Photo study Waffen SS Freies Indien

[NickG]

Assad Hind Lieutenant Sayed Ishaq. This officer was captured in France (BEF) in 1940 and eventually as a POW recruited into the
Assad Hind Indian Legion as a private.
With his British officer status he eventually became a German Legion officer, a veterinary Doctor in charge of the horses.
Note veterinary cypher on shoulderboards. The Indian legion relied heavily on horses.
They eventually all came under Waffen SS control in 1945 just like the Ost truppen, Cossacks...but few received SS gear once
that branch was responsible for (replacement) clothing responsibilities...

[wehl]

And some lesser know images which I found on the web. Some came from a publication I believe...
The NCO is from Calcutta and described as a member of a police unit (or SD...note blank patches)
But they were probably issued blank patches as they were not Aryan so SS collar tabs would not have been issued and their special tiger head collar tab patch just did not reach the troops on time to be issued...
hence hardly any photographic proof...
It is interesting that the German officer (he was in communications/nachrichten) in post 5
is also wearing a black tab (SD style) along with an Indian sleeve shield.

very 'untermensch' looking as per TR propaganda abaut from that period .

[NickG]

Two more examples...Not in W-SS gear but nevertheless interesting!

Am 8. August 1944 jedoch entstand aus diesem Truppenteil die Indische Freiwilligenlegion der Waffen-SS, als die Legion Freies Indien offiziell der Kontrolle der Waffen-SS unterstellt wurde.

[NickG]

Excerpt from Axis History forum:

A protest by Indian muslim legionaries about being issued Waffen SS uniforms (camouflaged pea pattern uniforms with SS shoulder tabs). The date of this protest is unknown as Balwant Singh could not recall if it was before Dijon or after Vosges retreat but that after discussions, some Sikhs and Hindu's agreed to the fresh (SS) uniforms and (SS) smocks as well as (SS) winter jackets as their existing army desert uniforms were not woolen (for some) and they were having a tough time dealing with the colder weather in September and rains. Most of them were only issued Waffen SS tops in camo but not the camo pants. New leather boots were made available in black and some in a light brown. Shipment that arrived also contained belts with (SS) belt buckles with the German (SS) eagle in silver. The main issue was the more senior and vocal members of the legion questioned their commanders and NCO's why they were being forced to wear Waffen SS tabs and uniforms.

[D Davies]

No they wore the eagle pretty much always and usually on tropical uniforms but also on continental on occasion...
unless its a transfer to SS control and he removed the chest eagle but I doubt that.
I think he removed it with the intention to replace it with a fancier officer quality bullion one since he is an officer candidate
and after training/graduation he became an officer.

Thanks Nick I can go with that very plausible.
Cheers
Dave

[Ludwig]

How were these soldiers treated by the allies, when captured? Did they return to India or were they English citizens?

[NickG]

How were these soldiers treated by the allies, when captured? Did they return to India or were they English citizens?

Extract from Feldgrau web site:


The Germans always had a very low opinion of the fighting qualities of the Indian Legion (not that they had been given many opportunities to prove themselves in combat). Hitler is reputed to have commented: "The Indian Legion is a joke." and is said to have given a personal order that its arms be handed over to the 18.SS Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier Division "Horst Wessel".

The Indische Freiwilligen Legion der Waffen SS remained at Tr.Üb.Platz Heuberg until the end of March 1945, then, with the defeat of the Third Reich imminent the Indians sought sanctuary in neutral Switzerland and undertook a desperate march along the shores of the Bodensee (Lake Constance) in an attempt to enter Switzerland via one of the alpine passes. However, this was unsuccessful and eventually, the Legion was captured by the United States and French forces. Before their delivery into the custody of British and Indian forces, it is alleged that a number of Indian soldiers were shot by French troops.

Ultimately the members of the Free Indian Legion were transported back to India by sea. There, a number of senior personnel were imprisoned in the Red Fort in Delhi. In view of the pressures used to recruit Indian prisoners-of war during their captivity (and political expediency in an India in turmoil as independence approached) the members of the Free Indian Legion were dealt with leniently.
Most if not all were released in 1946...early 1947.
________________________________________

Here Indian Legion Wehrmacht soldiers (one wearing a civilian hat) trying to enter (or succeeded to enter) neutral Switzerland in 1945...
Note Swiss army truck in the back ground.

[NickG]

BERTLING, Heinz
SS-Oberführer d.R.:
Born: 20. Oct. 1898.

NSDAP-Nr.: 370 275/SS-Nr.: 60 258
Promotions:
SS-Oberf. d.R.: 9. Nov. 1943; SS-Staf.: ;

Decorations & Awards:
1939 Spange zum 1914 EK I: ; 1939 Spange zum 1914 EK II: ; 1914 EK I: ; 1914 EK II: ;
Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Gold; Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen;
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer;
Ehrendegen des RF SS/Totenkopfring der SS.

SS-Junchershule Braunschweig Staff (instructor) 1935-38
SS-TV Thuringen for Two Months - 1938 (Commander)
SS-VT Deutschland BTL KD of 1st Btl. 1938-39
LSSAH 1939
SS-Division "Totenkopf"/ Kd. T.I.R 2 1939-40
SS-Hauptamt 1942-43
Kdr.Inf.Rgt.10 of the 1 SS Inf. Bgd. (mot.) 1943
SS-PzGd Ersatz Btl LSSAH 1943
SS-Hauptamt 1943-44
Indian legion 1944-45
__________________________________________

Legion commander Oberst Krappe and an Indien delegation member Mr.Nambia posing with SS-Oberführer Heinz Bertling
in Berlin, September 1944. The legion at this time was transferred to W-SS control, the SS responsible for its missions
and supplies, Bertling becoming its final (administrative) commander.

(Photo credit: freeindianlegion.info)

Second Image shows the legion's last commander SS Oberfuhrer Bertling in Russian custody in 1945,
his uniform already partially stripped of its SS (collar) rank insignia...

[NickG]

Of course Bertling did not bother to add the Freies Indien shield to his SS tunic, but some officers did...
(very common with Heer uniforms, German cadre wearing the Indien shield but not in the Waffen SS.
Any other W-SS images out there I wonder?

[Antonio Scapini]

I'm always impressed by the researches you do for your threads Nick.

[Askold]

Great research Nick, thank you for gathering the photos

[Ludwig]

Yes, many thanks Nick! Very interesting indeed!

[simon]

Hi Nick,
During your research did you come across any photos of Frank Chetwynd Becker.
He was an English volunteer who was a Sonderfuhrer in the Free India Legion
Simon

[chrischa]

Hi Nick,
During your research did you come across any photos of Frank Chetwynd Becker.
He was an English volunteer who was a Sonderfuhrer in the Free India Legion
Simon

Hello mate.

Sounds interesting.

Can you give anymore info or background on this man?

Cheers
Chris