German Forces

Indian Volunteers for German Army

Portrayed here ara indian volunteers from the "free indian legion"or "Azad Hind Fauj". This was one of the more exotic volunteer units of the German Heer. Many of the so-called "legions" did in most of the cases not exceed regimental strenght (approx 2000 men). In case of this unit, a batallion ( approx.500 men) would have been plenty...this particular unit consisted of Indians who evidently opposed British rule of India, and who hoped to gain some form of independent status after the war. The Azad Hind Fauj had the German designation of "infanterie-regiment 950".The shield worn on the upper arm shows the three horizontal colors (orange, white and green) of the Indian national congress with a superimposed jumping tiger. This unit fought at Monte-cassino.