Victory in Europe Day: Forgotten Indians who fought WWII
Today marks the 80th anniversary of ‘VE Day’ (Victory in Europe Day), commemorating the defeat of Germany in World War II by the Allies and the Soviet Union. While the UK, the US, France, etc., celebrate the day on May 8, Russia, as the successor to the USSR, marks the occasion on May 9. This is because the instrument of surrender signed on May 7, 1945, by Germany stipulated that fighting would cease at one minute past 23.00 hours CET (Central European Time) on May 8, by when it would be May 9 in Moscow.
This year, Russia has invited PM Narendra Modi for the celebrations. While he may or may not attend the event, it is a matter of regret that the contribution of thousands of Indians in that victory is almost forgotten in our country.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the Indian Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis had an expert committee comprising, among others, Generals KS Thimayya and SPP Thorat, that oversaw the publication of eight volumes chronicling the contribution of Indian servicemen in World War II. India had raised the largest volunteer army ever, of around 2.5 million. It is well documented that but for the Indian army, Italy may not have been liberated by the Allies.
Of the 20 Victoria Crosses awarded for gallantry in Italy, six were awarded to Indians. They were Naik Yeshwant Ghadge (posthumous), Sepoys Namdeo Jadav, Kamal Ram and Ali Haidar; and riflemen Sher Bahadur Thapa and Thaman Gurung, both posthumous.
The mortal remains of over 5,000 Indian troops lie interred in cemeteries in Italy alone.
At Dunkirk, Major Mohammed Akbar Khan of the Indian Army saved 300 Indian and 23 British troops. The troops of 25th Animal Transport Company (Army Service Corps), wearing tin helmets, caps and ‘pugrees’, and mostly without arms and ammunition, managed to evacuate the troops with their ‘mules’ — shipped from India — to replace motorised vehicles.
Simla-born Hurricane pilot Mohinder Singh Pujji escorted a Bomber aircraft and conducted patrols over Europe, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. ‘HMIS Sutlej’, with Anglo-Indian officers and Indian crew, were actively involved in the successful hunt for the German battleship ‘Bismarck’.
Possibly the most remarkable of Indians who served in Europe during World War II, was the ‘Spy Princess’ Noor Inayat Khan. Hailing from the Mysore royal family, she joined the Special Operations Executive to conduct espionage and reconnaissance. Fluent in French, she did exceptional work for the ‘Prosper’ spy network. Ultimately, Noor was betrayed, captured and sent to the Dachau Concentration Camp, where she was killed. She was posthumously awarded the George Cross and French Croix de Guerre.
Prof Yasmin Khan of Oxford University says in her book: “Britain did not fight the Second World War, the British Empire did!”
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