THE INDIAN LEGION (WW2)

This week I have used my hobby time to complete two units. A few months ago a box of unwanted WW2 soldiers arrived from Mark, who runs the ManofTin blog. This generous gift included figures drawn from six distinct Airfix 1/32 scale boxes, but I wanted to see what unusual units could be mustered out of them.

The Indian Legion

Decided to use the Afrika Korps figures to raise a WW2 unit little known in the UK. The Indian Legion was raised in Europe by the Third Reich. The original recruits were Indian students and others who supported independence from the British Empire. Later, some fifteen thousand Indian prisoners of war were captured in North Africa and sent to Europe, where they were also encouraged to enlist, and about three thousand took up the offer.

Photos for education, no profit, no copyright infringement intended.

Quite a few photos exist and they show that the unit received a mixture of German tropical and desert uniforms. Both Helmets and fatigue caps were used on active service. In distinction to British Raj policy, this unit had no ethnic, religious, or regional exclusivity. Some were Sikhs, wearing turbans. The unit emblem was a tricolour shield with a springing tiger, worn on the right arm. The helmets also carried their colours.

Interestingly, the original instigator behind this formation was Subhas Chandra Bose, who was actually a pro-Soviet communist, but very anti-British. The original contract of service stated that they were to be trained and equipped by Germany only for active service in India, but this never occurred.  In fact, the Germans used the three battalions as garrison and coastal defence troops in Denmark, Holland, and France. Their reputation with the local civilians in all three countries was not of the highest. 

Towards the end of the war, two battalions were actively engaged in opposing the French Resistance. In one French village there occurred some atrocities. Details are confused, but women were r...., and children were murdered. Later, about twenty belonging to the Legion were captured by a band of anarchist resistance fighters, no prisoners were taken. Some of the locals were shocked witnessing this, others clapped. Fearful of capture by the British (due to their broken oath to the Emperor) one battalion sought to enter Switzerland, but were refused entry by the Swiss border guards. They ended up captured by French Algerian troops, and some of them may have been shot, others were tortured. Eventually handed over to the British Army, they were immediately despatched to India. Considered a political embarrassment, the survivors were eventually released. Strangely enough, Adolf Hitler may have put it accurately, he is reported to have described the regiment as a 'joke'.  For more information may I suggest the following. This excellent article gives insight on their organisation.

https://d-nb.info/1185814825/34 an article by Joachim Oesterheld, very informative.

A recent visit to my local collectables shop furnished a W. Britains farm cart for £5. Picked up five 1980s W. Britains plastic farm horses in a charity shop for £1.50. The Indian Legion was actually granted authorisation to commandeer civilian transport in France, including many farm carts. My unit has now commandeered this cart.

WARGAME RATING. Will classify this unit as well-armed militia. But unwilling to knowingly advance on enemy regulars. Must test morale if under artillery/tank fire. I presently have eight figures, but will add a few more with helmets and turbans as and when I find suitable recruits.

(Will make a separate post to cover the second unit completed this week.)

MGB

REPLYING TO FRIENDS KINDLY COMMENTING BELOW

Hi MJT. To be honest, I already have five German infantry battalions of twelve, and with no plans to raise anymore. But in staging wargames, it is very useful to have some smaller units for selected positions. (I don't like splitting up my full battalions.) And having distinct qualities/shortcomings really adds a lot to the game atmosphere. As you know, morale dominates my wargames.

Hello Roger. The one thing that becomes clear when you view any military returns is the number of specialist, ad hoc, irregular, and downright strange formations that get raised during any conflict. To stick to full strength establishments and so-called typical units is often historically incorrect...... and a bit boring too. 

Thanks Donnie. I was aware of the Indian Legion, but had never researched its military record, numbers, uniform, etc. So it was fun and interesting to raise this unit. And it will be stimulating to contemplate how best to deploy it in any future wargames. Uncanny spotting that cart in the shop, the shopkeeper was asking £7, but he always offers to help me out with the price. 

Hi there (E40P), I think too much weight is often put on wargame rules, and not enough on historical unit reputation and period-correct laws. These are the things that really capture a conflict on the gaming table. If these are correct, the rules and calculations can be kept quick and simple. The Indian Legion needs specific 'laws' to represent it on the table. Now, I have seen the IL represented in a smaller scale, but all of them were Sikhs, wearing turbans. Actually, 2/3rds were Hindu, and others were Moslem. (I bet the regimental cook died of stress!) 

Hello Brad. It was fun researching the unit, the internet is a wonderful resource at our fingertips. I have also started raising a larger force of Indian National Army, these fought for the Japanese, and in much larger numbers. But I should acknowledge, over two million soldiers from the sub-continent kept their oath to the Emperor of India, King George the VIth. (India was always described as an empire, and also part of the British Empire. My late mother was born in India, and her passport has on the cover EMPIRE OF INDIA. It may be due to the British having conquered the former Moghul Empire in India.)