Axis Propaganda Against Indian Troops

AXIS PROPAGANDA
AGAINST INDIAN TROOPS

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In late 1990 as a United States Army Master Sergeant I was assigned the task of researching and giving a briefing on the military power of India. Like many Americans, I assumed it was a third-world nation with a limited military. How wrong I was. India is a first-class power with a large well-trained army and air force and a surprisingly modern navy with a number of aircraft carriers. I did my briefing and have watched the growth of the Indian military ever since.

In my Internet article about Japanese wartime propaganda I depict a number of leaflets that were prepared and disseminated by the Japanese in an attempt to drive a wedge between the United Kingdom and the troops of her largest colony fighting in Asia. At the same time, German psychological warfare personnel were also preparing propaganda leaflets targeting Indian troops fighting in Europe. By coincidence I had begun writing about philatelic and numismatic propaganda of the Free Indian Movement as early as December 1971 when I wrote about the “Free India” stamps for the Society of Philatelic Americans Journal. In 1972, I published a booklet entitled Azad Hind and Chalo Delhi Stamps along with Jal Cooper in Bombay. More recently, in 2001, I wrote about the “Free India Movement Banknotes” for the International Banknote Society Journal. Although this is just one area I have studied, I can probably claim to be an “old India hand.”

To make it even more interesting, the Psywar Society asked me to review Dr. Arunkumar Bhatt’s book, Psychological Warfare and India, Lancer Publishers, New Delhi, India, 2006. The book was originally Dr. Bhatt’s PhD thesis. The book has limited information about psychological warfare by and against India in WWII, but there was enough to whet a taste for more research. Dr. Bhatt was also very willing to translate leaflets from my archives. So after looking at all the data and the various leaflets I had accumulated it occurred to me that we had enough data for a short story. This obviously is not the official history of Psychological Operations (PSYOP) against India; hopefully that will be written in a second book by Dr. Bhatt. This is meant to be simply an introduction to the “divide and conquer” propaganda against Great Britain and India by the Axis powers. I should also point out that in general Dr. Bhatt translated the leaflets literally in a very formal and classic way. I have changed the text into “American” for ease of reading and to try and capture the message that I believe the propagandists were trying to disseminate. Some minor changes were made to the literal text.
History

Azad Hind Flag

Britain had controlled the Indian subcontinent since the late 18th century. There had been numerous uprisings and agitation as the Indians attempted to free themselves from the British yoke. In WWI, India supplied great quantities of war materials and soldiers to the British cause. Indian regiments were mobilized and shipped off to fight in Europe and Africa. Bhatt says:

The Psychological Branch of Military Intelligence in the War Office, MI 7 (b) had established a sub-division specializing in conducting press propaganda to colonies and dominions. The branch studied a list of 200 papers supplied by the Royal Colonial Institute, and distributed the matter “thought suitable for each.” Despite the selectivity, born out of psywar needs, it was found that each article could be used in about ten newspapers in different parts of the Dominions…The sister sub-division, MI 7 (b) (2)…composed a series of pamphlets on the role of the Indian regiments.

I mention this because although this article is on propaganda against India by enemy forces, we should remember that the occupying British also constantly propagandized the Indian people to keep the nation in a tranquil captive state.

India Springs to Action

An example is this British leaflet coded “C” depicting an Indian tiger and the flags of the Allied nations. The back has a propaganda message in Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Assamese and English. The text is:

India springs to action, and side by side with Britain, America, Russia and China will trample underfoot the tyranny of Germany and Japan.

Britain Delivers the Goods…

Other propaganda was in the form of three patriotic cards in red, brown and blue that depicted British naval convoys on the front, each in a different color with the text:

BRITAIN DELIVERS THE GOODS – THANKS TO THE BRITISH NAVY

The back had a short propaganda text in twelve languages; including Hindu, Urdu, Burmese, French, Arabic, English and others. Researcher Jyotirmay Bareria told me:

German U-boats intercepted and sunk cargo ships and eventually the ships had to be protected by the British Navy. The navy warships formed convoys to protect the shipping and were quite successful. Sometime in mid 1940, a textile firm in Bradford came out with idea of stenciling the slogan “Britain Delivers the Goods,” surmounted by a Union Jack. Soon, similar stencils were sent to thousands of exporting firms. The slogan became so popular that variety of labels and cards were printed to encourage patriotic feelings among the people under Allied protection.

The text in all languages is:

Britain delivers the goods – thanks to the British Navy

During the course of the war, as the enemy dropped thousands of leaflets upon the Indians fighting for the British, they retaliated with propaganda leaflets and radio programs for those Indians who had joined the Germans and Japanese as part of their fight for liberation. This is mentioned in some depth by Y. M. Streatfield in the Major Developments in Political Warfare throughout the War 1938-1945. Some of his comments are:

Our major success was with the Indian National Army which proved a most receptive target, the vast majority of its members surrendering when they found themselves in a position to do so and a particularly good result occurring in Burma in the autumn of 1944 when 3 out of 4 who surrendered said this was the result of British leaflets. Less spectacular but no less useful was our anti-Japanese propaganda in Burma which removed the last doubts from the minds of the already wavering population.

The Psychological Warfare Division at Southeast Asia Command was not actually set up until 6 June 1944. But in the meantime and until July 1944 front-line propaganda was carried out by 5 units raised by the British Special Operations Executive (S.O.E), two in Arakan and three at Imphal...During this period the target was the battle area and lines of communication in Burma and propaganda was based on London directives and, when it was drawn up, on the joint Allied plan. Leaflet dissemination rose from 250,000 to one and one-half million a month and a most fruitful target was found in the Indian National Army whose reaction to our “surrender” campaign was enormous.

Hugh Toye adds in The Springing Tiger:

But the effects of climate and hunger, and ofmalaria, against which the INA had none of the protection which so signally benefited the Indian Army in 1944, reduced the regiment by June 15 to less than a thousand men. The second-in-command of the regiment, who had been in hospital at Chamol, deserted almost immediately upon return to the front. Before long, “safe conduct passes” and leaflets signed by him urging members of the INA to return without fear to the Indian Army as he had done, were scattered by aircraft over INA areas...The Punjabi Muslims, of whom there was a proportion in each battalion, began to desert in such numbers that 80 of them had to be disarmed and sent to the rear.

On 2 March 1944 five staff officers from the 2nd Division Headquarters at Mount Popa deserted and surrender leaflets signed by them were dropped on INA positions.

An example of a British leaflet to Indian troops is:

BNS 29 - TO INDIAN PATRIOTS

A very interesting Allied aerial leaflet to Indian soldiers gives both sides of the argument for the Indians joining the Japanese to fight Britain. This is very strange propaganda because it actually makes an argument for joining the Japanese, though certainly a weaker one than for refusing to join with them. The front depicts an Indian (Subhas Bose) riding a Japanese bomb that is about to fall on an Indian family. The image implies that following Bose’s philosophy of collaborating with the Japanese leads directly to dead Indian civilians killed by the Japanese.

The same message appears on the front and the back in four languages:

TO INDIAN PATRIOTS

Read what they say, and think!

MAHATMA GANDHI

I have no desire whatsoever to woo any power to help India in her endeavor to free herself from the foreign yoke.

There can be no question of my approval of Subhash Babu’s policy.

I want to resist with all my might the charge of inviting Japan to India.

I WANT INDIA TO OPPOSE JAPAN TO A MAN.

Harijan, June 21, 1942

SHRI SUBHASH BABU

Without outside help the Indian Revolution would not be successful. In the history of the world, it is not a new thing to get assistance from other nations for winning freedom for one’s country.

Speech July 6, 1943

I see no reason why I should have any doubt or mistrust with regard to Japan’s intentions.

Speech July 4, 1943

The code BNS is not recorded anywhere in military archives and since it was just handwritten on the leaflet it may be incorrect. We are not sure what it represents.

Quisling – Son of India

Another uncoded Allied leaflet to the Indians using the exact same Gandhi quote attacks Bose and calls him a “Quisling.” Vidkun Quisling was a Norwegian army officer and politician who was pro-Nazi and appointed Minister President after the German invasion of Norway. He ruled German-occupied Norway from February 1942 to the end of WWII. After the war he was tried for high treason and executed by firing squad. To be called a Quisling is to be called a traitor and collaborationist. The front of the leaflet depicts Bose holding India in chains and passing them to a caricatured Japanese officer holding a bloody sword. The text is:

QUISLING SON OF INDIA

The back is all text and says in three languages:

TO INDIAN PATRIOTS
I WANT INDIANS TO OPPOSE JAPAN TO A MAN

Mahatma Gandhi
Harijan, 21 June 1943

Some of the known British codes for leaflets targeting Indian troops are “SH / (numerical)" for leaflets and “HH / (numerical)” for news sheets. It is believed that no more than 33 of the "SH" leaflets were produced. The last leaflet, SH/33, is entitled "Japan Surrenders." The "HH" product was called Hamara Hindustan, a small four-page weekly newspaper with war maps and stories of the progress of the war both in Asia and in Europe. The last issue is HH/86 entitled "Japanese Surrender Notice."

We know a lot about this British propaganda newspaper because many were archived in Lord Louis Mountbatten’s personal papers that were donated to the University of Southampton after his death. Much of Mountbatten’s papers dealt with propaganda in the Indian language directed against Indians in Japanese-occupied territories. Rod Auckland wrote about this in the Falling Leaf, Journal of the Psywar Society, in issue 135, winter 1991. He says that in November 1944, the newspaper was edited by the staff of general Auchinleck in Calcutta and distributed by the forward base of the Psychological Warfare Division (PWD), South East Asia Command (SEAC).

Hamara Hindustan was a large (15” x 10”) 4-page newssheet probably first produced and printed as early as January 1944 by General Headquarters, India. It bore no code serial number or date…The title banner was graphically different for nearly every issue…In the late summer it was reduced to 9” x 6 1/2.” At that time the title, date of issue and code number were added as a footnote. The new, reduced size first appeared in August and was coded “SHN” (SEAC Hamara Newssheet). The code was altered to “HH” in September.

Auckland points out that the distribution of the paper became a war of words between groups that thought the Indian National Army was a threat and those who thought it was a very weak organization that should have a low priority for psychological operations. This fight apparently continued to the end of the war.

One of the documents in the Mountbatten files is a invoice for leaflets to be dropped. The document, dated 7 March 1945 includes:

HH/62 Hindustan Newssheet, 10,000 copies, 100 pounds. To be dropped over the Andaman Islands and over Rangoon or Moulmain.

There is also a very short series produced right at the end of the war by the 2nd Mobile Printing Shop written in Hindustani and coded "2MPS/H". Only seven leaflets are known to have been disseminated.

In addition, some Indian troops who escaped the Japanese were formed by British Force 136 in late 1943 into five platoons called the Indian Field Broadcasting Units (IFBU). They were assigned the task of propaganda patrols and raising the morale of civilians while attacking the Japanese with loudspeakers and small 2-inch by 3-inch leaflets fired from 2-inch mortars. A typical leaflet might say in four languages:

Safe Conduct Pass

Notice to Allied Forces: The man who brings this is to be well treated in accordance with normal practice.

South East Asia Command

The loudspeakers played Japanese music and gave reports of Japanese defeats, laced with exhortations to desert. Force 136 was the cover name for the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) and operated in South-East Asia from 1941 to 1945. Curiously, the current British 15 (UK) PSYOP Group has adopted as an insignia the stag's head first worn by the IFBU. According to their website, "the deer's antlers symbolize both the combat support function of PSYOPS and the antennae associated with a major means of dissemination of psychological warfare messages."

We could discuss this in greater depth but since this article is about Axis propaganda to the Indians, the Allied propaganda will have to be discussed in a future article.

When war between Britain and Germany broke out on 3 September 1939, the British viceroy in India unilaterally declared India to be a belligerent. The move infuriated the Indian people and eventually the Indian Congress adopted a resolution on 8 August 1942 demanding freedom from Britain as a condition for Indian participation in the war. The British rejected this resolution, which led to widespread public disorder. The British then jailed members of the Indian Congress and this helped to create a leadership vacuum and provided an impetus for the ascendancy of Subhash Chandra Bose as a leader of the militant opposition.

Bhatt continues:

Being the most important colony of the British Empire, India was a very attractive target for the Japanese, and Churchill’s war cabinet had feared a Japanese invasion of India. Both the Axis powers – German and Japan – were establishing contacts with the Indian leadership…The Axis powers, particularly, Germany, had already made India a target of their psychological warfare.

The British responded with launching an Indian Section in the Eastern Service of the BBC in London, broadcasting in English and Hindustani…

Paul M. A. Linebarger discusses the Japanese propaganda system in Psychological Warfare, Washington Infantry Journal Press, 1948:

The Japanese developed a close-knit system (the Joho Kyuku) which combined public relations of both army and navy, all domestic government publishing, complete control of book publishing, magazines, press, radio, and film, propaganda intelligence and over-all psychological warfare.

The Japanese moved into the western colonial areas of the Far East between 1940 and 1942…They organized the following “independent” governments…Azad Hind (Free Indian government-in-exile) and the Azad Hind Army….

Anthony Rhodes talks about the Japanese plans for India in Propaganda, Wellfleet Press, Secaucus, NJ, 1987.

India was regarded as potentially part of Japan’s Greater East-Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. A “Free India” radio station was installed in Saigon, which encouraged the natives of the subcontinent to rise against their aggressors while the British were weak and fully occupied elsewhere. “Indian Independence” transmitters were also set up in Bangkok and Singapore, as was an “Indian Muslim Station.” The Japanese formed the Indian National Army with Subhas Chander Bose as its leader. Numerous leaflets were dropped on British Indian troops calling on them to join the Japanese and help liberate their mother country. One gaudy leaflet showed two Indians chasing a caricature of a British soldier surrounded by his shattered equipment and tattered flag. Another anti-British leaflet declared that the Japanese Army had “exterminated the diabolical British power from all parts of East Asia” and it was now time to free India for the Indians.

Subhas Chandra Bose

Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945) had been a fervent nationalist since his youth. For a time he was a follower of Gandhi, but he soon became disillusioned with the philosophy of non-violence. His book, The Indian Struggle, was published in 1934 and advocated a dictatorship form of government for India. Between 1920 and 1941, Bose was arrested eleven times for fomenting agitation. In 1939 he visited Berlin where he attempted to enlist Nazi support for his independence movement. Back in India, He was placed under close house arrest in 1940, but managed to deceive the British and escape, and after a historic overland trek to Kabul made his way back to Berlin in 1941. While in Germany he made broadcasts advocating freedom for India. He supported the elite special unit (Sonderkommando B) and the Indian Legion numbering about 3000 men that the Germans formed from Indian prisoners of war in North Africa. On 26 January 1942, Bose founded his Azad Hind (Free India) organization in the Kaiserhof Hotel in Berlin. The Axis powers immediately recognized and granted diplomatic representation to the new organization. Bose then gave anti-British speeches there that were broadcast by the Japanese in Thailand to India. The Indian Legion was to lead the German advance through Asia Minor and Afghanistan and into Northern India. Its members were recruited from among the prisoners-of-war captured in North Africa and later in Italy. In April 1943 the Legion’s three battalions were deployed to Holland, Then to France. In early 1944 the Legion was declared part of the Indian National Army. After D-Day they retreated with the German Army and disbanded in April 1945.

The Italians also recruited an Indian force from prisoners of war, known as the Centro Militare India. It existed from April 1942 to November 1942, when it was disbanded after a mutiny.

Some of the recruiting of Indian troops is mentioned by Gurbachan Singh Mangat in Indian National Army, Gagan Publishers, New Dehli, 1991. He says that a party of 27 men under command of a Lieutenant Jamil Ahmed Khan was sent to Italy to interview Indian POWs captured by the Axis. The group also produced loudspeaker messages and propaganda leaflets to drop over Indian troops fighting with the British forces. Leaflets were also fired to the Indian troops by mortar and rocket (propagandawerfer).

Meanwhile, on 3 February 1943 Bose began a voyage aboard German submarine U-180 to the coast of Madagascar where he was met by Japanese submarine I-29. He reached Sabang on 1 May. He was immediately flown to Tokyo. He met with and impressed Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, and was sent to Singapore where he assumed the presidency of the Indian Independence League and command of the reconstituted Indian National Army (INA). On 21 October 1943, a Provisional Government of Azad Hind was formed with Bose as its first president. The Provisional Government of Azad Hind immediately declared war against Great Britain and the United States of America. By now Bose was well known throughout India and was called Netaji (“Revered Leader”).

Mohan Singe began the formation of the Indian National Army in Singapore. Once Bose arrived from Europe he handed over the command to the Netaji. Three divisions were ultimately formed. The first division disintegrated in August 1944 after the disastrous attack on Imphal. 6,000 Indians marched into the jungle, 2,600 disabled and ill troops marched out. The second division fought in Burma against the British in early 1945, but by May 1945 the troops threw down their arms in Rangoon. At its peak the INA numbered over 35,000 men, with about 17,000 in Burma and 14,000 in Malaya, the rest in recruiting and training camps.

Bhatt says:

It can be said that India’s real involvement in modern psychological warfare began when Subhas Bose and his Indian National Army waged it. The Azad Hind radio stated its regular broadcasts from January 1942, in most of the prominent Indian languages including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Pashto and also English. To recruit from the Indian community in South East Asia, the INA ran a sustained campaign, with leaflets printed in Hindi in both Devnagari and Roman scripts on various themes like: independence, ills of the British rule, exploitation, discrimination etc.

After the fall of Singapore in early 1942 the Japanese captured 40,000 Indian soldiers. Some volunteers were organized into an Indian National Army, better known as Azad Hind Fauz. This unit saw no action, and was torn by dissention among its high officers and with the Japanese. It was not an effective fighting force until the arrival of Netaji Bose in Singapore. In 1944, while under the command of Bose, the INA fought alongside the Japanese on the Burma front in an attempt to advance into India. The drive toward Imphal stalled. The Japanese retreated, and there was a horrendous loss of life among the troops of the INA. It became clear to Bose that his dream of a free India was ended. It would only be realized after the war by political rather than military means. Bose moved from Rangoon to Bangkok to Saigon. Two days after the Japanese surrender on 15 August 1945, he attempted to preserve his political movement by flying to Manchuria where he hoped to gain asylum with the advancing Soviet forces. (Or, according to British Agent 1189, a spy in the INA high command, Bose was flying to Yunnan to set up a provisional government with the assistance of Communist Chinese forces).

Wherever he was going, Bose was killed on 18 August in an aborted takeoff after a refueling stop at Taihaku airport on Taiwan. Many Indians did not believe that Bose was killed in this crash and there were rumors that he had taken three bags full of gold and jewelry belonging to the Azad Hind Bank. Some thought that he was in hiding and would reappear again when the time was right. There were three separate official investigations into his death. The front page of the Calcutta Weekly from January of 1965 reads “Netaji is alive, American sources confirm.” There is a photo of Bose and the comment, “Netaji!! The nation pays homage to you.” After Indian independence in 1947, Subhash Chandra Bose was proclaimed a national hero.

India honors Bose with Postage Stamps

Although the British, their allies and many Indians considered Bose a traitor because of his collaboration with both the Germans and the Japanese, there were many Indians that considered him a patriot who had sacrificed his career and life for the freedom of India. On his 67th birthday on 23 January 1964, India commemorated Bose with a pair of postage stamps. The commemorative booklet printed by the Indian Post and Telegraphs Department depicts the stamps and quotes Gandhi:

Netaji was like a son to me. I came to know him as a lieutenant full of promise…He preferred selfless service to selfish ambition…

Netaji’s name is one to compare with. His patriotism is second to none. His bravery shines through all his actions.

German Leaflets

The Germans prepared a number of leaflets against the Indian troops of the British Army reminding them of their persecution at home and telling them of the Indian troops who had come over to the Axis in an attempt to win their independence. The leaflets are not particularly colorful although some have attractive images. Many are simply text in the various languages of the Indian subcontinent. We will depict several to give the reader a general idea of the type of propaganda leaflets prepared by Germany.

161/9 44 "Free Excursion to London

This German leaflet depicts three Indian troops looking at three scantily-dressed dancing girls. The propaganda text is very interesting. The Germans claim that after the war the British intend to give any Indians who had been held prisoner, a tour of London. They then suggest that rather than being killed on the battlefield, wouldn't it be better to allow yourself to be taken prisoner so that you can take part in the free tour. The text is:

Tour of London! Free!

All India Radio Delhi has said in its evening news bulletin of 25 September 1944 that the British government has decided recently that those prisoners of war who would be in Germany would be sent to London after the war. Beautiful girls having magical eyes are waiting even from now itself for those Indians who had jumped into the flames of war for the victory of England but fortunately did not meet the death. After this pleasure trip (of London) they will be sent home.

But What Will Become of You Who Are Still on Battlefields?

Be victims of the chilly winds of the Alps
Be frozen in the freezing cold of Italy
Face the adversary��s platoons and weapons
And finally, be targets of bullets!

Go to permanent sleep with the desire to go home!

If the war is going to end soon as the British propaganda says, then is it justified for you to lose your life in the terminal stage?

One stone two birds!

Protect your life!                  Tour of London via Germany!

And then home!

The back depicts the same three Indian soldiers enjoying a cruise on a ship named "London." The text is the same as on the front.

156/9/44

Another very busy "delta" leaflet depicts "Death" holding a British flag at the top and starving Indians below. The back has a long text message and depicts Churchill holding a bag of money. The text is very long and written in Urdu Roman letters and Urdu script. The text talks about the British and German radio broadcasts, the British causing strife between the Hindus and the Moslems, and the British looting of Indian foodstuffs and industrial items. It says in part:

Question from BBC London

On Thursday, 21st September 1944, BBC London had a question for our fighting soldiers on its morning program for Indians.

"Do you ever wonder why India is so poor? If you think about answering this question with all your new experiences and ideas you can figure out what can you do for betterment of India once the war is over."

We know that many of our brothers have never heard our [German radio] program, and very few of those who have heard our program believe what we say. However, we can answer the question about why India is so poor.

It is because of the unfortunate presence of Britain in India!

Why is that?

The British government's policy has been to cause confusion among Indians since the beginning. This confusion started during the reigns of the Muslim rulers and Hindu kings in India. Can anyone give any proof quoting facts that there was any such communal fighting before the British came to India?

No! There was not! Never!

India never had shortage of workers and farmers producing products and crops. But, who now gets all the wealth produced in India?

It is all sent to the British Empire and not used for the betterment of India!

Britain has ruled India for 200 years but the Indian poor are still dying because of hunger.

Why is that?

Because, all the food produced in India is sent to the hungry and starving British people. Besides a lot of potatoes and ice, the British produce nothing else.

Because of the British, there is also a weakening of the educational and industrial systems of � 163-944

And this is the reason why India is so poor!

What did you see and learn in other countries?

The country has to be free and independent to be prosperous!

Think! Are you doing any good for your country helping the British?

163-944

The above leaflet depicts Indian nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi weaving cloth. The leaflet is coded 163-944 which indicates that it was disseminated in 1944 over Allied troops fighting in Italy by the Propaganda-Einsatz Fuehrer organization. Text on the front is:

Boycott foreign goods!

The back is all text in several Indian languages:

The Mahatma’s life is full of sorrow, with many problems and sacrifices.

His thousands of companions also had to face the hardships of being a political prisoner. This is all for love of their country! They are doing all this for their country, for their Indian brothers, for you.

Yes for you! And your children too!

They should not have to join the army to fulfill their hunger and earn a living, and they shouldn’t have to give up their life for free for another country and race. Like you! And if you lose your life for this army all of the sacrifices of the Mahatmas will go to waste.

Be alive!

Don’t let the sacrifices be in vain! Take advantage of that whatever you do!

Think really hard before doing anything!

[Note] There are a number of German leaflets in the series addressed to Indians. Some examples are 131/8 44 "Happy Tidings", 146/8 44 "V1 India", 156/9 44 "London's BBC Equivalent", and 161/9 44 "Free Excursion to London."

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement. In India, he is recognized as the Father of the Nation. He was the pioneer of Satyagraha, the resistance of tyranny through mass civil disobedience. Gandhi is commonly known in India and across the world as Mahatma Gandhi. “Mahatma” can be translated as “Great Soul.” Non-cooperation and peaceful resistance were Gandhi's "weapons" in the fight against injustice. In December 1921, Gandhi was invested with executive authority on behalf of the Indian National Congress. Gandhi expanded his non-violence platform to include the boycott of foreign-made goods, especially British goods. Linked to this was his advocacy that homespun cloth be worn by all Indians instead of British-made textiles. Gandhi exhorted Indian men and women, rich or poor, to spend time each day spinning cloth in support of the independence movement. Gandhi was arrested on 10 March 1922, tried for sedition, and sentenced to six years imprisonment. In March 1931, the British Government agreed to set all political prisoners free in return for the suspension of the civil disobedience movement.

With the onset of WWII, Gandhi declared that India could not be party to a war ostensibly being fought for democratic freedom, while that freedom was denied in India herself. As the war progressed, Gandhi increased his demands for independence, drafting a resolution calling for the British to Quit India. Gandhi and the entire Congress Working Committee were arrested in by the British on 9 August 1942. Gandhi was held for two years. After the end of WWII Gandhi continued to work for a peaceful independent India with Hindus and Muslims living together in peace. On 30 January 1948 on his way to a prayer meeting, Gandhi was shot and killed by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu radical who held Gandhi responsible for weakening India by insisting upon equitable treatment for the area now known as Pakistan.

121 A / 6 44

A second German leaflet depicts the Indian nationalist Netaji (Leader) Subhas Chandra Bose. He had earlier escaped the watchful eyes of the British in India and made his way to Germany. Later in a remarkable feat, he was taken by German and Japanese submarine to Japan in May 1943. The front of the leaflet bears an autographed photograph of Bose in Indian National Army uniform. The back is all text and says in part:

Most of you may be familiar with this face. If not, then listen. He is known as the National leader, and he is famous by his name. This man is ever ready to lay down his life for his country and for you. And now he is calling for you to join in his fight for freedom.

The propaganda by the British about prisoners of war being put to death are all lies.

147 / 8 44

A third German leaflet apparently uses an old Indian fable as its theme. It depicts an elephant with a mouse controlling it. The mouse’s tail flies the Union Jack. The back is all text in two of the Indian languages and says in part:

A mouse is the leader of the Elephant

Once upon a time when an elephant was sleeping, a mouse came up to him and saw him sleeping so soundly that he tied the elephant with a chain. Even since the elephant has remained a slave of the mouse. One day a cat came by and wanted to eat the mouse. The mouse ran to the elephant and asked for help. He promised the elephant that if he helped the mouse would set him free. The innocent elephant helped the mouse against the cat and then asked him to release the chains. The mouse laughed at the elephant and replied, “You don’t deserve to be set free; you are not fit for it.” After a few days the same cat came again and attacked the mouse. The mouse once again went to the elephant for help. The elephant replied, “You are dishonest; a traitor and deceiver! I won’t help you. I’ll try to break my chains by myself. It is good for the cat to eat you.” And that is exactly what happened, the cat ate the mouse and the elephant applied a bit of strength to break his own chains and was free.

This is your state! A big country like India is a slave to a small country like Britain. The Indian soldiers should be fighting for their freedom which can only be achieved if England is destroyed. You are only fighting to remain enslaved.

146/8 44

This leaflet is interesting because it is another in a long line of German propaganda leaflets that use the vengeance weapon V-1 as the theme. In the background London is burning, struck by the incessant V-1 flying bombs. In the foreground, a sweating Winston Churchill is escaping the bombing with a rickety wagon apparently holding India’s wealth. Some of the text on the back in Hindi and Urdu is:

Our India, Better than the Whole World!

We hear this famous line of Dr. Iqbal on BBC London radio. There is no doubt that India is one of the most beautiful, prosperous, fertile and brave countries of the world. But this entire wealth and priceless Indian blood is being used by the British Empire that rules India by force. Ask the hearts of the Londoners what devastation the German secret V-1 weapon has rained on England. But Churchill is unperturbed for if India remains in the hands of the British, then after the war not one but ten such Londons could be built. Hence, Churchill is against giving independence to India. On the other hand, real patriotic Indians are sacrificing their lives for the achievement of freedom. For just a little money, you people are giving up your lives in foreign lands for the benefit of foreign nations. Aren't you ashamed of how long you have been slaves? If you cannot fight for the freedom of India, at least refuse to fight and die for the British. Remember, India belongs to the Indians and not to the English. They were born to loot your country. If you are thoughtful you will think about what you should do. Save your life for the future!

[Note: The title “Our India, better than the whole World!” is the title of a famous patriotic poem by the noted Urdu poet Mohammad Iqbal. In his youth he was pro-independence. Later, he supported the creation of a separate Pakistan].

LwP. 116 / AI. 115.3.44

A fourth German leaflet is all text and very wordy. The message is:

God does not change the state of any civilization unless and until the civilization thinks of changing the state itself!

INDIANS!

Do you know what is happening in the world? Every civilization is trying its hardest to fight for its freedom. In India everything possible is being done in order to achieve this freedom. Japanese and German representatives have already promised Subhash Chandra Bose that they will help India in its war for freedom!

A FREE INDIAN ARMY

Under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose the Japanese Army has entered India through Burma and at this moment the free Indian flag is waving inside Manipur. This army will fight until the British Army is completely destroyed. Thousands of Indian soldiers among the British troops are leaving and joining the Indian National Army to fight for their freedom from the British. On one side the Indians soldiers are leaving to fight for their own freedom, and yet you are still fighting for those who have enslaved you. You are helping those who have kept you in slavery for over 200 years! You are fighting for the British Army against yourselves! And why is this death your fate? Because you are still slaves of the British! Fighting for England strengthens the chains of your slavery. Dying with dignity is better than a life without respect! Right now foreign armies rule India and have no respect for the Indian people!

THINK ABOUT IT!

What should you be doing now?

Everyone. Listen every day to the Hindustani news from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. on both 449.1 medium wave and 28.3 and 39.6 shortwave.

[Note] The code LwP usually signifies German propaganda to Allies and Italians in 1944. The meaning of the code is unknown but we do know that starting in 1944 all German propaganda for the enemy was under the command of SS Standarte Kurt Eggers. The operations in Italy were called S�dstern. Subdivisions under this command issued different series of leaflets at different locations using different codes. It has been suggested that LwP could represent “Luftwaffe Propaganda.” We note that many of the leaflets also bear the "AI" code. There are a great number of "LwP" leaflets to the Indians. Some examples are: "Soldiers of the Indian Division", "Janubi Italy en Hindustani sipahio" and "Beware Indian Soldiers". The various subdivisions apparently cooperated well with each other and in Italy many of the leaflets have two codes. For example, “LwP 112 AI 111-3-44” and LWP 119 AI 120-4-44.”

The "AI" in the code indicates the German organization propaganda-Abschnitts Offizer Italien and the date indicates April 1944. There are a great number of "AI|" leaflets to the Indians. Some examples are: AI 115-3-44 "Oh Indians," AI 120-4-44 "Beware Indians," and AI 121a-4-44 "Soldiers of the 4th Indian Division."

LwP. 112a AI 111a 3 44

This is a tactical leaflet targeting the Indian 4th Division fighting beneath the monastery of Monte Cassino. The battle of Monte Cassino has been well documented. At the Allies moved northward on the Italian peninsula they were stopped near the ancient abbey by very accurate German artillery. Allied reconnaissance aircraft erronessly reported seeing German troops inside the monastery. In fact, the Germans had scrupulosly avoided entering the monastery. American, British, New Zealand, Polish and Indian forces were all beaten back from Germans entrenched on the slopes below the monastery. On 11 February 1944, the acting commander of 4th Indian Division, Brigadier H. W. Dimoline requested the bombing of the abbey of Monte Cassino. On 15 February 1944, 142 B-17 Flying Fortresses, 47 B-25 Mitchell and 40 B-26 Marauder medium bombers dropped 493 tons of bombs on Monte Cassino. The Germans then occupied it and made use of the rubble to build defensive positions. Twenty-five years later in 1969 the American government admitted after years of review that “the abbey was actually unoccupied by German troops.”

The Germans produced a number of divide and Conquer leaflets targeting Allied forces during the battle for Monte Cassino. Among the various minorities that they claim were being forced to fight and die for the Americans and British were those from New Zealand, India and Poland. The leaflet above targets the Indian 4th Division. The language is Urdu and the script is Arabic-Persian (the standard script of the Urdu) and Roman so all Indians could read it. The Indian soldier depicted on the front being pushed forward by Churchill is most likely a Sikh or a Muslim. The text in part is:

SOLDIERS OF THE 4TH INDIAN DIVISION!

You have seen in the last attack on Cassino how many Indian soldiers have gone to permanent sleep. Looking at these miserable deaths, every human cries. This is the same place where the American forces earlier attacked and got a bloody nose.

INDIANS ARE CANNON FODDER

Where the American and British forces fail, the voiceless Indians are put in the front to be cannon fodder. Think a bit, what business have you got in Italy? Why are you unnecessarily making thousands of Indian children orphans and Indian women widows?

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

Take advantage of the chance to quickly cross over to the German side. Spend your time in a prisoner-or-war camp and at the end of the war go home safely. Your brothers are present here in the thousands.

Note: You can cross over to the Germans safely by showing this paper.

There is a German language message at the bottom to explain to the sentry what the Indian with the leaflet expects. It tells the German soldier that the Indian soldier who approaches the German lines with the leaflet is to be treated with respect and returned home after the end of the war.

LwP 120a./AI.121a4 44

Another leaflet of the “LwP” series is more tactical and actually aimed at the Indian Fourth Division. It urges the Indians to desert the British and come over to the German side where they will be able to join Subhas Bose and fight for India’s freedom. Some of the text is:

INDIAN FOURTH DIVISION, YOU ARE A TARGET OF OUR BULLETS

…The Indians are led by Subhas Chander Bose, who has organized Indian troops and formed an army in Germany to fight against the British…

Indian troops serving with the British in Egypt seem to be
amused by divisive German propaganda leaflets dropped by the Luftwaffe.

Life in a German Prisoner-of-War Camp

This is the first page of a German newspaper leaflet that depicts 23 happy and healthy Indian captives in a prisoner of war camp. The languages are Hindi, Hindi (Romani) and Urdu scripts. There is a also mixture of Hindi and Urdu that was once called Hindustani. The text is:

Life in a German Prisoner-of-War Camp

Many Indian sepoys (privates) are living comfortably in the German prisoner-of-war camps. This newspaper depicts photographs of the prisoners’ life in those camps. There is excellent schedule of prisoners’ meals, sports, the reading of books, dance and skits for entertainment. The camps have temples for the Hindus, mosques for the Muslims and ‘gurudwaras’ for the Sikhs.

Now guess who among them has won? It seems that only those who are smiling have won. But actually all of them (seen in the picture) have won because they have saved their lives and are living happily in the prisoner-of war camps.

DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?

Another well illustrated German leaflet bears no code and depicts nine photographs of Indians receiving good medical care from German doctors and nurses on the front and back. Some of the Indian troops and their regiments are named to make the leaflet seem more truthful and trustworthy. For instance, one patient is identified as number 111206, Dhan Bahadur of the Gurkha Rifles. The text is in part:

DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?

These are your comrades who have been wounded.
But why were they wounded?
They were wounded because of their own foolishness.
They could have surrendered to the Germans.
Germans never kill and prisoners of war and they treat the wounded very well.
The names of each Indian soldier are given.

Milap

This German leaflet depicts an Indian family thinking of their husband far away fighting the war. The title “Milap” can be translated as “union,” “meeting,” or “being together.”The text on the front is:

UNION

After bidding farewell to you, we kept on looking for you on the horizon. We even looked for you in the direction where we were not supposed to.

The text on the back is:

Indian Brothers! If you have a look at your situation, you will notice that your reunion (with your dear ones) is not just very difficult, but impossible. Thousands die everyday on the battlefield. Is it necessary that you also be one of them?

No, certainly not! Why not to cross over to the German side whenever the opportunity arises? Thousands of your Indian brothers are leading a comfortable life in prisoner-of-war camps. The war is over for them. At the end of the war, they will certainly return to their relatives and be happy.

[Note] The message is a poetic couplet and it is in the “gazal” form. Urdu is famous for this form of poetry which it borrowed from the Persian. It abundantly uses similes, exaggeration and sharp contrasts for expression. The second line “looked for you in the direction where we were not supposed to” ...sounds strange in English, but can be explained as: We have been so desperate that we know where you have gone and watch the way you are supposed to return home. But, not only in that direction; we look all around hoping that you might return from any direction.

*1912/2 45

This German leaflet depicts an Indian woman praying for the safety of her husband and presenting a lotus blossom to a God. The back is in Hindi (in Roman script—known in India as Romani Hindi) and Urdu:

OH GOD!

I humbly beg you with folded hands and by placing flowers on your idol. Please do me the great favor of saving my husband’s life in the war. Please do not let a hot flame come anywhere near the support of my life.

These are the prayers of a faithful wife, seeking blessings for her spouse, Subedar (Warrant Officer) Ram Saroop Singh of the First Punjab Regiment while he was breathing his last on a battlefield after being wounded for the sake of the British. How could this innocent and sweet woman know that the branch bearing her desires has been chopped off and that darkness is spread all over her world of aspirations. She does not know that the bud of love in her heart has died before blossoming.

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

Because Subedar Ram Saroop Singh was uncaring and lost his life. Had he laid down his arms, his wife's desires would have all been fulfilled.

DO YOU ALSO

want to expose your mothers, sisters and wives to such misery? NO! Then why are you prepared to fight against the Germans and die for the benefit of the British? It is better that in this difficult final phase of war you cross over to the German side and live comfortably in our camps till the end of the war and then happily go home.

END THESE DIFFICULT MOMENTS OF SEPARATION

When I asked Arunkumar Bhatt if he recognized the God he said that it did not seem to be among the Hindu pantheon. He thought it was more likely that the representation was of Buddha. He also pointed out that the scenario did not look Indian. For instance, it is not a Hindu practice to place flowers on the palm of God. The flowers are placed either at the feet or on the head. The posture of the god was also unfamiliar. One wonders if the Germans erred, or purposely chose a non-Hindu representation for this leaflet.

Leaflet * 376 / 12 /44

This leaflet was printed in December 1944 for use against the Indians in Italy. The “*” indicates the Sudstern “Southern Star” section of the Skorpion propaganda organization thought to be attached to the German 10th Army. We note that this same leaflet was produced in English (*374/12/44) and in Polish (*373/12/44). The text says in part:

May God bless you with a happy New Year

Think about it – during the New Year – uniforms, shining shoes, and turbans, etc. Going back home in good spirits. But all of this has become a dream, and now you dance on a rope, and a little slip can bring you down right over the sharp bayonets. Then you will become a statistic of the dead. But is it possible to go home in good cheer by taking this leaflet to the Germans without any fear?

If you want to know more about this offer than listen to the radio at 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on medium wave 449.1 or on short wave 476.

[Note] There were a number of Sudstern leaflets to the Indians. Examples are; *376/12 44 "Happy New Year 1945", and *378/12 44 "Our Indian Friends". There is an entire *1900 series consisting of only Indian-language leaflets. There appears to be 29, ending in * 1929.4.45.

* 1907 – 1 – 45

A similar leaflet from the same Skorpion organization is coded * 1907 – 1 – 45, which indicates production in January 1945. This leaflet uses the Po River as its major theme. The Germans produced a number of leaflets with the same concept, showing Allied soldiers drowning beneath the dark waters and titles such as “Death in the Po” or “The Po is Waiting for You.” There are five paragraphs in the leaflet. Some of the text is:

A BATH IN THE PO

Have you forgotten your comrades who died fighting?

What is the Po? It is a river 208 yards wide and 1040 yards at its maximum width. It is 7 to 20 feet deep and the banks are 18 to 30 feet high. It flows at 20 miles an hour.

Why do you play with death?

What can you do? Pretend to be sick and go to the hospital and in this way you can avoid fighting.

Leaflet *339/11 44

Leaflet *339/11 44 is a radio leaflet produced an attempt to get Indian soldiers to listen to the German propaganda radio. It depicts two Indians listening to the radio on the front. The text is:

Whoever listens to the radio always remains connected and up to date.

The back is all text and gives the wavelengths of various propaganda stations in various languages. The text is:

You can listen daily in the evening.

Between 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM: MW 449.1 and SW 47.6
Between 8:30 PM to 9:00 PM: SW 47.6

The Voice of Bhai [Brother] Band Radio.

Broadcasts correct news from all over the world, plays Indian music and news for the betterment of Indian soldiers.

Leaflet 1926.4.45

This leaflet is the usual German divide-and-conquer aimed at driving a wedge between the Indians and their British officers. The front of the leaflets depicts an officer talking to a girl in a peaceful Indian city. The text is:

Entry to the city is strictly prohibited

But who watches the officers?

The back of the leaflet depicts an Indian soldier dying in combat. The meaning is clear. Indians are being sacrificed by their officer corps. The text is:

Who commands this company?
Company Commander Major Sarbuland.
Where are all the officers?
Can it be that they are strictly forbidden to serve on the front lines?

Uncoded Leaflet

There is a small all-text series of leaflets that appear to be news sheets. I generally do not show leaflets that have no images or illustrations, but since the Germans went to the trouble of producing more than one (I have a second almost identical leaflet) we should depict at least one of the series. The text is written in "Arabi" which has similar script to "Urdu" but requires the reader to know the meaning of "Arabic" words. None of my Indian translators could decipher this text.

The Only good Indian…

This German divide and conquer leaflet targeted the Indians fighting alongside the British. Nothing is known about the producers of this leaflet except for a small quote stating, “The code-letter A can be found on many German leaflets dropped in Northwest Europe 1944-1945.” As usual, the Germans point out that the Indians are doing the fighting for the British, and add that Montgomery has given his men seven days leave while the Indians die on the front lines. We can date this leaflet to some extent because it mentions Arnhem and that airborne assault on Holland took place in September 1944. This leaflet seems to have been prepared in October 1944 or shortly afterwards. What is particularly interesting about the heading from the historical point is that it had nothing to do with India. The comment, “The only good Indian is a dead Indian” is a bastardization of a statement allegedly uttered by U.S. General Philip Sheridan in 1869. Sheridan repeatedly denied ever making such a statement, but several eye witnesses agree that he said it. Sheridan was well known as a bigot and Indian hater and few that knew him doubted his agreement with the statement. The original quote is thought to be “The only good Indians I ever saw were dead.” The Germans cleverly worked an American verbal slur against its own native people into a British attack on its Indian colonial troops.

Long Live Independent India
Courtesy of Rod Oakland

All of the German leaflets depicted above were dropped on Indians fighting for the British in Northwest Europe and Italy late in the war. The next leaflet we show was dropped on Indian troops fighting in North Africa. Notice at the bottom of the leaflet there is a brief message in German for Afrika Korps troops and their Italian Allies. The leaflet is coded 434 J VIII./VIII.42. This probably indicates that it was disseminated in August 1942. At the centre is the spinning wheel, the symbol of Mahatma Gandhi's movement calling for use of hand spun and woven cotton clothes in preference to the mill-made cloth of Britain. The spinning wheel is also in the flag of Indian National Congress. The text around the symbol is:

Long Live Independent India

The back is all text:

Liberty Pass

Whoever shows this surrender pass will be accepted as a friend of the Axis forces. His personal freedom and liberty to follow his own religious practices are fully guaranteed. Just bring this surrender pass with you.

India, Death to England.

All Indian enlisted men and officers who come over with this surrender pass will be freed.

At the bottom of the leaflet in both German and Italian:

Safe conduct pass for Indian officers and soldiers.

There is a report of a North Africa leaflet coded 348 J.V. in Hindu with a circular symbol. It was dropped on the Indian 4th Division resting north of Haifa. The leaflet above could be this item, or this could be a second leaflet using the same symbol.

Another leaflet dropped on the British during the North African campaign bears a cartoon of an Indian chained to England with Urdu text. No more in known about this leaflet.
Grey Propaganda Using India as a Theme

During WWII, both the Allied and Axis powers tried to influence neutral countries through propaganda leaflets, radio, mail and posters. In this small section we will discuss just one such operation. The nation of Portugal was neutral during the war and both Great Britain and Germany printed a number of propaganda items that mentioned India in an attempt to sway the Portuguese people. Below we will depict two British and three German item. None have any indication to show where they were produced, although the German items sometime claim to originate from Feiheitverlag Switzerland, which is almost certainly a lie since the Swiss were very strict about their neutrality. All the cards are printed in Portuguese and while the British attempts to convince the neutrals that the Indians are loyal British subjects, the Germans do just the opposite. These Grey propaganda items with different themes are also found in the German, English, French, Italian, Greek and Serbo-Croat languages.

In Freedom – Strength – India

This British “Grey” Ministry of Information card coded “RE” claims that India is peaceful under British rule and establishing the fundamentals of a new prosperity. India joins Britain in the fight against Nazi tyranny. India produced 63,000 tons of steel in 1914, and produced 977,000 tons of steel in 1936.

In Freedom – Strength - India

This British “Grey” Ministry of Information card coded “RH” claims that India is taking an energetic part in the struggle against Germany. It points out that India had 2,874 factories in 1914 but had 9,323 factories in 1936.

Mourning India

This alleged Swiss product, probably printed by the German Propaganda Ministry, depicts an Indian woman standing near a tombstone. It implies that the Indians are against the British and may soon rise us against their colonial rulers. The text is:

India in Mourning

Years of lost opportunities.

Here lies the hope of settling the Indian question.

The Voice of India

The German card depicts a British man approaching an Indian with flowers outstretched, but what may be a weapon behind his back. The text is:

The Voice of India

John Bull, you have been unmasked.

American Peace

The final German card alleged to have been printed in Switzerland depicts American President Roosevelt holding a peace pipe to a tethered group that he apparently intends to enslave. The first captive is British Prime Minister Churchill, then a South or Central American, an Arab, a native of the Far East or China, and finally an Indian. The text is:

Pax Americana

Participation of all the nations for the benefit of the world

This strange uncoded German leaflet is all text and appears to be a rare example of the Germans using a fatwa of jihad against the Allies. The language is Urdu, and the script is Devnagari which is used by the Hindus and not by the Muslims who are the apparent targets of the leaflet. It is likely that the target group is not the Muslim but the Hindu and Sikh troops of the British Indian Army. In that case, the aim could be a “divide and conquer” attempt to drive a wedge between the Hindu and Muslim troops in the Allied ranks. The text is:

News

Sheik-ul-Islam [The High Priest of Islam, in later years assumed the title of President of Religious Affairs] in Holy Mecca has on the occasion of the Id Festival issued an edict to you [all the Muslims] that declares “jihad” against the English, Russian and French people.

Sulan-e-rum [The King of Turkey…actually the Sultanate of Rum, a Turkish sultanate that controlled much of Anatolia. “Rum” implies “Rome” since much of the territory had once been Roman]has gone to war against the barbaric English, French and Russian nations and his allies are the Afghan people.

This is a very mysterious leaflet because it mentions Turkey as a German ally when Turkey was actually on the side of the Western powers. It also mentions a Turkish king, a position that did not exist during WWII. The Emir of Turkey did join the Central Powers during WWI. So, at first look, this appears to be a WWI leaflet.

The Grand Mufti Meets Adolf Hitler

The leader of the German people Adolf Hitler and the great Mufti Mr. Amin Al-Husseini during their meeting in Berlin.

The proof would seem to be overwhelming, except that the leaflet was a gift of a German Luftwaffe pilot stationed in North Africa during WWII. And, we know that the Grand Mufti met with Hitler on at least one occasion to offer support. So, although I strongly suspect that this is a WWI leaflet to British Indian colonial troops, we depict it just in case it is some strange sort of German black WWII propaganda. In 1942, Jerusalem's Grand Mufti, Amin al-Husseini, took to the airwaves and broadcast in Arabic from Berlin. At that time he already was "prime minister" of a pan-Arab government formed in the German capital. Could it be that the German propaganda postcard above shows the man that the Indian-language leaflet calls “The High Priest.”

German “Azad Hind” Propaganda Postage Stamp

My original 1972 description of the above 1 rupee plus 2 rupees stamp is “A turbaned soldier carrying the Azad Hind flag with two companions in German-style field caps, the design flanked by two ceremonial swords.” This stamp is one of a set produced in Germany for propaganda purposes and meant to be used at some future time in territories controlled by the Free Indian Army. Twelve million stamps were printed and gummed by the Reichsdruckerei in Berlin. The failure of the Free Indian Army to achieve any military success left the stamps without a reason for use, and the entire issue was still in storage in Europe at the end of the war. None of the stamps was ever placed in use. Postwar forgeries exist, printed offset rather than photogravure, with a washed-out and somewhat unclear appearance.

A Postwar Envelope bearing the genuine “Azad Hind” Stamps

Although the stamps were never used postally, many patriotic Indians and philatelic specialists placed them on various philatelic covers for show. This 1964 envelope, designed in honor of the Indian National Army’s Martyrs Memorial bears the five low value designs. They are; a nurse comforting a wounded soldier, a map of the Indian subcontinent with a broken chain across it, a turbaned soldier wearing the springing tiger insignia of the Indian Legion and aiming a German MG 34 machine gun, an Indian girl working at a spinning wheel, and a plough framing a rice field with a farmer working on it. The stamps are cancelled with a special stamp reading “NETAJI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE – CALCUTTA. One can clearly see that the Germans took great care in selecting the images on these propaganda stamps.

An “Azad Hind” Commemorative Propaganda Banknote

There is no proof that the Free Indian Movement ever produced any banknotes. There is a rumor that the Germans printed banknotes for Bose about the same time they printed the stamps, but allegedly they were lost when the ship they were sent in was torpedoed on its way to Japan. We do know that to serve the financial needs of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind, an Azad Hind Bank was established. The bank was created on 5 April 1944 and capitalized at several million rupees. The bank quickly became the preferred bank of the Indian community in Burma. It held a sizeable amount of gold from ornaments and valuables donated by Indian women. The bank paid all the expenses of the Provisional Government and the INA, and even repaid some loans given by the Japanese government. In 1944, when the British reclaimed Burma from the Japanese, the war department seized the Azad Hind Bank’s assets.

The Bank of Independent Commemorative Bose-Hitler note

This 1000 (no currency unit) note depicts Bose at left shaking the hand of Adolf Hitler. The note is almost impossible to copy because of its strange vertical rainbow color printing, starting with red at the left, yellow in the center and green at the right.

There are no known Azad Hind banknotes, but at the end of the war, in order to raise funds for Indian National Army veterans and other causes, a number of commemorative propaganda banknotes were prepared bearing the image of Subhas Bose or other Indian patriots. One actually depicted Bose with Adolf Hitler. These banknotes were sold with the profits going to various charities. Readers wanting to know more about this subject should see my article “Free India Movement Banknotes” in The International Banknote Society Journal, Vol. 40, No. 3, 2001.

The Azad Hind Commemorative coin

The commemorative Indian coin above depicts Subhas Bose on the obverse and the leaping tiger of the Free India movement on the reverse. Text on the front with Bose's portrait is:

Unity - Faith -Sacrifice

23rd January 1897

Text on the back in Hindi is:

Provisional Government of Azad Hind

Victory to India

1 Rupee

There also exists an Indian rupee coin of King George VI dated 1942 counterstuck on the obverse over the crown: “P.G.A.H. 1943.” Although it is not know when this coin was defaced or who did it, the letters would seem to indicate “Provisional Government of Azad Hind

There also exists an Indian rupee coin of King George VI dated 1942 counterstuck on the obverse over the crown: “P.G.A.H. 1943.” Although it is not know when this coin was defaced or who did it, the letters would seem to indicate “Provisional Government of Azad Hind.”

Japanese Leaflets

The Japanese propaganda leaflets to the Indians were quite different from the German leaflets. Whereas the German leaflets tended to be monochromatic and sometime wordy on the back, the Japanese leaflets were very bright and full-colored, sometimes very “busy” with numerous images piled one upon another, and with minimal text. They also made great use of political satire and cartoons attacking Allied leaders such as Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Chiang Kai-shek, and also the various nations opposed to Japan.

The Japanese attitude toward psychological warfare against Indian troops is mentioned by Lieutenant Colonel Mahmood Khan Durrani in The Sixth Column, Cassell and Company, 1955. Durrani was a prisoner of the Japanese and quotes a lecture given by a Japanese officer on how leaflets should be prepared for use against the Indians fighting for the British. He says in part:

Propaganda leaflets dropped for troops must be easily noticed and yet at the same time easily concealable on the person of the soldier so that he might hide them from his officers and read them at his leisure.

The handbill should be of an attractive color so that it might not escape the notice of all soldiers.

The leaflet should have, if possible, the picture of a beautiful woman, after the method used by the Germans in the First World War. This device would insure that the soldier would be attracted and would be unable to resist looking at the picture over and over again. This would rouse his passion, and his heart would be inclined for love and to hate fighting.

The text of the posters must remind soldiers of their wives and children in trouble, thanks to their serving as mercenaries in the hands of foreigners who had selfish motives. This would have the effect of striking the most tender chords.

The poster should give a photograph of or mention the gardens and fruits of the country the soldiers belonged to, so that it might remind them of the happy and bubbling life of their countrymen in contrast to their own wretched lives as soldier and the deadly destruction of war in store for them. Thus the soldier would have a craving to go back to the peaceful and happy life he had once lived, and he would be likely to desert at the first opportunity.

The handbill should include a definite promise that it would serve as a ticket for entry into their fold as a friend to whoever should desert their ranks of his army and come to their side with it. And as such a friend, he would be given a long holiday and sent to his country to meet his parents, wife, children and friends.

One of the earliest reported attempts to propagandize the Indians occurred in January 1942 in Singapore. Japanese aircraft dropped small yellow leaflets printed in black:

Terrible riots in Singapore! Secret evacuation of British Troops!

A terrible riot has broken out in Singapore! British and Australian soldiers are being secretly evacuated from Singapore! Malayan and Indian soldiers! Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and cooperate with the Nippon Army.

British and Australian soldiers! Return to your homes at once by hook or by crook. You may never get another chance to see your beloved ones in England or Australia.

The concept of the British leaving the Indians behind will be found below in a leaflet we call “No Room in the Truck.”

Another leaflet depicted Chinese, Malay and Indian soldiers welcoming the Japanese troops with John Bull and Uncle Sam running away.

Your demand for Independence

One Japanese leaflet depicts the Allied leaders Roosevelt, Churchill and Chiang Kai-shek trying to push or pull an Indian into the fight against the Japanese. I first described this leaflet in my 1972 booklet. The text in Hindi and Bengali is:

The defeated countries, whose destruction is inevitable, are casting greedy eyes on India. Do not pay attention to their sweet talk.

Churchill holds a whip with a flag attached and the text:

We accept your demand for independence.

Towards Freedom

Several leaflets show Indians on horseback charging. Similar leaflets are found in both horizontal and vertical format. This leaflet curiously calls Japan's occupation of Burma and the Philippines “freedom!” and calls for the Indians to revolt against British rule. The flag shown is that of the Indian National Congress (the political party spearheading the freedom movement). The people are shown holding farm implements and sticks as weapons to underscore the point that they can even revolt without firearms! The Japanese leaflet is bilingual, Hindu and Bengali, the language that dominates eastern India and the present Bangla Desh. The Japanese believed that their invading army would first occupy the east during its march into India from Burma. The text is:

Burma and the Philippines have attained freedom. Oh India! You must also awaken and rise.

The British Barbarism

In the above leaflet, a caricature of Churchill is about to chop off the fingers of a bound Indian worker in a textile shop. Other fingers litter the floor and in the background the British have set the shop ablaze. The leaflet is written in Hindi and Bengali. The text is:

To save Manchester, the British rulers shed the blood of Indians and in return gave them hunger and poverty

The theme of this leaflet is British cruelty and the way that they destroyed the Indian economy. It addresses the total destruction of the Indian industrial economy with a view to making profits for the British textile industry. The theme would be well-understood throughout India because Mahatma Gandhi had based his non-violent struggle on svadeshi (the use of Indian goods and boycott of British factory products). He and his supporters wore khadi (hand spun and hand-loomed woven cloth.

"Boycott British Goods" label

The above label with the text “Boycott British Goods” features Jawaharlal Nehru. It was issued by Dholera Satyagraha Samiti of Ranpur during India's struggle for freedom. Additional text asked the Indian people to boycott all British products and asks the people of Gujarat to use these Boycott labels on every letter that they post.

Because of the industrial revolution the British could mass-produce goods. That required raw materials and huge markets for the finished products, particularly cotton textiles. To secure both, the British destroyed the decentralized traditional Indian textile industry. They imposed heavy taxes on Indian textiles made in great part by hand-looms so that the inferior cloth of the British textile mills located mostly in Manchester could continue to profit.

Indian artisans; spinners, weavers and processors, were among the best in the world. The legend is that the superfine variety of cloth called malamal produced by the weavers of Dacca (now the capital of Bangladesh) was so thin that a 20-yard long piece could be folded and packed in a present-day match box! Because of the British actions it became difficult for the artisans to sell their produce and buy raw cotton. QAs a result, both the textile workers and all the other economic activities depending on the textiles were impoverished. It was so severe that the desperate weavers of Dacca chopped of their own fingers in protest.

What Purpose…?

This caricature almost appears to have been drawn by the same artist as the leaflet above. Look at the bloated evil face of the British soldier and compare it to that of Churchill in the previous leaflet. This leaflet depicts Churchill making a chained and blindfolded Indian advance against the Japanese by whipping him. He advances over destroyed British aircraft and ships. He approaches a heroic Japanese soldier standing before his national flag. The implication is that the Indian soldiers gain nothing by fighting the Japanese. They are slaves of the British and should fight their masters and not the Japanese. The text is:

What purpose of yours is served by fighting the Japanese army?

Ideal India

This leaflet is very busy. Among the numerous images crowded into the full-color leaflet are an Indian warrior, a school child, a woman, an elephant, Indian aristocracy and buildings in the background. The text is:

Ideal India

Look at this nation and her natural beauty and resources. This India is being exploited by the atrocities of the Englishmen. An ideal India can only be built when Indians themselves protect it after gaining independence.

[Note] The writing on the blackboard is, "Peaceful haven." The leaflet uses several symbols of Indian culture and resources. Strangely, the woman does not look Indian. A typical Indian woman does not wear short hair even today.

Destroy the Brutal British

This leaflet depicts a British woman walking on the sidewalk while an armed British sentry looks down at two Indians in the gutter. The British had banned Indians from walking on the sidewalks of their neighborhood. In Punjab, the Indians had to crawl off the road if a British person passed by.

The text is:

Destroy the Brutal British

Remember the Punjab event of 1919? We Indians were forbidden from walking on the sidewalks of our own motherland. The British did this to us.

[Note] On the afternoon of 13 April 1919, some 10,000 or more unarmed men, women, and children gathered in Amritsar's public square to attend a protest meeting, despite a ban on public assemblies. The British positioned men at the narrow passageway of the square. Without warning, 50 soldiers fired 1,650 rounds of ammunition into the gathering. Nearly 400 civilians were killed, and another 1,200 were left wounded without medical attention. The British Brigadier Reginald E.H Dyer later stated that the firing would have continued if he had more ammunition.

Avenge this British Outrage

Another leaflet that seems to use this same theme was prepared by the Indian Independence league of East Asia. It depicts Indian women crawling on the ground while British troops ridicule and beat them. This leaflet appears in the Japanese Occupation of Malaya (Singapore) and its Currency, Wong Hon Sum, Wong’s Collections, 1996.

In 1943, an Independence League poster asked Indian troops to desert. Some of the text is:

Don't be a traitor to India! Join us to strike the Satanic British.

Another Independence League in East Asia leaflet depicts Mahatma Gandhi and several other Indians and the text:

GOD and Nippon to help India drive out the British devil.

Japan is sworn to aid India fight.

Leaflet C-215

There are a number of Japanese leaflets that mention Imphal. This was to be the great victory when the Japanese and their Indian collaborators marched into India and started their victorious advance across the sub-continent. Imphal was held by the Indian IV Corps, part of the British 14th Army. They were spread thin and seemed ripe for the taking. The Japanese plan was called U-Go, or “Operation C.” The attack started on 8 March 1944. The Japanese made some early advances but by April the battle stalled and became a stalemate. On 1 May the British counterattacked. By June the Japanese realized they had no hope of victory, but continued to fight and in some cases attack the British forces. By July the battle was over and the sick and starving Japanese began the long walk back to their bases in Burma. A Japanese leaflet coded C-215 has some of the following text on the front:

The Capture of the Assam Province is Near

City of Imphal!

Imphal, the most important advanced base of the Anglo-Indian Forces, was completely captured by the Indo-Nippon units. What the Britishers called the Impregnable 4th Army Corps was annihilated to the very last soldier…

Nippon Army

The back of the leaflet also has a long propaganda text. We quote a small part of it:

To You the English Soldiers!

You are like fishes caught in a net, without an outlet. The only faith left for you is death alone. When we think and give consideration about your loving wives, parents and brothers we could never carry on inhuman-like actions. Therefore stop your useless resistance….

The bottom of the leaflet bears a short message in Japanese:

Any person carrying this leaflet will be accepted as a prisoner of war and will be given protection accordingly.

Japanese Imperial Army

Another Independence League leaflet from The Philippines talks about the British losses. It says in part:

FALL OF IMPHAL

Way to Whole India Now Open!

Imphal has fallen! The Indian National Army in conjunction with the Japanese Imperial Forces has at last captured Imphal – the strongest defense line of the enemy and a key to the whole of India. The fall of Imphal not only means rejoicings for the whole peoples of India and Greater East Asia, but spells also the beginning of the doom of nearly a century of British imperialism in India.

The Japanese were a wee bit premature in this announcement. Imphal never fell and the entire advance became a disaster for the Japanese and Indian forces. The defeat was the greatest to that date in Japanese history. They had suffered 55,000 casualties, including 13,500 dead. Most of these losses were the result of starvation, disease and exhaustion.

Who is responsible?

The dark and bony Indian man shows what the British-induced hunger and misery has reduced him to. To the western eye the Japanese were not complimentary in this drawing. It is very reminiscent of Eduardo Ciannelli, the evil leader of the Thugee cult, devoted to Kali, the goddess of death and destruction in the 1939 pro-British propaganda movie Gunga Din. The Indian man points toward the reader of the leaflet. There are the bones of the dead scattered all around him. Some of the Indians who studied this picture said, “It is surely a dead person who died of hunger.” The text in Hindi, Urdu and Bengali is:

Indians are being killed in large numbers. The British are trampling their dead bodies while looting India of its food. Who is responsible for the Indians' death?

Now is not the time for infighting

This leaflet attacks Winston Churchill and depicts him as a demon. He is in the background and holds two Indians in his hands. The Indian on the left is identified as a member of the Muslim League and the one on the right is a member of the Indian National Congress. The text at the top is:

Now is not the time for infighting

The text at the bottom is:

The British policy of divide and rule

Churchill – the Spider

The Japanese often vilified Winston Churchill by caricaturing him as a beast or a monster. In this leaflet he appears as a spider at the center of a web holding a pot of gold, surely stolen from India. Around him, trapped in the British web of deceit (with a “Union Jack” in the background) are various categories and castes of Indians. The text is:

The time has come to make India free. Rise up and shatter the British fetters.

The Elephant

In this leaflet a character who could be Churchill, but looks more like the British symbol “John Bull” is held in the trunk of an Indian elephant. The elephant is marked with the flag of the Indian National Congress. It has broken the chains that held it fettered to England, and stomps on the British flag. At the right a bright red sun shines down, and this very likely represents Japan whose flag bears a single red sun (called a “meatball” by the Americans during WWII). The text in Hindi and Bengali is:

Oh sleeping Elephant! Wake up and stand up.

At this opportune time, break the English chain and be free.

[Note] The elephant is a great symbol in Indian culture; it is considered very auspicious, divine, powerful, magnificent and friendly. It symbolizes both India’s culture and its mammoth size.

A Mountain of Skulls

This Japanese leaflet depicts a mountain of the skulls of Indian dead, overlooked by a fort bristling with cannon and the Union Jack. Vultures fly high overhead. The fort is a symbol of colonial power. As for the pile of skulls, it is said that Timur piled up human skulls after sacking Delhi. He killed at least 100,000 before the city fell, and anywhere from hundreds of thousands to a million after the destruction of Delhi. The leaflet compares that atrocity with British colonial rule.

The text is in the Urdu, Hindi and Bengali languages and says:

The English are prepared to feed hundreds of Indians to the cannons to save their empire.

Cannon Fodder

This leaflet has a very interesting image. It depicts finely dressed British soldiers about to blow a cannon ball through an Indian prisoner. This atrocity propaganda was often used by the British, so it is interesting to see it used against them. It alludes to the accusations that the British unleashed a rein of terror to suppress the “Mutiny” of 1857. Allegedly, they would blow people apart with cannons and hang them from tree branches. This leaflet reminds the target audience of such acts and exhorts them to take revenge. The text is:

When will you get an opportunity to take revenge, if not now? Do not forget the British practice of blowing apart Indians after tying them to mouth of a cannon's barrel.

[Note] The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the First War of Indian Independence was a prolonged period of armed uprisings in different parts of India against the British occupation. The insurrection was triggered in part when the British introduced new rifle cartridges rumored to be greased with oil made from the fat of animals. The fat of cows was taboo to Hindus while Muslims were repelled by pig fat. In fact, this was just the most recent in a number of Indian protests against British rule. By May 1857 the rebellion turned into what was considered a full-fledged war in the affected regions. A peace treaty was signed on 8 July 1858. The victorious British then allegedly adopted the old Mughal punishment for mutiny and sentenced rebels were tied to the mouth of cannons and blown to pieces.

Hanging Men

As mentioned in the previous leaflet, the British were accused of blowing Indians apart by cannon or hanging them from trees after the armed revolt of 1857. In this leaflet we see the caricature of John Bull, the symbol of Great Britain walking down a tree-shaded lane. For as far as the eye can see Indians hang from trees, and in several cases their grieving widows cry at their feet. It is reminiscent of the Gladiators revolt led by Spartacus, when the Romans crucified thousands of mutineers along the road to Rome.

Never forget 1857. 100,000 Indian patriots were victims of the British barbarism

War Material

This leaflet has some very strange symbolism. It depicts a caricature of Chinese leader Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek riding a horse. Chiang holds a whip tied to a giant bundle of war materials that is atop an Indian. A hand holding scissors comes from above (certainly representing Japan) and is cutting the rope holding the bundle to the horse. At the lower right, Burmese natives carrying a peacock flag attack British troops and have them on the run. The Japanese created a puppet state in Burma on 1 August 1943 and the flag is the Independence Party flag, carried by their “Liberation Army.” This would seem to be a polite Japanese jibe at the Indians: “If the Burmese can throw out the British, why not you?”

The text is:

His (Chiang Kai-shek's) purpose of visiting India is only to get India's (war) material. End relations with Chiang Kai-shek whose end has come and be free.

[Note] Chiang Kai-shek visited India from 9 February 1942 to 21 February 1942. He conferred with the British and urged Indian nationalist leaders—particularly Jawaharlal Nehru—to put aside political differences and join the fight against Japan. In his farewell message to the people of India, Chiang Kai-shek called for whole-hearted support in the war and indicated that Britain would certainly grant India freedom in the near future.

Chiang Kai-shek is no God

This Japanese leaflet once again attempts to destroy any friendship between the Chinese and Indian peoples. In the foreground Chiang Kai-shek walks with a rifle-bearing Indian who does not realize that he is about to step into a bear trap labeled "Privations of War." In the background, hiding behind a boulder, are Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, both badly bruised, apparently from earlier beatings by the Japanese. Churchill holds a chain leading to the trap and he is about to spring it shut on the Indian soldier’s leg. The text in Hindi and Bengali is:

Danger!

Do not fall for the British carrot of total self-rule. Chiang Kai-shek is no God. Nor is Sir Stafford Cripps an Angel. All those men who lure India into war are India's enemies and agents of Churchill. Only Indians can save India.

Chiang holds a blue banner that reads:

Conspiracy to acquire Indian manpower and resources.

[Note] The leaflet reinforces the nationalist Indian desire to stay out of WWII. Sir Stafford Cripps was sent to India on what is known as the Cripps Mission to attempt to negotiate an agreement with the nationalist leaders Mahatma Gandhi and Muhammad Ali Jinnah that would keep India loyal to the British war effort in exchange for a promise of full self-government after the war. Mahatma Gandhi described the offer as “A post-dated check drawn on a crashing bank!”

Indian Nation

This leaflet has interesting symbolism. At the left is a peaceful Indian standing in a fertile countryside with outstretched arms. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and President Franklin D. Roosevelt stand at the right in flames with broken cannon and bent sword, their arms also outstretched, but their hands drip blood. The Japanese apparently think that Roosevelt is about to be thrown out of office because he holds a paper that reads, “Proposal for Resignation.” The text in Hindi and Bengali is:

Indian Nation! Do not get bogged down in the mud of war.

The flames at the bottom are labeled:

Privations of war.

A Dance of Death

This leaflet shows Churchill or John Bull as a fight promoter encouraging two Indians (a Hindu and a Muslim) to fight to the death. There are at least six dead Indians on the ground of the enclosure where the fight takes place. The Japanese are pointing out how the British have set Indian against Indian to weaken them and make them easier to subjugate. By the time the WW II broke out the Muslims League led by Mohammad Ali Jinnah had already launched its campaign for a separate Muslim Pakistan and the British following their policy of “divide and conquer” were encouraging him. The Muslim League officially passed a resolution for the creation of Pakistan in 1940. The British were encouraging the division of Indian society. The enclosure is marked "India" in both Hindu and Bengali. The text is:

Stop dancing to the English tune and come together forgetting religious differences for the sake of independence.

No Room on the Truck

This leaflet depicts the British piling onto the back of a truck in an attempt to escape the victorious Japanese military forces. A Japanese bomber is in the background. Some Indian colonial troops try to get into the truck along with the British, but they are kicked aside and knocked to the ground. One lies dead beneath the rear wheels. This clearly shows the regard the British have for their Indian colonial troops. The text in Hindi is:

Residents of India! The Englishmen are just not bothered about you. You will see this scene wherever you look.

Slaves or Independence

This leaflet depicts two scenes on India. In the first the Indians have gone to war for the British and the scene is of death and desolation with dead Indians on the ground and vultures overhead. In the second scene, the Indians have not been pulled into the war by the British and a couple share a pleasant meal surrounded by trees, children and farm yard animals.

The Japanese designers of this leaflet appear to have little knowledge about actual Indian lifestyle and habits. At the time, except for a few westernized urbanites, most Indians did not use formal chairs and dining tables. The text is:

As slaves of the British - Hunger and death rule.

After independence - Happiness and peace rule.

Indian servants

This Japanese leaflet depicts Winston Churchill being waited on and served by Indians. One brings him drinks while a second polishes his boots. Another Indian has pulled back a curtain and points to Burmese nationalists attacking and beating British troops into submission. The clear intent is to shame those Indians who have collaborated with the British occupiers. The text is:

All of the British colonies are up in arms. We Indians need not continue to be subjugated under the British boots any more. Come on, let us also arise and do not let this good opportunity slip away from our hands.

Hide the Crops

The next two Japanese leaflets seem to be from the same series and both show the British destroying Indian crops to keep them in bondage and servitude without a viable economy. In the leaflet above, the British attack peaceful farmers and actually bayonet one in the foreground. In the background, Indians try to escape with their crops while the British shoot at them. The text in Hindi, Urdu and Bengali is:

Farmers: hide your food grains and provisions before the British come to loot your stock.

Burn the Cotton

In this leaflet the British are burning the cotton fields of a poor Indian farmer who is depicted without any fingers on his hands. In addition, they have destroyed the equipment the family uses to make cotton cloth for their clothing. This certainly is to remind the Indians once again how the British destroyed the Indian cotton industry to force them to buy cheap British products. The text in Hindi and Bengali is:

A Sample of the British Atrocities

Just to save their economy, the British committed this barbarian atrocity.

Indian workers had to chop off their own fingers and lose their livelihood.

At Homes…At Front

We are not sure exactly where the Japanese disseminated this leaflet but it shows Allied troops drinking and carousing with women at the top and the text:

At Homes

The image at the bottom of the leaflet depicts Indian troops charging forward through heavy fire and some falling to the ground. The text is:

At Front

Leaflet 5508
Courtesy of Rod Oakland

This Japanese leaflet is one of the few that bears a code number. It is on a low-grade pulp paper and is probably a very early leaflet. The text is English on the front, Urdu, the language of North India and the national language of Pakistan on the back. It asks that the Indians continue the fight to drive out the British. The text is:

COMPROMISE WITH BRITAIN MEANS SUICIDE

Crafty Britain will set traps all around you. Beware of these death traps. Have nothing to do with Britain or her talks of compromise. Go on with the fight and abandon all thoughts of settlement with Britain.

Remember that compromise with Britain means the betrayal of India. It will also mean untold suffering for India’s millions and centuries of foreign exploitation.

RISE ALL OVER INDIA

DRIVE OUT THE BRITISH

Indian Independence League in East Asia

Although I have never seen any of the following coded leaflets, they were reported in the June 1959Falling Leaf, Journal of the Psywar Society. In an article entitled “Japanese Leaflets,” P.H. Robbs mentions Japanese propaganda to the Indians bearing the codes “A,” “M” and “S.” Some of the leaflets are signed by the Indian Independence League while others are signed by the Japanese.

An example of “A” is A.7521. Robbs reports that it says in part:

Indian Soldiers!

Why kill your own brothers? Your unarmed brothers and sisters and fighting the British for India’s independence. The British order you to shoot them all over India. Disobey this order. Do not fear the consequences. The British dare not do you any real harm…

This leaflet is signed by the Indian Independence League in East Asia.

An example of “M” is M.9054. Robbs reports that it says in part:

ENLISTMENT CARD

To the Indian Soldiers

Who is the enemy of the Japanese Army?                 The British!
Who is the enemy of a Free India?                            The British!
Who are the weakest soldiers in the world?              The British!

To become a watchdog for the British is the most treacherous act towards your sacred task of Indian Independence.

To abide with a weak army is extremely dangerous! Abandon the British and join the Indian National Army!

The Japanese Army and the Indian National Army pledge to safeguard your lives and honor…

Robbs also mentions leaflet M.9051, “Now is the time for Independence...”

These leaflets are signed by “The Japanese” and “The Japanese Commander.”

Finally, Robbs gives examples of “S” leaflets. He mentions S.2506 “Britain is India’s Aggressor” and S.2510 “Freedom or Death.” Both are signed by the Indian Independence League in East Asia. Text on the former is:

Britain is India’s Aggressor

Japan helps liberate India. The British bleed India white. Japan helps India’s rejuvenation. Japan and India share joys and sorrows.

Text on the latter is:

FREEDOM OR DEATH

That is Mahatma’s message. Liberate Gandhi from British jail. Receive Mahatma Gandhi into an Independent India.

The author does not claim to be an expert on propaganda against India and this article would have been impossible without the cooperation of Dr. Arunkumar Bhatt. He kindly volunteered his time to translate a great number of leaflets. Readers who wish to comment on this article are encouraged to write the author at sgmbert@hotmail.com.

In Memoriam

With deep regret I inform the readers of this article that the man who inspired it, Dr. Arunkumar Bhatt, Senior Assistant Editor and Deputy Chief of Bureau, The Hindu, Mumbai, passed away on Tuesday, 29 July 2008 of a massive cardiac arrest. He was 53 years old. A keen student of defense studies, Dr. Bhatt held a doctorate from the University of Pune, and an MA in Defense Studies from the University of Madras.

AXIS PROPAGANDA AGAINST INDIAN TROOPS

History

German Leaflets

Grey Propaganda Using India as a Theme

Japanese Leaflets

AXIS PROPAGANDA
AGAINST INDIAN TROOPS