Indian Legion soldier with a German MG32, defending the Atlantic wall while serving in the Wehrmacht. The Indian Legion, officially known as Infantry Regiment 950 (Indian), was a Wehrmacht regiment unit born during the Second World War in Nazi Germany. Intended to serve as a liberation force for British-ruled India, it was made up of Indian prisoners of war and expatriates in Europe. Initially raised as part of the German Army, it was part of the Waffen-SS from August 1944. Most of the initial recruits in 1941 were volunteers from the Indian students living in Germany at the time, who had the objective of liberating India from Great Britain during the war. A hundred legionnaires were parachuted into eastern Iran under Operation Bajadere and infiltrated into Baluchistan Province to undertake sabotage operations, which they reportedly did successfully, but with insignificant effect. They saw action in the retreat from the Allied advance across France, fighting mostly against the French Resistance. One company was sent to Italy in 1944, where it saw action against British and Polish troops and undertook anti-partisan operations. Once they had been captured by Allied troops, eventually shipped back to India to face charges of treason.

21/03/1944