Legion Freies Indien

[LegionFreiesIndien]

There's a new, large format and very well illustrated book called "For Free India: Indian soldiers in Germany and Italy during the Second World War," devoted entirely to the history of the Indian volunteers in both the German and Italian armies which was published in the Netherlands at the end of October by Oskam-Neeven (http://www.oskam-Neeven.com). A significant number of the photos haven't been published before and the (English) text has a lot of good information too.

There is a website devoted just to the book at: http://www.freeindianlegion.info

[Simperator]

Hi!

Some other pics:

[Arto O]

Hi,

Two players have something in their heads. They look like bandages, but cannot be. Do somebody knows what they are? The headdresses of Sikhs seem to come in different colors. Question of region, religious or rank?

Thanks

Arto

[Simperator]

Hi,

Two players have something in their heads. They look like bandages, but cannot be. Do somebody knows what they are? The headdresses of Sikhs seem to come in different colors. Question of region, religious or rank?

Thanks

Arto

I think it's either a hair band (Sikhs should never cut their hair) or the comb:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Ks

Greetings, Simon

[Arto O]

Thanks Simperator,

Very interesting links.

Cheers

Arto

[AlifRafikKhan]

Unidentified Leutnant of Indian volunteers. Looks like he is a medical officers (based on the schulterklappen). Maybe someone know How many Wehrmacht officers that came from Indian nationality? Thank you in advance,...

Source: http://gruszipedia33.wiki-site.com/inde ... fizier.JPG

[lundypete]

Has anyone have any info or a picture of Frank Chetwynd Becker? He was a British man who acted as an interperter for the Free India Legion. I am looking into getting his British Government file, but hoped someone could add more info.

R.

I realise that this original post was some 10 years ago, but my maternal grandfather was Arnold Becker, Franks eldest brother. Following WW2, Frank emigrated to Australia, and became very religious. The family was Anglo German, and maintained strong links prior to, and after the war. Interestingly, two of his other brothers served in the RAF: Bernard rising to Group Captain in Fighter Command, and William in Bomber Command

Frank had been on holiday at the start of the war, and having reported to the authorities in Germany, was given the choice of a non combatant role or internment. He was Sonderfuhrer, with the Free Indians from 1942

[Phil Don]

Hi

The officer is vetenary Leutnant Dr. Sayed Ishaq (identity in For Free India by Martin Bamber).

Phil Don

[sandeepmukherjee196]

Hi,

Two players have something in their heads. They look like bandages, but cannot be. Do somebody knows what they are? The headdresses of Sikhs seem to come in different colors. Question of region, religious or rank?

Thanks

Arto

Hi..

They are not bandages. When a Sikh is not wearing a turban.. his hair is tied up and knotted in the middle of the head. This knot is often covered by a cloth..like a handkerchief..This is tied to the knot. This is what you are seeing in the middle of their heads.

Ciao
Sandeep

[Arto O]

Thanks Sandeep,
for the interesting information. Can you or somebody else tell something about the turban used by this volunteer? Does he comes from certain region of India?

41.JPG (72.06 KiB) Viewed 1014 times

Source in the photo.

[zaptiè]

Not a Sikh , probably an hindu.

[sandeepmukherjee196]

This is not a Sikh. This shows some kind of a ceremonial headgear...not standard military issue....or part of a uniform. In the WW II period, Indian troops had more or less standardised uniforms. Esoteric region based gear would have been used only for special ceremonial purposes.

Ciao
Sandeep

[Arto O]

Thanks Sandeep,
Making google search again, Hindus use turbans in ceremonial occasions, like weddings etc.
with best regards
Arto

[sandeepmukherjee196]

You are most welcome Arto

[Bi-Doux]

here's an interesting page from the BBC-

Hitler's secret Indian army
By Mike Thomson
BBC News
...
The former French Resistance fighter, Henri Gendreaux, remembers the Legion passing through his home town of Ruffec: "I do remember several cases of rape. A lady and her two daughters were raped and in another case they even shot dead a little two-year-old girl."
...

A member of the French Resistance, Antoine Mangane, was also arrested there on 19th August 1944 and is, since then, reported missing. Who knows whether Martin Bamber's book gives more details about this event and may unveil his fate. If not, would the "secret file" used by BBC to produce this broadcast bring also new elements in 2021 about this fact ?

Thanks for any new information about detailed schedule of Freies India on 19th August 1944.

Cheers

Bi-Doux