South Asia’s Forgotten Service in France During World War II
Words by Areeha Mahal
Welcome to the Brown History Newsletter. If you’re enjoying this labour of love, please do consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your contribution would help pay the writers and illustrators and support this weekly publication. If you like to submit a writing piece, please send me a pitch by email at brownhistory1947@gmail.com. Check out our Shop and our Podcast. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
South Asia’s Forgotten Service in France During World War II by Areeha Mahal
Indian Soldiers And Their Service To The British Army
The British narrative of World War II, with its sixty million dead on all sides, is regularly perceived as a series of heroic and notable efforts by the British. However, within this narrative lie forgotten stories beyond Eurocentric points of reference — the untold contributions by the British colonies. As noted by Yasmin Khan, Professor of History at Kellogg College Oxford, in a The New York Times op-ed, "Britain did not fight the Second World War, the British Empire did."
During World War I, the Indian Army put forth a considerable number of divisions to the European, Mediterranean, Middle East and African theatres of war. Over one million Indian soldiers served in the first World War, with over 74,000 losing their lives. When looking at World War II, this number grew to over two million Indian soldiers serving in the British Army, with approximately 89,000 dying in military service. These staggering numbers made the Indian Army during World War II the largest volunteer military ever in history.
Why would Indian soldiers volunteer to serve in the British Army? During the duration of the World Wars, India was still under British Rule. When the first World War broke out in 1914, many Indian soldiers came out in support of and campaigned for the war effort, under the belief that supporting the British Army would therefore allow India to demand greater freedoms from Britain.
To maintain the military support Britain was receiving from India, the British gave India a hollow promise of self-rule after World War I. However, this promise was not honoured, and the British only followed through after Indian soldiers' service in World War II, which ended in 1945.
Indian Soldiers In World War II — Where In The World Did They Serve?
The Indian Army found themselves all over the globe during their World War II service — including Asia, Africa, and Europe.