https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Legion( Field Marshal Erwin Rommel inspecting Indian troops of the India Legion in France 1944)

One of the ironies of history is that a valiant group of soldiers who fought on the side of Germany during World War II, with the explicit aim to free India are a neglected lot. This is the India Legion that was created by Hitler and supported by Subhash Chandra Bose in Germany. This force was raised with the grandiose plan of Hitler to conquer India after he was riding high in the battles in Europe. At that time, the plan was to use the India Legion soldiers to carry out an uprising in India and sabotage the British war effort as the German army moved in across central Asia and Egypt . Hitler envisaged an invasion from the West of India like Alexander the Great. For this, he created the India Legion with the active support of Subhash Chandra Bose.

Hitler also formulated a plan that goes by the code name " Operation Bajadere". Unfortunately, the Indian government after 1947 led by Nehru, relegated this exciting episode of  the bravery of the Indian army to the background and the role of the India Legion fighting on the Nazi side is relegated to a footnote in the history books.

The Plan of "Operation Bajadere"

The Wehrmacht assumed that the after the defeat of Russia and the victory of the Afrika Corps in Egypt, both the German army groups in a pincer movement would head for India. Before that, the troops of the India Legion would be parachuted into East Iran and enter India from the west. They would be tasked with the destruction of British assets and carry out sabotage. They would with Subhash Bose at the helm, orchestra an uprising of the Indian people to make things easy for the German army.

In 1942, this plan appeared a reality as the Afrika Corps commanded by  Field Marshal Erwin Rommel had conquered Libya and had reached the gates of Alexandria in Egypt. In Russia, 3 German army groups under Field Marshal Von Rundsetd and Von Manstien had brought the Stalin Regime to its knees and one group had reached the Volga river.

Action Plan

The plan was put into action as the German army reached the River Volga. Nearly a 100 specially trained soldiers of the Indian Legion were parachuted into Eastern Iran in the winter of 1942. These were highly trained troops who had been trained by the special  group of the German army called the Brandenburgs. One needs to salute the bravery of these soldiers who were both Sikh and Muslim and vowed to fight and work together. What a change now!

The dropping of the Indian parachute troops of the India Legion was a success and these soldiers entered India through Baluchistan. They set about their task of sabotage and the British defense already thinned out was at a loss to fight these soldiers. A secret report was sent to Berlin by the German attache at Kabul, which confirmed the success of the initial plan of operation Bajadere. Unfortunately, the German army was stopped at Stalingrad and Rommel lost at El Alamein. With these defeats, the plan to invade India was abandoned and so was ' Operation Bajadere". 

Role of the India Legion after Abandoning "Operation Bajadere"

Subhash Bose who had been the nominal leader of the India Legion was moved by the Axis powers to Japan. This was in 1943. His departure was a blow as the India Legion was left leaderless. Despite the absence of Bose,the India Legion was well looked after  and integrated with the German army for the  defence of France and Hitler's Atlantic Wall. The India Legion was put under the overall command of Field Marshal Rommel, who now commanded the Atlantic Wall.

The India Legion fought bravely and were given due respect by the Germans. It is interesting to know that the Germans, respected the food susceptibility of the Hindu and Muslim troops and Beef and Pork were taken out of the rations of the Legion soldiers. Even, Vegetarian food was served. In addition, the India Legion was very well equipped with guns and mortars and shows the deep trust the Wehrmacht had in the India Legion. 

Last word

Operation Bajadere is a footnote in History. The role of the India Legion is relegated and not talked about. This state of affairs continued for 60 years as the Congress party led first by Nehru and later by his daughter sought to erase the contribution of Bose and the Indian national Army as well as the India Legion from the history books.  It was as if the Congress party was ashamed of the  brave soldiers who fought under Bose and were part of the audacious plan to free India.

One sincerely hopes that this negative trend is reversed and the India Legion is given its due. They fought bravely and need to be respected and their contribution to the freedom of India acknowledged.