The Battle of Dacca

Conflict: Indo-Pakistan War

Combatants: Indians vs. Pakistanis

Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Outcome: Indian victory

The battle for Dacca began on this day in 1971. Indian soldiers advanced on the Pakistani-held city with artillery and air support. The East Pakistani government withdrew to a neutral zone before the Indian assault. India's Indira Gandhi and Pakistan's new president Zulfikar Bhutto would sign a UN cease-fire three days later.

Knocked out Indian tank 1971 by an unknown photographer

Points of Interest:

• India had formally recognized East Pakistan as Bangladesh a week prior to the advance on Dacca.

• Prime Minister Indira Gandhi would be assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984.

Offical Portrait of Indira Gandhi by the Prime Minsiter's Office of India

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto by an unknown photographer

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Sources:

Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).

Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.

Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.