Contemporary
Indonesian National Revolution 1945-1949: Freedom from the Dutch
The Netherlands transferred sovereignty over the former Netherlands East Indies, except Western New Guinea, to Indonesia on 27 December 1949.
Region
Asia
Contemporary
Philippine Independence 1946: The End of American Colonial Rule
The United States relinquished sovereignty over the Philippines, which became the independent Republic of the Philippines with Manuel Roxas as president.
Contemporary
Chinese Civil War 1946-1949: Mao's Communists Defeat Chiang
Communist victory on the mainland; the People's Republic of China was proclaimed and the Nationalist government withdrew to Taiwan.
Contemporary
February 28 Incident 1947: Uprising and Massacre in Taiwan
The uprising was suppressed by troops sent from mainland China; thousands were killed and decades of political repression followed.
Contemporary
First Kashmir War 1947-1948: India and Pakistan's First Conflict
A UN-brokered ceasefire on 1 January 1949 left India holding about two-thirds of the state and Pakistan about one-third, along a line that became the Line of Control.
Contemporary
Partition of India 1947: Mass Migration, Violence and Two Nations
British India was divided into India and Pakistan; an estimated 10 to 20 million people were displaced and hundreds of thousands to perhaps 2 million were killed.
Contemporary
Indian Independence 1947: How the British Raj Came to an End
British rule ended and power passed to two independent dominions, India and Pakistan, under the Indian Independence Act 1947.
Contemporary
Huaihai Campaign 1948-1949: A Decisive Chinese Civil War Battle
Communist victory; Nationalist losses of roughly half a million men left the Yangtze line and Nanjing exposed.
Contemporary
Burmese Independence 1948: Aung San and the End of British Burma
Burma became an independent republic outside the British Commonwealth, with U Nu as prime minister and Sao Shwe Thaik as president.
Contemporary
Operation Polo 1948: India's Annexation of Hyderabad State
The Hyderabad army surrendered within five days and the state was integrated into India, but the operation was followed by widespread communal killings.
Contemporary
Malayan Emergency 1948-1960: Britain's Guerrilla War in Malaya
The communist insurgency was defeated militarily; Malaya became independent in 1957 and the Emergency was declared over in 1960.
Contemporary
Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi (1948): Death in New Delhi
Gandhi was killed; Godse and Apte were tried, convicted and hanged in 1949, and the assassination shocked India and the world.