German WWII Free Indian Legion Collection

This extraordinary and historically rich collection represents one of the most complete and well-preserved groupings related to the German-aligned Free Indian Legion (Legion Freies Indien) of the Second World War. Formed under the leadership of Indian nationalist Subhas Chandra Bose, the Legion was composed primarily of Indian prisoners of war captured in North Africa, as well as Indian expatriates and students residing in Germany. It was conceived as a force to aid in the liberation of India from British rule, aligning temporarily with the Axis powers to achieve this goal. Administered first by the German Army (1941–1944) and later the Waffen-SS (1944–1945), the Legion grew to a strength of approximately 4,500 men. Items related to this unit are exceptionally rare and seldom seen in such comprehensive form.

The collection begins with an impressive range of Azad Hind awards, all produced by Rudolf Souval of Vienna and including:

• The Azad Hind Grand Star with swords, in its original Souval presentation case, featuring undamaged enamels and a slightly faded ribbon center. The case displays the gilt tiger head and crossed swords emblem.

• A second Grand Star example, this time without swords, complete with a full-length neck ribbon and marked on the reverse.

• A mint Azad Hind 1st Class Star with swords, in its Souval-marked case with gilt tiger head and swords to the lid.

• The 2nd Class Star with swords in its original case, complete with ribbon and Souval markings.

• The 3rd Class medal in bronze with ribbon, and multiple examples of the 2nd Class medal with and without swords, including one in its original packet.

Uniform-related items include a set of Oberleutnant insignia removed from an Indian Legion tunic, with matching collar tabs, shoulder boards numbered “950,” and a slightly moth-damaged breast eagle still bearing stitching remnants. Two Free India Bevo-woven volunteer arm shields are included, both clearly removed from tunics, one with an applied paper backing of unknown age.

Supporting documentation comprises:

• A 1943-dated A5-size “Hindustani-Briefe” booklet—essentially a German-to-Hindustani military phrase dictionary.

• A hardback edition of the 1943 “Militärwörterbuch für den Führer und Unterführer,” another expanded German-Hindustani reference.

• A propaganda postcard promoting the Indian Legion.

• An A4 poster depicting Gandhi and Bose leading the fight against British rule.

Photographic material consists of 23 original images, including:

• Three postcard-sized studio and outdoor portraits of Indian Legion soldiers, clearly wearing Free India patches, with one reverse-inscribed “Unter Offizier Singh Arbeit Kommando Königsbrück 24th April 1943.”

• A group of German instructors and Indian Legion members in training settings, several showing the distinctive Free India insignia and tropical uniforms.

• A rare annotated photo of “General Schwalbe Freies Indien, July 1943.”

• Sixteen photos mounted on display sheets, seven of which feature individuals wearing the Free India arm badge.

The collection also includes a 20 cm tall brass Nataraja statuette, symbolizing cultural identity and spiritual heritage within the unit.

Perhaps the most exceptional item is the zinc, two-piece splittable identity disc, stamped “IND.LEG.” and bearing the soldier number “30.” This is potentially a unique surviving example and represents the rarest known identification artifact from the Legion.

Offered as a complete and coherent group, this museum-grade collection provides a rare window into one of the most politically complex and symbolically significant units of the Second World War. A singular opportunity for the serious collector of Axis foreign legions or Subcontinent military history.

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