India in World War II

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British India was a key allied nation during the World War 2. The Provinces of India (which included most of modern-day India and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh), being imperial colonies of Great Britain, were by default a part of the Allies of World War II. Several Indian princely states, within the British Raj, provided large donations to the Allies to combat the threat of Nazism and Fascism. India sent millions of troops to fight the Axis Powers in South East Asia, North Africa and southern Europe.

During World War II, the Army of India under British command halted the Japanese army's relentless march across Asia, inflicting on Imperial Japan its first military defeat. India's location as an Indian Ocean and Himalayan power, its massive production of armaments, and its armed forces contributed decisively to the Allied victory over the Axis powers.

[edit] The Indian stance

The Indian National Congress, led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhai Patel and Jawahar Lal Nehru, was opposed to Fascism, Nazism and colonialism. Gandhi, in an open letter to Adolf Hitler, touted tolerance. Several other Indian leaders and politicians, expressed concerns over the rise of Fascism and Nazism and supported the British cause. However, the Congress pointed out the inherent contradiction in the British argument of going to war with Nazi Germany for the sake of freedom, since India was denied that same freedom. It was because of this perceived hypocrisy of the British Government, that the Congress refused to align with Britain's fight against the Axis Powers until India was granted independence. Britain could not afford to lose India, its most prized possession, especially when it was facing war on all fronts. In 1939, the British Governor-General of India, declared India's entry into the World War II without consulting prominent Indian leaders.

Another school of thought led by Subhash Chandra Bose of the Indian National Army (INA) allied itself with the Axis based on the principle that "An enemy's enemy is a friend" rather than ideology. The Axis powers recognized the INA backed Provisional Government of Free India as the legitimate rulers of India.

[edit] Army of India involvement

At the outbreak of World War II, the Indian army numbered 205,000 men. Later during World War II the Indian Army became the largest all-volunteer force in history, rising to over 2.5 million men in size. These forces included tank, artillery and airborne forces. Indian soldiers won 30 Victoria Crosses during the Second World War.

[edit] The North African theatre

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An Italian soldier surrenders to an Indian Jawan during the successful allied campaing of Operation Crusader.

The British government meanwhile sent Indian troops to fight in West Asia and northern Africa against the Axis. India also geared up to produce essential goods such as food and uniforms. Ores were mined to support the war^{[citation needed]}. Pre-Independence India provided the largest volunteer force (2.5 million) of any nation during World War II.

The 4th, 5th and 8th Indian Divisions took part in the North African theatre against Rommel's Afrika Korps. Furthermore, the 4th and 5th Indian Divisions took part in the East African campaign against the Italians in Somaliland, Eritrea and Abyssinia.

[edit] The invasion of Italy

Indian forces played a significant part in liberating Italy from fascism. The British Army of India contributed the 3rd largest Allied contingent in the Italian campaign after the US and British forces. The 4th, 8th and 10th Infantry Divisions and 43rd Gurkha Lorried Infantry Brigade were involved, notably the former two at the famous Battle of Monte Cassino and all of them in the torrid fighting on the Gothic Line in late 1944 and 1945.

[edit] War in Burma

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The Indian Army's Gurkha Rifles crossing the Irrawaddy River on 27 January 1945. The gurkhas were involved in hard fought actions with the Japanese during the early months of 1945.

The Indian army was the key allied fighting force in the Burma Campaign. The Indian Air Force's first assault mission was carried out against Japanese troops stationed in Burma. It was because of the efforts of the Army of India, that the westward advance of Imperial Japan came to a halt.

The formations included the Indian III Corps, Indian IV Corps, the Indian XXXIII Corps and the Fourteenth Army.

[edit] Bengal famine

As a result of Japanese invasion of Burma, the prioritising of military over civilian and Britain's control over crop production, a mass famine occurred in Bengal, with 3 million people starving to death in 1943.

[edit] The Indian National Army

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The Indian National Army, formed by Rash Behari Bose and later was commanded by popular Indian leader Subhas Chandra Bose, consisted mainly of the prisoners-of-war drawn from Japanese war camps in Southeast Asia. Allied to the Japanese, this 40,000 strong army attempted to assist in the defeat of the British on the subcontinent. However, the army was defeated by imperial forces at Mowdok, near Chittagong. Bose fled to Tokyo and was reported to have been killed in an air crash near Taiwan (though this is subject to speculation otherwise).

[edit] Capture of Indian territory

By 1942, neighbouring Burma was invaded by Japan. By then it had already captured the Indian territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. British India was now faced with a hostile enemy at its gates. As a major possession of the United Kingdom, Japan looked to invade India and stamp out the economy which had so far fueled the Allies. Japan ceded the Andaman and Nicobar islands to the Provisional Government of Free India on October 21, 1943. In March 1944, Japan made an invasion into India's eastern borders and moved as far as taking Kohima in Nagaland.

[edit] Recapture of Axis-occupied territory

Meanwhile the Japanese were facing stiff resistances in the Pacific front. Hence they moved their troops eastwards leaving the INA to defend the captured Indian territory. Harsh weather and disease and withdrawal of air cover (due to more pressing needs in the Pacific) also took its toll on the INA, the withdrawing Japanese and remnants of the Burma National Army. In 1945, a resurgent United Kingdom recaptured the INA occupied lands. Later that year Japan surrendered.

By 1945 the war had ended. Indians pressed the British for independence as they had earlier promised. On August 15, 1947, political power was transferred to Indian politicians and India was declared a free nation.

[edit] References