India's role in second world war

India's role in second world war

Question - What was India's role in second world war?

India under British rule automatically became party to allied Nations for war against Nazi Germany.

1. Military support

- At the height of the World War, more than 2.5 million Indian troops were fighting Axis forces around the globe

- Indians fought with distinction throughout the world; in the European theaters of Germany and Italy, in the north African deserts against Rommel, in the West African campaign, and in the Asian region defending India against the Japanese, and liberating British colonies such as

- Singapore and Hong Kong when the Japanese surrendered in August 1945.

- Indian leader Subhas Chandra Bose and several other Indian revolutionaries who were seeking independence from the British, Japan set up an army of Indian POWs known as the Indian National Army.

2.Civil Support

- Indian women served too, many of them nurses in civil and military hospitals or WACs (members of the Women's Auxiliary Corps) performing vital tasks for the war effort just behind the front lines.

- India suffered its worst famine during this time as the British diverted a major portion of local produce for the War effort. Some 5 million died in Bengal during this time.

3.Economical

- Several Indian Princely States provided large donations to support the Allied campaign during the War.

4.Logistic

- Provided the base for American operations in support of China in the China Burma India Theater

- USAF used Indian Air force bases in Orissa and Bengal to fly missions in China and Japan. Indian Navy was used for Naval blockade of major routes in Indian Ocean.

5.Political

- Liberation British colonies such as Singapore and Hong Kong when the Japanese surrendered in August 1945.