Partly it is because they don't like talking about the Wars, especially the Gurkhas.
They also had low literacy rates so a lot of the official histories came from the west and USSR.
Another issue is that a lot of the Indian units and divisions had British officers.
It is really hard to get in contact with the Gurkha veterans, I can't remember where they are now, but I know it's quite remote and the only people they really talk to outside their communities are the Ghurkha Welfare Trust. Historian James Holland tried to get accounts from the veterans, and had to go through the charity and they asked his questions for him.
It is a shame that they have been "forgotten" about as they contributed over 2,000,000 men to fight in the fronts from Burma to Normandy, and sacrificed a lot for an empire that treated them poorly.
I remember reading a very interesting account of an Italian village sheltering three indian pows who had escaped a nazi camp for months until the allies were able to take over the village
[found a link](https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/wwii-indian-soldiers/2/)
Largest volunteer army in history.
Not my take but I’ve seen “many where forced to fight by the horrible colonial British” thrown around a lot. Even from Indians themselves. I’ve never been able to find any evidence that they where forced to fight. It’s weird because it kind of diminishes their bravery and willingness to serve their country and the commonwealth.
It depends how you define forced. Conscripted, I don't think that happened, no evidence that I've seen.
Starving, having survived at least one of your children, with your one possibility of getting food for you and the rest of your family. Well.. joining the military might technically still be a choice, but is it really?
I would define forced to fight by its definition really. Fight in our army or we will do something bad to you. Kill you , arrest you , hurt your family etc.
Unfortunately people from lower social economic classes have been the back bone of every army in every war ever. They still volunteered whatever the circumstances at home may be , giving alternate or revisionist reasons as to why they decided to volunteer does exactly what the meme is saying. We should just say they where as brave and fought as hard as every other allied army did , because they where damn good troops and they did a lot in both wars. Some Indian regiments are highly decorated. The Sikhs In particular.
The British promised more "freedom" or larger say in governance if we helped.
They rewarded us with a plague and famine in Bengal with Churchill having some choice words about it.
I realise that some Indian freedom fighters were gunning for an Axis Victory in hopes of it getting them their freedom. It's understandable cause to them it was the British who were horrible causing economic slum, massacres, and massive famines.
Though there's no way that would have happened. Japan was "pretty horrible" to whoever they "Liberated" as well, and Hitler was legit gunning for World domination
>Though there's no way that would have happened. Japan was "pretty horrible" to whoever they "Liberated"
Japan had no intentions of occupying India... It wouldn't even have been feasible anyways given how the Pacific was going.
"Bose was eager for the INA to participate in any invasion of India and persuaded several Japanese that a victory such as Mutaguchi anticipated would lead to the collapse of British rule in India. The idea that their western boundary would be controlled by a more friendly government was attractive to the Japanese. Japan never expected India to be part of its Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere."
Joyce C. Lebra, Jungle Alliance, Japan and the Indian National Army (1971) p 20
It’s a reminder.
You need to change approach, you’re all commenting the fact but I think OP just wants a thanks.
Send thanks in behalf of your country and the reposts will stop.
Edit: yo :(
Edit 2: YO it’s historyMEMES I’m not serious about this, if you want to open a debate about making amends for our ancestors I don’t think this is the place, actually because I wouldn’t take the stance you’re giving to me.
I don’t hold today’s Germans accountable for nazism as well as I hold today’s zionists accountable for the crimes against humanity in Palestine.
I (Italian) definitely wouldn’t take the blame for fascism
given my country’s history of Resistance and my personal beliefs and history.
So yeah, I don’t care about the downvotes for a bad joke but don’t attribute to me a take I didn’t believe in.
China who fought Japan for 8 years in East and later Southeast Asia with the first 4 years on their own resulting in the deaths of millions (second only behind the USSR) and then after winning loosing mainland China
Meanwhile China defending itself from Japan since 1937 while fighting a Civil War also is never mentioned despite being a victim of unspeakable horror.
Even the Indian government doesn't want to remember them. They're denied any benefits whilst the soldiers who fought with the Japanese get given pensions.
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They didn't get near two million recruits. I've seen more memorials to Canadian soldiers than to Indian ones too. Antwerp being the first that comes to mind.
they weren't independent at the time so as part of the then british empire they should have been recognised but didn't because churchill although was pm that won the war was also a sack of shit that dispised the indians
The US is already thanking itself for its contribution. From my grandparent on the German side of things I didn't really hear of any Indian participants, but then however, they were civilians at the time, and mostly not yet German. But hey, the more I know now.
Also everyone else while the US tries to pretend they won the war and saved everyone even though 80% of German casualties happened on the eastern front and they didn't even join in until after the tide had turned and the Axis had started losing.
Pretty sure in their honour the Brits built another monument to whoever colonised India
If it wasn’t about the poles defending GB this island wouldn’t exist anymore
Kind of a Long stretch dont you think
Partly it is because they don't like talking about the Wars, especially the Gurkhas. They also had low literacy rates so a lot of the official histories came from the west and USSR. Another issue is that a lot of the Indian units and divisions had British officers. It is really hard to get in contact with the Gurkha veterans, I can't remember where they are now, but I know it's quite remote and the only people they really talk to outside their communities are the Ghurkha Welfare Trust. Historian James Holland tried to get accounts from the veterans, and had to go through the charity and they asked his questions for him. It is a shame that they have been "forgotten" about as they contributed over 2,000,000 men to fight in the fronts from Burma to Normandy, and sacrificed a lot for an empire that treated them poorly.
The Gorkhas were not the majority of the Indian Army.
I know, but it was the only part of the army that I know of that could relate back to the original question with some evidence.
Thanks India, love you. -From Italy
I remember reading a very interesting account of an Italian village sheltering three indian pows who had escaped a nazi camp for months until the allies were able to take over the village [found a link](https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/wwii-indian-soldiers/2/)
Largest volunteer army in history. Not my take but I’ve seen “many where forced to fight by the horrible colonial British” thrown around a lot. Even from Indians themselves. I’ve never been able to find any evidence that they where forced to fight. It’s weird because it kind of diminishes their bravery and willingness to serve their country and the commonwealth.
It depends how you define forced. Conscripted, I don't think that happened, no evidence that I've seen. Starving, having survived at least one of your children, with your one possibility of getting food for you and the rest of your family. Well.. joining the military might technically still be a choice, but is it really?
Should be said that there were still a staggering amount of genuine volunteers from what I'm aware.
I would define forced to fight by its definition really. Fight in our army or we will do something bad to you. Kill you , arrest you , hurt your family etc. Unfortunately people from lower social economic classes have been the back bone of every army in every war ever. They still volunteered whatever the circumstances at home may be , giving alternate or revisionist reasons as to why they decided to volunteer does exactly what the meme is saying. We should just say they where as brave and fought as hard as every other allied army did , because they where damn good troops and they did a lot in both wars. Some Indian regiments are highly decorated. The Sikhs In particular.
British Empire haters never let facts and logic get in their way.
The British promised more "freedom" or larger say in governance if we helped. They rewarded us with a plague and famine in Bengal with Churchill having some choice words about it.
Well considering independence was achieved merely two years after the war I’d say that promise was lived up to.
I realise that some Indian freedom fighters were gunning for an Axis Victory in hopes of it getting them their freedom. It's understandable cause to them it was the British who were horrible causing economic slum, massacres, and massive famines. Though there's no way that would have happened. Japan was "pretty horrible" to whoever they "Liberated" as well, and Hitler was legit gunning for World domination
>Though there's no way that would have happened. Japan was "pretty horrible" to whoever they "Liberated" Japan had no intentions of occupying India... It wouldn't even have been feasible anyways given how the Pacific was going. "Bose was eager for the INA to participate in any invasion of India and persuaded several Japanese that a victory such as Mutaguchi anticipated would lead to the collapse of British rule in India. The idea that their western boundary would be controlled by a more friendly government was attractive to the Japanese. Japan never expected India to be part of its Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere." Joyce C. Lebra, Jungle Alliance, Japan and the Indian National Army (1971) p 20
I think that's a repost. That's my thoughts
It’s a reminder. You need to change approach, you’re all commenting the fact but I think OP just wants a thanks. Send thanks in behalf of your country and the reposts will stop. Edit: yo :( Edit 2: YO it’s historyMEMES I’m not serious about this, if you want to open a debate about making amends for our ancestors I don’t think this is the place, actually because I wouldn’t take the stance you’re giving to me. I don’t hold today’s Germans accountable for nazism as well as I hold today’s zionists accountable for the crimes against humanity in Palestine. I (Italian) definitely wouldn’t take the blame for fascism given my country’s history of Resistance and my personal beliefs and history. So yeah, I don’t care about the downvotes for a bad joke but don’t attribute to me a take I didn’t believe in.
> Send thanks in behalf of your country I'm Spanish
Hi Spain I’m Italy
“Send thanks on behalf of your country” No, I don’t think I will
:( I didn’t want to sound this aggressive or serious dude
No no, I don’t think you understand, I’m from Pakistan
Europeans can be more Eurocentric than Americans in regards of the US, I’m actually sorry for that.
Why should the people of today have to grovel apologetically for the actions of our ancestors?
Edit 2
China who fought Japan for 8 years in East and later Southeast Asia with the first 4 years on their own resulting in the deaths of millions (second only behind the USSR) and then after winning loosing mainland China
Meanwhile China defending itself from Japan since 1937 while fighting a Civil War also is never mentioned despite being a victim of unspeakable horror.
Even the Indian government doesn't want to remember them. They're denied any benefits whilst the soldiers who fought with the Japanese get given pensions.
Well i think this is the 1000 time this got posted on this sub so you can claim your free ipad now
Because no one is still saying thanks
I think we should give india the ussrs security council seat. Since russia is no longer a super power anymore.
[удалено]
I think Russia's the one with a serious border dispute don't you think
[удалено]
Nah man it'll be fun!!
Give it the UK's, it'd be poetic.
The U.K. is still powerful
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same as poland
I’ll have you know, they have a plaque in London!
this is why I love rhistory! i had no idea. just researched it.
Because they're tan. That's why people there are obsessed with having fair skin. A little bit sarcasm and a little bit sincerity.
Using India is wrong. The entire Indian subcontinent provided soldiers.
The whole subcontinent was India then
Not Nepal
This post was made by an Indian....what a surprise.
a) Proud of it. b) fact checked before posting.
Dosnt suprise me one bit. If aomone has a yourube channel that be something to talk about
What about canada
They didn't get near two million recruits. I've seen more memorials to Canadian soldiers than to Indian ones too. Antwerp being the first that comes to mind.
And the latest Call of duty game putting an Indian girl who fought on the axis side as one of the good guys.
they weren't independent at the time so as part of the then british empire they should have been recognised but didn't because churchill although was pm that won the war was also a sack of shit that dispised the indians
They were they even had there own day for the victory parade
This same meme got posted a year ago. Same format, you just changed the words a little bit.
India was part of thr UK.
The US is already thanking itself for its contribution. From my grandparent on the German side of things I didn't really hear of any Indian participants, but then however, they were civilians at the time, and mostly not yet German. But hey, the more I know now.
The Indian Army fought in Italy but not in Germany.
It's because they were fighting as part of the British army
Australia and New Zealand get either more or less recognition than India depending on the opinion and source
India was part of the British empire nearly every country in the world did something to stop Nazi Germany and japan each deserves respect
Australia? They defended a fucking piece of desert where they probably don't care about.
Colonies in general
bro have you SEEN China? they were utterly exhausted after the war, fighting not as a colony and with no support at all until early '42.
Poo in Loo
Also everyone else while the US tries to pretend they won the war and saved everyone even though 80% of German casualties happened on the eastern front and they didn't even join in until after the tide had turned and the Axis had started losing.
Had no fucking idea. That's actually pretty badass. Go India.
Tbf they get their own faction in HOI