India’s role in World War – II.
{mosimage}Hitler and his Nazi Germany forced the war on the world with ethenic cleansing and use of brutal force on the European countries with the combined powers of nations like Japan and Italy. The European nations put their act together in face of this and started to repulse the advacning war machine of Hitler. United Kingdom then had a tight grip on the colonies in Asia.

Indian subcontinent (what is now a days known as India, Pakistan & Bangladesh) was a British colony. With the advancing British involvement in the World War against Nazi Germany, India was invariably a part of the war and thereby a part of Allies. The Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel were strong opponents of Nazism but were also opposed to its forces being used by British. Their argument on the issue was as the Allies were at war for the freedom from Nazism then same rules should apply to India and they be granted freedom.

However, finally the Indian soldiers numbering around 200,000 joined the allies in the war. The main theaters of war had been Africa and Burma. Thus India provided the biggest volunteer force in the history of any war. The Indian army showed its skills and bravery by halting the invasion of Burma by Japanese forces. While a large chunk of the force went head on head with Romell’s Afrika Korps and the Italians in Africa gaining popularity within the Allies for bravery as well as deserved medals and accolades. The notables among the forces were the Gurkha Regiment and the 4th, 5th and 8th Indian divisions. To this day many British Army Officers swear by the bravery the Gurkha’s showed in utmost adverse circumstances and foriegn territories.

One part India was thinking on other lines. They saw no harm in aligning with Germany as by then Germany was a sworn enemy of United Kingdom. Rash Bihari Bose who founded the Indian National Army and Subhash Chandra Bose commanded the INA. The INA was mostly comprised of war veterans and prisoners of war. They allied with the Japanese forces and tried to defeat the Allies but their advances were abruptly halted due to harsh winter conditions, which were not conducive to the Indian soldiers, sickness and were finally defeated by the Imperial forces in Burma.

Japan by then captured Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Indian territory) and Britishers began to feel the heat on their doorsteps. This area was then handed cover to INA but due to removal of backup of Japanese air power and army the INA was defeated and Britishers regained the control of the islands.United Kingdom gaining confidence after regaining the islands moved futher eat of India and recaptured the INA held Mizoram and the eastern provinces. The INA was utterly defeated.

By 1945 United Kingdom had regained all the lost territory and Japan had surrendered. The war was nearly over. The Indian politicians started to pressurise the British government to fulfill their promise of freedom as repayment of their help in the World War – II. By 1947 Britishers allowed India to be independent state.