The Sher-e-Hind/ Tiger of India. Azad Hind neck award..........

[Steve 5]

Gents my new pick up, a post war Souval made Azad Hind neck order "Sher-e-Hind/ Tiger of India" with swords.
The Grand Star "Sher-e-Hind" (Tiger of India), was a neck order award and could be conferred with swords for valour in combat, and without swords for non-combat awards. At least one award was made, to a Captain Kunwal Singh.
Original WW2 pieces and some post war made orders featured the "R.Souval Wien" marking on rear disc, not marked on this one, it has a blank disc glued on ! mind you early blank core EK's from this firm were glued together ! so this was reflected in the price I paid.....some collectors say, that is an indication of post war re-strike by Souval, some, that he simply ran out of marked discs and attached blanks ! It is a Souval made piece, made up to and beyond 1961, what is known is that British Army red caps confiscated the dies for this award from the Souval premises post war, but only took the reverse die !
A good looking award with nice long period piece of ribbon, which does not glow under black light test.
The Azad Hind decorations were instituted by Subhas Chandra Bose while in Germany, initially for Azad Hind Legion, to be awarded for gallantry in the field of battle. Both Indians and Germans were eligible for the decorations. Later, the same awards were instituted by the Azad Hind government for the Indian National Army during its campaign in South-east Asia.
Sellers images....it is on its way over from the States as I type ! will re photo next to my other Azad Hind Souval award when in hand.
Prost ! Steve.

[Steve 5]

more..............

[Steve 5]

This really is (IMO) a beautiful award..............

[Steve 5]

Last ones, the glued on rear..................
Prost ! Steve.

[Steve 5]

more information on this class of the Azad Hind award.............
I have researched these awards for some time, this particular award is best explained in this text, courtesy of GMIC, credit and thanks to its author Ed Haynes.... "Established 1942, though the first documented award came only in 1944. Awarded to soldiers in the Indian Legion or Indian National Army or civilians, already in possession of the Sardar-i-Jang medal for additional or ongoing acts of bravery (with swords) or distinguished service (without swords). In this sense, the award was generally patterned on the German Iron Cross. This decoration carried with it an annual stipend of 300 Indian Rupees when awarded with swords. It is estimated that only about one hundred of these decorations were manufactured in Europe; South-East Asian manufacturing has not been established.
To understand the award better, a sample recipient would Naik Kehar Singh (presumably an award with swords, but the citation does not specify this):-
On the 18th of May 1944, a unit of the I.N.A. was picqueting a hill in the central sector of the Indo-Burma frontier. Of those on duty, Naik Kehar Singh was one. On an early morning the enemy made an unprecedented pre-planned attack on our picquet.
One of his comrades, who was working a light machine-gun against the enemy was fatally wounded by enemy fire. He signaled to his comrades to come and occupy his machine-gun. But the man who was to relieve him had already been shot dead by enemy fire, Naik Kehar Singh was witnessing all this from a short distance. He made a spontaneous decision, with the enemy firing uninterruptedly, but caring not for his own safety, he rushed through the pouring bullets to occupy the machine gun post. By the time he reached the post, the enemy had approached him to as close as ten yards. With a smile on his lips, Kehar Singh picked up the machine gun and resting it against his hip opened fire on the enemy who were shooting at him with tommy guns, neglecting the enemy fire, Naik Kehar Singh went on working his own machine gun, so much that the enemy had to retreat.
The medal as well as the others, were also awarded to German (and, one presumes, Japanese) officers and others involved with the Indian Legion and Indian National Army. For example, the famous late German Dr. K.-G. Kleitmann was awarded the Sher-e-Hind with swords. It is estimated that only perhaps twenty-five Sher-i-Hind medals were awarded, including two awards for Southeast Asia".
It is to be remembered that only Rudolf Souval had the contract from the Free India commitee to produce the Azad Hind range of awards.
Prost ! Steve.

[Tom B]

Beautiful indeed. As I understand it Souval is the only company that made any of these awards war time or post war. Is there a list of all the war time recipients? I have seen these around over the years and always wondered if they are documented. Thanks for posting Steve ! Tom

[Steve 5]

Is there a list of all the war time recipients? I have seen these around over the years and always wondered if they are documented. Thanks for posting Steve ! Tom

Tom, these awards are shrouded in mystery it seems, during my research I have come across named individuals but no complete list.....apparently the Azad Hind committee sat until 1961 approving applications for these awards, and it seems more were made post war than wartime !
Prost ! Steve.

[xmember]

Hi Steve,

I have one of those as well. I think they are great. What are your thoughts on the ones with the Souval maker mark on the back. In regards to the theory that the ones with the maker mark were made during the war?

Regards,
Rudy

[Nigel N]

Hi Steve!
Great piece, super design, as I think all the Azad Hind range are!
Nice looking medal with a quality finish to it!!!
I also believe Souval were the only maker, dating of individual pieces is usually the problem, the more elaborate reverse with makers name was, I always thought, the earlier type, and as you said, I also believe more were made in later postwar years!
If you could find a case for this, that would complete a super set, as the case is a great piece in its own right!
It would be really good if you could collect the full set of Azad Hind medals, in all the different variants!!!
Great to see something a little different!
BIG thanks for showing, and the additional info!!!!!!!!!!
-Nigel

[xmember]

Sorry, now that I'm on a lunch break, I had more time to read your comments.

Rudy

[Tom B]

Steve, Weitze has posted new today one of these...Not sure of the class however. Tom

[Steve 5]

Steve, Weitze has posted new today one of these...Not sure of the class however. Tom

Tom, IMO his (Weitze) are either wartime or very early post war, right after hostilities ended made. Notice the ribbon loop against mine, smooth like a KvK RK w/o swords......post war versions are as 57er KvK RK's and use a fluted version.......and then the price, mine cost just short of $491 (£290) as opposed to his 2,500 Euro asking price ! which is $3,424 or £2,035 !
As mine is post war, I am happy as it fits right into my 57er collection nicely !
Prost ! Steve.

[Tom B]

Tom, IMO his (Weitze) are either wartime or very early post war, right after hostilities ended made. Notice the ribbon loop against mine, smooth like a KvK RK w/o swords......post war versions are as 57er KvK RK's and use a fluted version.......and then the price, mine cost just short of $491 (£290) as opposed to his 2,500 Euro asking price ! which is $3,424 or £2,035 !
As mine is post war, I am happy as it fits right into my 57er collection nicely !
Prost ! Steve.

Steve, WOW I didn't even look at the asking price !!! I do see the diff's you pointed out. Tom

[Tony T-S]

A great thread and a great looking award Steve.

[Tom B]

Steve, It's interesting how Souval was always the maker for these. I guess because of it's limited awards no other maker had to be producing them? Tom