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In 1941 approximately 6,000 Indian
prisoners-of-war (as well as a small number of Indian civilians
living in Germany) were moved by train to Frankenburg, Germany to
undergo military training by German officers and NCO's.
These volunteers were intended to form the "Indian National Army"
that would eventually assist National Socialist Germany in
defeating British colonial rule in India. It was Germany's
hope to capitalize on the fact that Indian nationals were eager to
have their own government with less rule from England.
The volunteer group consisted of men
recruited predominantly from former Indian soldiers who had served
with British forces in North Africa. Many of these men had
been captured in battles where Rommel had lead German forces to
victory. After initial training, it was determined that the
majority of the volunteers were better suited to serve the
Wehrmacht as a military labor pool. It is believed that
Adolf Hitler's dislike of the notion of forming a military force
of Indian nationals to serve in the Wehrmacht lead to these
decisions.
However, in 1942 some 300 volunteers
from the original group of 6,000 were sent to Künigsbrück in
Eastern Germany where they were officially outfitted with German
Army (Heer) uniforms and combat equipment. Here the 300 men
completed their basic infantry training. The uniform
insignia denoting these volunteers consisted of a specially
designed national arm badge in the shape of a shield comprising
the Indian national colors and a leaping tiger with the words "Freies
Indien." The uniforms of the volunteer unit were identical
in all respects to those worn by regular German Army troops save
for the arm shield insignia. On 26th August 1942, the unit
was officially designated the "Legion Freies Indien" (Free Indian
Legion) and continued to served under the authority of the German
Army.
By 1943 the ranks of the Free Indian
Legion grew to more than 2,000 men now re-designated the "Indisches
Infanterie Regiment 950." The equipment provided to the unit
included standard German Army combat helmets both with and without
insignia. In 1943 the "Legion Freies Indien" was
deployed in southern France on coastal defense duties. After
the Invasion at Normandy in June 1944 the unit was slowly
withdrawn through France to western Germany. On 8th August
1944 the Free Indian Legion was transferred to the control of the
Waffen-SS. The unit was re-designated the "Indische
Freiwilligen Legion der Waffen-SS." Despite the change in
authority, the Free Indian Legion continued to use German Army
uniforms and equipment. Several skirmishes occurred with French
troops and Allied armor during the withdraw through France.
The unit was eventually captured by French and US forces as it
made an attempt to enter Switzerland at the close of World War II.
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