A Japanese invasion of Burma during the Second World War was launched from Malaya in December 1941. This led to the defeat of British and Indian forces and to Japanese rule, but during 1942 the new rulers made promises to grant Burma independence after the war, believing that this would give the Burmese a stake in an Axis victory, create resistance to future re-colonization by the western powers, and lead to greater military and economic support from Burma for the Japanese war effort. On 8 May 1943, a Burma Independence Preparatory Committee was formed under the chairmanship of Ba Maw, and on 1 August 1943 a nominally independent State of Burma was proclaimed, with Ba Maw as "Naingandaw Adipadi" (head of state) as well as prime minister.