The main intention of the Indian Legion was to serve as a force that would liberate India from British colonial rule. It was initially made up of expatriates and Indian Prisoners of War in Europe who would fight for the cause of India.
Indian Legion attracted numerous Indian Prisoners of War as volunteers. (Photo credit: Unsplash)
New Delhi: India and Germany have always shared a deep bond, which became stronger during World War II when the latter tried to rid our country of British colonial rule. While Germany, in the end, was not successful in ending the British colonial rule in India, the gestures and efforts strengthened the bond between the two countries.
A testament to the effort of Germany was the Indische Legion, which is commonly known as the Indian Legion. Its official name was the Free India Legion and it was a military unit raised during World War II initially as the German Army’s part. In this article, we will learn more about this legion.
Indian Legion: An army in Germany for India’s freedom
The main intention of the Indian Legion was to serve as a force that would liberate India from British colonial rule. It was initially made up of expatriates and Indian Prisoners of War in Europe who would fight for the cause of India. Since it originated as part of the Indian independence movement, the army was also called the ‘Azad Hind Fauj’ much like its more famous brother of the same name and ‘Tiger Legion’.
Who formed the legion?
It was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the legendary Indian freedom fighter who initiated the formation of the Indian Legion. It was part of his efforts to free India by waging a war against the British Empire when he came to Berlin seeking German help in 1941. At that time, the initial recruits were Indian students who were living in Germany and a few Indian Prisoners of War captured during the North African campaign. Later, the Indian Legion attracted numerous Indian Prisoners of War as volunteers.
Even though the Indian Legion was formed initially as an assault group which would play a key role in the Indian-German joint invasion of British India’s western frontiers, only a small contingent served the original purpose. Later, Indian officers and leaders formed part of a small contingent which was transferred to the Indian National Army in Southeast Asia.
Most of the Indian Legion’s troops were sent to France and the Netherlands and were given only non-combat duties until the Allied forces invaded. They saw action while retreating and fought mostly against the French Resistance. In 1944, one company was sent to Italy and the Legion saw action against British and Polish troops. After Nazi Germany surrendered in 1945, the French and American troops captured the remaining men of the Indian Legion and sent them back to India to face charges of treason. Later due to uproar in India among the common people, the trial of the legion members remained incomplete.
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