Front: Aung San (1915-1947), Burmese nationalist leader

Aung San was a student leader and editor of its magazine at Rangoon University. He entered national politics in 1938, and became secretary-general of a nationalist group in 1939. He was instrumental in securing Burma's independence from Great Britain. Before WWII, Aung San was actively anti-British. He helped the Japanese during World War II, but switched to the Allies in 1945. After the war, he became prime minister and negotiated Burma's independence. He was assassinated before independence was achieved in 1948.

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