During WW I, the Berlin based Indian Independence Committee ( Das Indische Unabhängigkeitskomitee) and the US based Gadar Party coordinated their actions with Kaiser's Germany. In September 1914, the Kaiser formally authorised German action against British rule in India. Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg was instructed and empowered accordingly.
Max (Freiherr) von Oppenheim, the famous Archaeologist and Historian coordinated a lot of these efforts with the Nachrichtenstelle für den Orient. However his main role remained limited to the middle eastern project among the Muslim constituency.
These efforts resulted in serious and major armed action in India and South East Asia (Singapore). The hands of chance disrupted the pan colonial uprising planned for 21 February '15. Smaller mutinies occurred at various British-India army cantonments and bases but they were suppressed.
The legendary Indian ( Bengali) revolutionary Rash Behari Bose was heading this coup d'etat. He subsequently, having escaped to and settled in Japan, also was a figurehead for the Indian National Army ( Azad Hind Fauz) during WW II.
- The Banner of the Gadar Party
- 150px-Ghadar_Flag.png (8.68 KiB) Viewed 736 times
On 23rd January this year we celebrated the 118th Birthday of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in India ( born 1897). He had deep ties with Germany/Austria in the 30s and 40s. First when he was exiled by the British colonial rulers (with debilitating ailments contracted in prison) in 1933, followed by a trip in 1937 for purely medical reasons... and then again when he escaped from house-arrest in January 1941 (arrived in Berlin in April).
Netaji had a lukewarm relationship with the German regime under the Nazis. Unlike the Kaiser's regime, Hitler was an extreme Anglophile. He was more of a champion of British imperialism than many in Britain by that time.. He made statements, albeit in private, that embarrassed even the ( hypocritic ?) British politicians
So Netaji all through the 30s struggled to bring Hitler around to seeing the "common cause" between the two Nations... while receiving a cold shoulder from the latter all throughout..till the "common cause" came knocking on Hitler's door (and ear drums
) !!.In 1941, before and after netaji's arrival at Germany, Romain Hayes ( Bose in Nazi Germany, Random House, 2011) provides the following checklist of German initiatives :
Feb 17, 1941 : Hitler orders OKH to plan an invasion of India via Afghanistan.
2 April, Netaji arrives at Berlin ( from Calcutta, via Kabul and Moscow).
7 April, GenObrst Halder makes estimates of force requirements ( no of divs et al ) for the India campaign.
9 April, Netaji completes his " Plan for Co-operation between the Axis Powers and India".
12 April, Plan submitted to the Foreign Office.
29 April, Ribbentrop receives Netaji at the Imperial Hotel, Vienna.
2 May, Hitler confides to Goebbels that he is considering establishing an Indian Provisional Govt in Berlin.
There is a lot more of course. I would post elaborately if this thread is found to be of interest by readers.
- Netaji meets Hitler, May 1942
- netajihitler.jpg (12 KiB) Viewed 736 times
In short Netaji subsequently set up the Free India Legion (Legion Freies Indien) or Infantry Regiment 950, Indian (Infanterie-Regiment 950, Indisches) from amongst British Indian Army POWs taken in North Africa. This unit later came under the Waffen SS and came to be known as : Indische Freiwilligen Legion der Waffen-SS, from 8 August '44.
- Flag of the Legion ( Azad Hind)
- Indische_Legion.svg.png (36.88 KiB) Viewed 736 times
I. Bataillon – infantry companies 1 to 4
II. Bataillon – infantry companies 5 to 8
III. Bataillon – infantry companies 9 to 12
13. Infanteriegeschütz Kompanie (infantry-gun company – armed with six 7.5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18)
14. Panzerjäger Kompanie (anti-tank company – armed with six Panzerabwehrkanone)
15. Pionier Kompanie
Ehrenwachkompanie
It was equipped with 81 motor vehicles and 700 horses. It also included hospital, training, and maintenance staff.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Legion)
The legion sent para commandos into India and Afghanistan. Manned coastal defences in the Netherlands and France. Was engaged by the French partisans in late 44 and took casualties. Its importance was considerably diminished when Netaji went to South East Asia by German U Boat in 1943.
Netaji's primary armed endeavour was in South East Asia in 43-45 where he led the Indian National Army ( Azad Hind fauz) in combat in Burma and India ( Nagaland , Manipur, near the Burma border). Netaji's death / ultimate fate remains shrouded in mystery and vigorous controversy till this date.
- Rommel inspects the Legion on the Atlantic Wall.
- 220px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-J16796,_Rommel_mit_Soldaten_der_Legion_-Freies_Indien-.jpg (8.38 KiB) Viewed 736 times
Sandeep