THE FREE INDIAN LEGION:
As World War Two progressed. Germany began to suffer profound man power shortages. Eventually the German Wehrmacht and Waffen SS would incorporate units from various foreign nationalities. Among the most unique was the Indian infantry 950 regiment later renamed the Indian volunteer Legion of the Waffen SS.
The unit was mostly derived from Indian POW’s captured in the North Africa campaign and was intended to serve as a future liberation force against British ruled India. Its numbers would reach a total combat strength of 2,600 men.
However upon completion of training the Indian Legion as a whole was not sent to any particular front and was split up and assigned to other duties. 200 troops were parachuted into Iran under operation Bajadere to undertake in sabotage operations which in the end contributed little.
Three companies would be sent to Italy an see combat duty, the remainder of the Legion would be assigned to France guarding the Atlantic Wall, participating in anti partisan operations and escorting supply convoys.
When the war ended most were captured and sent back to India to stand trial for treason against the British Empire. But civilian uproar caused by the very thought of trials to condemn fellow countrymen which had served with the Axis against their British overlords, caused the trials to be abandoned.
As World War Two progressed. Germany began to suffer profound man power shortages. Eventually the German Wehrmacht and Waffen SS would incorporate units from various foreign nationalities. Among the most unique was the Indian infantry 950 regiment later renamed the Indian volunteer Legion of the Waffen SS.
The unit was mostly derived from Indian POW’s captured in the North Africa campaign and was intended to serve as a future liberation force against British ruled India. Its numbers would reach a total combat strength of 2,600 men.
However upon completion of training the Indian Legion as a whole was not sent to any particular front and was split up and assigned to other duties. 200 troops were parachuted into Iran under operation Bajadere to undertake in sabotage operations which in the end contributed little.
Three companies would be sent to Italy an see combat duty, the remainder of the Legion would be assigned to France guarding the Atlantic Wall, participating in anti partisan operations and escorting supply convoys.
When the war ended most were captured and sent back to India to stand trial for treason against the British Empire. But civilian uproar caused by the very thought of trials to condemn fellow countrymen which had served with the Axis against their British overlords, caused the trials to be abandoned.
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