What Did India Do in World War 2? | Britain's Asian Superpower 1939-1945

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British India, today's India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, played a crucial role in the Second World War, supplying essential men and supplies to the Allied war effort, particularly in the South East Asian theatre of war with the defence and eventual liberation of Burma, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore against the Japanese. The British Indian Army also served during the East Africa and North Africa campaigns against the Italians and later the Germans as well as in the Middle East. Not everyone in India supported its involvement with the British in the war, the INC (Indian National Congress) under whom Gandhi, denounced Nazi Germany but said that Indians should not fight and die for a colonial power until it recognised their independence. Others still, such as Subhas Chandra Bose, actively sided with the Axis, and throughout the course of the war Indians served in the German Wehrmacht as the Indische Legion (India Free Legion), the Italian Army as the Battaglione India Libera and the Imperial Japanese Army as the Indian National Army. During the war in 1943, the Bengal Famine broke out, which killed between 2-3 million people in the northeast of the country and remains a point of controversy as one of the darkest hours of the British occupation of India.
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0:00 - Intro
0:41 - India Before the War
3:30 - The British Indian Army
7:38 - MagellanTV Ad
8:55 - Other Responses to War in India
10:35 - Indians Fighting For the Axis
15:37 - Invasions of India
16:33 - The Bengal Famine
21:13 - Outro
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#India #Documentary #WorldWar

[@chickanan1]

There were Indian soldiers who got medals from the Soviet Union. They were involved in the supply mission to the Caucasus through Iran. Would be interesting to see the Indian involvement in the Soviet front too.

[@abdurrahmanqureshi3030]

There were no indians fighting in the Eastern front of WW2, supplies dont count.

[@shivanshna7618]

@@abdurrahmanqureshi3030 probably bcz few indian ss division fought against Soviets and allies

[@JokerJoker-xc7xb]

@@abdurrahmanqureshi3030 For your Kind Information, Indians Fought every Corner of the World in WW1 as well as WW2.. BTw tell me how did a Small Island ie Britian survives in this Bloody WW1 and WW2?? where did this small island get so much of War resources, Money and Soldiers to Fought every Corners in the Word during WW???? Simple answer from India. only is thing that their Presence and Contribution were Deleted by Colonisers. the Dead Indian soldiers were Counted as Animals or Mules dead.. Indians Fought in Europe, Africa,Asia and some part of Soviet Union too....

[@TheWebsOfCorruptionNeverFail]

Russo-Indian Alliace and Friendship goes back all the way to 1857. Glad to hear that we helped our comrades and brothers in their time of need even when we were struggling. The Soviets more than repaid us during 65 n 71 and with near continuous aid before Dr.Manmohan Singh Liberalised our economy. Good to know that it wasn't always a one way street. Russia is India's most steadfast ally and they must not be abandoned for any pesky Western Embargo or Sanction.

[@irachowdhury4847]

@@JokerJoker-xc7xb Woah mate should not we better leave some praise for the other colonies/dominions like Australia, S. Africa and Canada to name a few, they too played a part in fight and supply support to the Brits.

[@Artur_M.]

Another interesting video! I wasn't even expecting the Polish connection to be mentioned, given how minuscule and relatively insignificant part of the topic "India in WW2" it is. If anyone is wondering, the Prince who helped the Polish children was Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, the Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar.

[@indrajitgupta3280]

It was nice that he mentioned the incident at all.

[@vinnieg6161]

you can't be serious that that's his name. How in the shit am I supposed to remember this?!

[@Artur_M.]

@@vinnieg6161 Well, name and the title to be precise. Honestly though, I can't remember it either. I'm googling "the good Maharaja" (or rather the equivalent in Polish: "dobry maharadża") each time. Don't tell anyone. 😁

[@electricVGC]

The Raj also controlled Myanmar directly and effectively included Nepal and Bhutan, with many soldiers from Myanmar and Nepal having both been particularly effective in the conflict against Japan, and Myanmar having itself been a front. The contributions and sacrifices of these nations in south Asia should not be neglected. Good on you for making this video. Would love to see one on Panama.

[@Shre_k__]

Burma was a province of British Raj until 1937, after which it became a separate colony under direct crown rule which is why the war history of Mynmar is looked upon as separate to that of the Raj by modern historians. Do check out the videos and history of Aung San and the rebel army of Mynmar about their collaboration and later rebellions against the Japanese in Burma. Really puts into perspective.

[@byron-ih2ge]

mynmar was a different colony

[@byron-ih2ge]

nepal and bhutan soldiers fought for the british army rather than the british indian army

[@Unfollowthem]

@@byron-ih2ge Not true.. false claim..

[@occam7382]

@@Unfollowthem, which one? That Burma was a separate colony from the Raj of India, or that Nepalese and Bhutanese troops fought didn't fight as part of the BIA?

[@Munthasir123]

My grandfather who was part of the British Indian Army later in his life use to tell us that he regrets joining the British Army. He told us that many time he and his colleagues thought about switching side during the Burma campaign. When his grandkids would mention the atrocities of Hitler to the Jewish people he always to this day counters saying the British did the same to our people. The only reason they gave us independence was because they were forced to. My grandfather also believes in many conspiracy including that British government purposely sabotaged the division of India so the new countries will always remain weak fighting each other and never become a World superpower. He is also bitter about how Bangladesh is divided amongst religious line even though we share same culture and language. The man is wrong for many different reason but he also have some valid points. If you read this I hope someday you make a video into division of India and maybe look into whether the British did actually sabotage the division?

[@jazzjj7665]

Yes! Same here my great grandfather served aswell and he also spoke about the opposing side in the same way. He served in the Burma campaign in 1943 and he would tell me about how he would sometimes regret joining or if he should defect because he admired netaji a lot. But In the end he chose to side with the British no idea why, maybe the lesser of two evils?

[@louvendran7273]

Yeah it was complicated and nuanced. I am a South African Tamil. Many family members fought in the South African Army. They died equally but were segregated and received lesser pay because of their skin colour. This applied to all non-white soldiers. At the end of the war white soldiers were given houses and cars whereas non-whites were given bicycles. Even worse the Nazi sympathising National Party won in 1948 bringing full on Apartheid into legislation. They fought bravely in the war against fascism only to be subjected to it at home. They were broken men and even sadder their efforts are not even acknowledged or remembered by the current government. Oh the irony of so called "democracy and modern freedom."

[@badofcheese]

India will become a world power though. Thank you for your interesting comment and apologies that my ancestors treated yours (and so many others) like shit. Colonialism should be a source of shame to all westerners. There’s nothing positive about it.

[@louvendran7273]

@@badofcheese It's all good mate. Colonisation is a very nuanced topic, to which the spoils went to rich in both societies. India is also responsible for the colonisation of South East Asia especially the Tamil Kingdoms old. Its important that we not repeat mistakes and atrocities of the past but rather to move humanity forward and to eliminate the exaggerated inequalities of social class and bigotry currently plaguing so many countries. Moreover we must move to a true "free market" economy rather than than the pathetic attempt currently in place that exploits 3rd world labour and causes unemployment and lower wages in the developed world. India will indeed in the next 3 decades become a superpower to balance the struggle between the US and China however of grave concern is nationalism which in any guise is sinister.

[@MrJoebrooklyn1969]

Your Grandfather wasn't entirely wrong. WWII is a little more nuanced than today's woke culture would have you believe.

[@manipei]

Great video. Hope Sri Lanka also gets some WW2 coverage as we were also a British colony at the time which supported the war effort 🇱🇰

[@singularityraptor4022]

This video covers it... This talks about British Raj, which includes modern Pakistan and Srilanka

[@manipei]

@@singularityraptor4022 incorrect my good sir. Pakistan and Bangladesh were considered one territory before Indian’s independence. Sri Lanka at the time was known as British Ceylon which was a separate territory. This was due to the country being an island and also the British conquered it from the Dutch with the help from local Lankan support before they officially took over India. This officially happened in 1815 but the fight began around 1790s. Hopefully the creator of this amazing channel will do a video on it so people don’t misunderstand the history.

[@naveencan7612]

@@singularityraptor4022 Sri Lanka was never considered as a part of British Raj Sri lanka was in it's own entity under British rule

[@robbier6389]

If you are permitting nations that were not fully independent during WWII, I would love to see a video on the native American nations in the US and/or Canada. A conflict that demanded they go overseas and often fight other colonized peoples in the name of a nation state responsible for many historical and contemporary abuses towards them naturally produced a wide variety of responses.

[@historywithhilbert146]

Great idea!

[@jared_bowden]

Yeah, the well-known story of the Navajo Code Talkers takes on a new meaning when you realized just how much effort (and resources) the US put into trying to eradicate native Languages, only to have one become a valuable asset during the war.

[@TheWebsOfCorruptionNeverFail]

@@jared_bowden This One! Mark Felton did do a Video on this but I would love to know more about the contributions of the Native tribes of America, how they were treated by their fellow white soldiers, who was the one who recognised their potential and ofcouse the way in which they helped contribute to the War Effort.

[@TheWebsOfCorruptionNeverFail]

Brilliant Video! The plight and Struggle of Indians during WW2 usually become footnotes or 3 second long memes in most Videos.But you were able to cover all aspects of "India's War" and I especially appreciate you covering the Complex and often overlooked Bose's Azad Hind Fauj and more so the Bengal Famines. Most British Historians somehow "forget" the millions of deaths in their former colonies while simultaneously crying Genocide at Turkey and others. The level of accuracy and respect with which you covered these grim historical topics, made me smile and shed a tear and that's coming from someone who is both a Bengali and a Nationalist, we aren't easily impressed. It's a particularly touchy subject for my family, as our ancestors fought for the BIA, executed during the Chittagong Uprising, Jailed and Tortured in Andaman being part of the INC protests and also driven off our Ancestral Villages during Partition. I salute you sir, for your incredible effort and indepth study of India's Freedom Struggle. I eagerly await your videos on the struggle of other minor nations during that most Tumultuous of Times. Godspeed and Jai Hind!

[@amritrandhawa3509]

The Indian National Army/Azaad Hind Force was actually founded by General Mohan Singh, but was revitalized under Subhas Chandra Bose after General Mohan Singh left due to his disagreements with the Japanese in regards to how they would use the INA/AHF. Regardless, Bengal and Punjab suffered and sacrificed the most for an Azaad India, yet were forgotten by Delhi as soon independence was achieved.

[@TheWebsOfCorruptionNeverFail]

@@amritrandhawa3509 Yes Indeed!

[@shivanshna7618]

@SPEEDandPOWER he didn't mention Churchill though stop projecting

[@TheWebsOfCorruptionNeverFail]

@SPEEDandPOWER Even if Churchill ate all the Maps and forgot where Bengal was and thus didn't do shit....Shilling for a Dead Imperialist Politician with a Speech Impedement is pretty cringe dude. You guys are no better than Stalin Stans and Neo-Hitler Youths. We do need a good name for you though...any suggestions?

[@TheWebsOfCorruptionNeverFail]

@@shivanshna7618 Most don't even mention the Bengal Famine, Bose or the fact that most Indians were opposed to the War. I wont punish progress, especially with so many.... 🤔 FatFans? na, ChurChools...mm...not quite....Motar Chamcha?...nah too discriptive ....we need a word for them! Not quite rude...not quite descriptive...but just right.

[@PakBallandSami]

really interesting because india was a colony britian so there were just dredged into this hole conflict also considering the fact india was the target of japan and many indian nationalist fought side by side with the japanese army but many also fight with the british

[@siddarth3955]

I think Netaji Shubash Chandra Bose thought of double timing Japan once Brits were kicked out but that didn't work out

[@Haxerous]

Yeah well there were millions fighting and aiding the war effort on the allied side. The number of Indians fighting on the Japanese/Nazi side were much smaller and even amongst them a good number of them were POWs who didn't have much choice.

[@facemanofark]

Whole*

[@orekiok8939]

@@Haxerous Japanese and Nazis wanted to invade India after Britishers even netaji have mentioned it . So he just needed a army that's it netaji have never supported Nazis or Japanese

[@orekiok8939]

@@siddarth3955 Japanese and Nazis wanted to invade India after Britishers even netaji have mentioned it . So he just needed a army that's it netaji have never supported Nazis or Japanese

[@abhinavjain2102]

9:15, The reference to Quit India Movement. It was not meant to make India quit WW2, but was the demand by the INC and eventually the rest of the political parties, in response to the failure of the Cripps Mission and the August Offer, that the British must first quit India immediately for support. I hope it was just a slight error in speech, otherwise in very poor taste.

[@rajsuryajeet2809]

isnt this video racist?

[@FM_1819]

@@rajsuryajeet2809 How is it racist?

[@rajsuryajeet2809]

@@FM_1819 bro he says the Japenese caused the famine in by sinking ships.

[@FM_1819]

@@rajsuryajeet2809 No, he said that it was ONE of the factors, but he also said the main one was british inaction and indiference. Watch the video, not everything is muh rascism

[@chiefdoesgaming8269]

@@rajsuryajeet2809 How does that make it racist? It was one of the many factors that led to the famine, and as stated in the video the main factor was the British inaction.

[@byron-ih2ge]

British officials were told by the british indian officials that " Bengal is suffering from a manufactured famine and drought!!"but still they continued exporting food and clothes from bengal !! the Australian and canadian allies wanted to send Aid to india but it was blocked by Britian!! It reached to a point when the British top officials stationed in Bengal themselves had to write to CHURCHILL" Pls stop this act!! people r dying of starvation in masses!!" to which CHURCHILL replied " if thats the case then why hasnt Gandhi died yet??" There is a reason why CHURCHILL is the most hated figure in the history of modern India call us whatever u want but then and even now majority of Indians would prefer Hitler over Churchill.. The INA is seen as heroes and Bose is probably the most famous freedom fighter in India today.

[@ieatmice751]

rip bozo

[@declanruane5588]

@@ieatmice751 I can’t believe that was a real interaction I got to see thank you

[@ArunKumar-xv4qn]

@@declanruane5588 most people in west don't know because history is written by victors and oppressors and you know who won the world War 2

[@Jobe-13]

India is a huge country. Covering how people experienced the war in different parts of the country/sub-continent would take quite a while. Pretty cool you can still make this for it.

[@pronoydutta614]

I think a lot of people here had reservations about each other owing to religious and caste differences, so they were more involved in infighting (something the British made tacit efforts to promote across its empire). Educated people in power were a lot more proactive about the war. Things haven't changed here too much, tbh. Certain aspects of division are gone, but not others. Some parts of the country are untouched by time in this regard.

[@Hari-me2bq]

@@pronoydutta614 True. On top of the millenniums old caste system still present in India, the East-India company's use of divide and conquer further deepend and exploited the social structure of India. By doing so, India, despite its efforts to the contrary, still suffers from internal discrimination and violence be it from caste or religion

[@udayrathod3786]

20:40 correction, that Image is from Jamnagar (Navanagar ar that time) where they allowed Polish Kids to stay even after British opposed this move by the Maharaja. Later, a camp was set up in Kolhapur.

[@user-sh9uk2hx3d]

RIP to all the Indians that died because Britain refused to send them food

[@Game_Hero]

it's more complicated than that, not to say the British have their part of responsability too

[@mitchellgruninger9992]

It's a lot more complicated than that. I dislike these regressive arguments made to attack the British/European civilians. We both know it is more complicated and we both know you're personally manipulating the fact purley to push a false narrative. Stop being backwards and regressive.

[@Hari-me2bq]

@Bigman1 S lmao. What does that have to do with London. I mean Britain's indifference and sole focus on the war effort was at the grim expense of the people of Bengal during the famine, however, what you are saying is just a grudge statement and not of any substance.

[@Hari-me2bq]

@@mitchellgruninger9992 Subjugation, racism, supremacy, power, and greed are exhibited by peoples all around the world, and not just the people from a certain continent or country. However, the crimes to humanity that the Europeans have committed throughout the years through imperialism and colonialism, which involved slavery, massacres, and genocides exhibits the vilest depths of human action. And I am not saying that the Europeans were the only ones who have committed such actions, but they surely are the ones to have created such waves of consequences and change around the world. See the Americas for example, the European colonizers have practically almost erased a whole continent's people and culture.

[@Pqihtyieojn12]

@@Hari-me2bq thank you

[@DanielStClair-gj3cs]

We really have to cite Winston Churchill and his hatred of Indians forcing food shipments to Yugoslavia as a factor in exacerbating the famine

[@sushanalone]

A very important point missed. But I can notice History with Hilbert in his videos tries to notice history , not characters and when he mentions them its brief and to an event, for their better or worse. So I would forgive it and trust him. Often characters can suck up the oxygen from room due to their controversies and avoid productive conversation from happening.

[@DanielStClair-gj3cs]

@@sushanalone I think you're right. And I'm not critical of Hilbert, just saying that we should cite the other reasons as well! I love Hilbert's videos, especially the one where he manages to include Het Wilhelmus 😅

[@sushanalone]

@@DanielStClair-gj3cs I agree, as I did with your point in my first line, but I guess its his style of covering history and it has its place :). And it can take away from context a bit as you mentioned.

[@nik2507able]

About the Bengal Famine, you should also have mentioned that Winston Churchill deliberately turned away food from reaching the people of Bengal and reserved it as back-up stock for people fighting in Europe. This food was taken from the people in the region. A direct action which killed a lot of people. He also had very racist views about Indians and wrote that they can starve essentially.

[@HistoryOfRevolutions]

“The British conquest of India was the invasion and destruction of a high civilisation by a trading company utterly without scruple or principle, careless of art and greedy of gain, over-running with fire and sword a country temporarily disordered and helpless, bribing and murdering, annexing and stealing, and beginning that career of illegal and ‘legal’ plunder which has now gone on ruthlessly for one hundred and seventy-three years.” - Will Durant, The Case for India (1930)

[@sushanalone]

Most of the damage was done outside the British East India Company. The British Crown legalised far worse things than what the BEIA was capable of. BEIA is often looked upon by Indian and British sources of most atrocities, when the Latter got away with murder.

[@pronoydutta614]

Succinctly put.

[@krapto3467]

@@sushanalone indeed,We see the British East India company as the major reason for the revolution of 1857,when it was infact the Crown itself that laid the foundations for it's uprising and then used the BEIC as a sole scapegoat denying any blame over the crown itself which was arguably the largest perpetrator of oppression and crime in the colony. The BEIC was a dirty oppressive entity too however they somewhat pale in comparison to the crown itself.

[@SamDy99]

"High civilization" which can't even build neither railroads nor bridges nor administration offices for their citizens. Forget about gunpowder and cannons . STUP!D

[@siddarth3955]

@@SamDy99 Yeah, you don't build something you don't require. It is high civilization that ya 🐷 stole 45 trillion dollars. India has literally sponsored the development of all of you ungrateful people.

[@champagne.future5248]

It’s crazy that the starvation of 3 million Indians is a footnote of WWII history, at least in the west.

[@pronoydutta614]

There might be an underlying belief that this history doesn't matter in schools and universities in the West. No one knows any better to question this train of thought. It's like being on the receiving end of less overt propoganda.

[@sushanalone]

Or the murder of similar number of Chinese citizens by the Imperial Japanese Army, because they became allies after the war. The Japanese State still denies the massacres and human rights abuses. Food for thought .

[@Hari-me2bq]

@@sushanalone Its really sad to see that the Japanese state is still denying the actions done by the Imperial Japanese troops. Just put it in the past, right?

[@aAverageFan]

​@@Hari-me2bq British colonialists were responsible for the Bengal famine and dozens of other famines in India.

[@Asamations]

Excellent video on India in WW2 Hilbert! Perhaps a video on an independent Tibet in WW2? There's 0 information on it that I can find. Hopefully you could. Keep up the great work!

[@PakBallandSami]

"many people form the india died form the freedom of other but not for there own" -kraut

[@inkofficial3571]

Thanks man how a great day

[@Ali-gt8wj]

@@inkofficial3571 stop making fun of he just bad at English

[@anitakay8634]

_Azad Hind_ is kind of more Urdu than Hindi, as both Azad and Hind are Persian terms. The pure sanskrit-based Hindi form would probably be something like _Svatantra Bhārat._

[@byron-ih2ge]

ya thats why he said its hindustani

[@historywithhilbert146]

Thanks for explaining Anita - I wasn't entirely sure at the time but I'll know now for next time 😉

[@byron-ih2ge]

@@historywithhilbert146 na hilbert ur right!! It is hindustani 😁 Actually hindi-urdu r two standard forms of the same language known as " hindustani"

[@kushal4956]

hindi n urdu didn't really exist back then

[@temptemp4174]

@@kushal4956 it did, it just wasn't called that. It was viewed as dialects. With Pakistan being closer to Iran having more Persian in their version of the dialect, while India retaining many Sanskrit words. For example a Pakistani can understand every word in the national anthem that's written entirely in Persian. But it's specifically Persian words present within the Urdu language dialect. The same can be said for Indian anthem, a Pakistani would have no clue what Jana gana mana or something means, they would have a blank expression.

[@ace_x17]

great video, please can you make a video about british burma also

[@amritrandhawa3509]

Roughly 6% of British forces during the World Wars consisted of troops from the Punjab region

[@sagittario5543]

That number includes at least 3 of my direct ancestors and some 5 blood relatives. Punjab had always been one of the most important recruiting grounds for the British.

[@jstevinik3261]

@@sagittario5543 Why is that? Tradition to serve in the military?

[@thespatulaa]

@@jstevinik3261 yes , most of the area around modern day Pakistani Punjab ( KPK regions) and the Indian Punjab regions were against Mughal Empire hence they readily volunteered and still maintain the tradition of being in Military

[@yassine073t]

Great work Hilbert 👍

[@sushanalone]

Indeed!

[@faithlesshound5621]

You mention in passing that Bose's Indian National Army was not segregated. That was contrary to British colonial policy, which was to keep religions and castes apart in homogeneous battalions. Lt Gen Thapar's book "The Morale Builders" describes British officers' horrified reaction to fraternisation between Hindu, Muslim and Sikh army patients at the Brighton Pavilion during WWI. British officials claimed that they were necessary to keep the peace between hostile communities, and they made sure they were needed by using soldiers from one community, especially minorities, to repress inhabitants of another. Post-colonial societies ended up with reservoirs of hatred between segments of their populations, which are more difficult for their own governing elite to handle. The Romans did this, as did the other colonial powers. Hence the difficulties of the "Harkis" who worked with the French rulers of Algeria, and the "Montagnards" of Viet Nam. Sometimes the colonial response to left wing independence movements was to stoke communal dysharmony: see Ceylon and British Guiana.

[@samiulhussain3045]

Could u plz do a video on the india-pakistan independence and pakistan-bangaldesh independence Although I'm bengali i would like to know more about it especially from someone not from the region

[@avantelvsitania3359]

Can’t wait for the Portuguese video. Portugal prevented Spain from entering the war, which would alter the equilibrium of powers in Europe.

[@bnb6868]

Not really Portugal did lobby in that direction but it basically had zero influence. Jordana was the one that kept Spain neutral even dying for it

[@SumMon352]

Portugal would be very intresting

[@arkadeepkundu4729]

6:26 "Evolution & development of tanks in the Indian Army (Ancient to 1945)"

[@lookintoit4537]

Lol

[@krapto3467]

Well just ancient and 1945 rather than ancient to 1945.

[@arkadeepkundu4729]

@@krapto3467 yes well sorry I wasn't in charge of British Imperial Photo ops corps back then.

[@krapto3467]

@@arkadeepkundu4729 Who

[@makeytgreatagain6256]

I guess elephants are sometimes referred to as “ancient tanks” so yeah…

[@A190xx]

The Indian troops in WW2 were the largest volunteer army in history. Thank you for your service.

[@tonylove4800]

Very true. In terms of population, however, I think nothing will ever beat NZ's contribution in WW1. I think 12 males aged 15-60 were left home to run the entire country.

[@kushal4956]

volunteer army? I don't think a lot of them really had a choice bcuz britain controlled India and even before the war, a lot of people joined the army bcuz there were no good employment opportunities available.

[@A190xx]

@@kushal4956 This was true of British soldiers as well

[@SumMon352]

Australia or NZ could be intresting as no south Pacific nations have been covered yet

[@GerardPerry]

Re: the Bengal famine, it should be noted that as these people were starving to death, vast quantities of food and raw materials were being shipped to the U.S.S.R., which was, along with Germany, largely responsible for the outbreak of WWII.

[@dr.batman2530]

The importance of Indian National Army in our freedom struggle came after the Axis had surrendered in August 1945. The captured officers of INA were tried for treason at Red Fort in Delhi. They were sentenced to death. These trials were largely publicised in media and it caused massive public outrage. Anti-British sentiments dramatically increased. This all culminated in the Naval mutines in Karachi and Bombay in 1946. Due to the infammable situation, the death sentences were never carried out. INA officers were released and many prominent INA veterans post independence eventually gained high positions of power in Indian politics or joined the Indian armed forces. Laxmi Sehgal infact was a candidate during the Presidential Elections in 2002. The naval mutines and the tensions in Indian populace caused both by the trials and the Hindu-Muslim riots in Calcutta in 1946 (Direct Action Day) made it clear to the colonial authorities that British Indian Army cannot be relied upon anymore and the time to flee India is here. British literally then fled India as situation worsened (then). So yes, unlike the rest of the forces who fought alongside Axis, INA is largely celebrated in India to this date, officially and by general public.

[@balpreetsingh6834]

Disappointed Hilbert, why not call out Churchill by name, who was the decision maker in causing the Bengal famine.

[@TheWebsOfCorruptionNeverFail]

It's still more of an Acknowledgement than any other KZbin Historian and I have to appreciate him for it, even if he didn't call out the Fat Bastard by name.

[@sushanalone]

History with Hilbert Amazing video with a great balance and focus on events and not emotions or characters as always. Almost robotic, which is creepy sometimes ;P Suggestions: Imperial Japanese Army War crimes against China and South East Asia.

[@adisura9904]

A brilliant video hilbert. Just got this suggested. Well done Definitely waiting for the Bangladeshi liberation video

[@lordgarysoh]

5:35 This one is a bit nitpicky on my side, I understand that you are saying the Indian troops served in Malaya, however the flag shown was the flag of the Straits Settlements which are Separatedly administered from Malaya, which at that time comprised of the Federated Malay States (which has a cool flag) and the others sultanate (eg: Johor) which were also under the thumb of the Brits.

[@lookintoit4537]

As an Indian, I find it really hard to pick sides in WW2.

[@akshatdixit4459]

It is not necessary for us to pick sides cause it was their war and our natives were pulled into it

[@alansmithee8831]

Hello Hilbert. I had commented before that my uncle was a muleteer in Burma then went to East Indies whilst my navy dad picked up French Indochinese in a hospital ship just after WW2. Season's Greetings to you and all.

[@theallseeingeye9388]

Nothing much is known of the involvement of India in WW2. They were suppose to just serve and die, not be seen let alone their efforts and sacrifices acknowledged, rewarded or worthy of being remembered. Until recently, there were statues for a dog that served and died for the British, but not a single one for the hundreds of thousands of Indians who fought and died under the British flag. And like how Hitler murdered 6 million jews and gypsies, Churchill caused the deaths of atleast 15 million Benggolis without having to physically kill even one.

[@japjiobhan1687]

Ummm bro Hitler didn’t ask Subhas Chandra Bose to form an “Indian Legion” this idea had already existed and Subhasji was given the leadership of Azad Hind. So yea that’s not correct I would really appreciate if you could make the correction as it would project a wrong image of such a brave warrior. Tbh he was basically the Washington of India so just like Washington is respected so he too should be. But the video is amazing it was just something that I noticed being misrepresented so had to correct it. Peace!

[@azadhindproductions9089]

A small correction, INA was formed in 1942 by Mohan Singh and rash behari Bose in Singapore just after the surrender of British forces. Subash Chandra Bose didn't actually transfer armies by u boat but just went alone with a former Inc member Abid Hassan who would later become a member of INA . The leadership of INA was taken over by Bose in 1943

[@GaryArmstrongmacgh]

India was key to our victory.

[@SELondonUSA]

I was pleased to note the author's remarks about the use of BIA forces in French Indo China and the Dutch East Indies soon after the end of WW2. My father served as an officer in an Indian infantry regiment in the Burma Campaign. After Japan was defeated, his brigade went to Saigon and then on to Makassar (Celebes Island) to establish order; this was between September 1945 and February/March 1946. Something that is not often mentioned is that the divisional commander, General Douglas Gracey, armed IJA POWs to help in quelling the Viet Minh in that region. I also took note of the author's commentary about one colonial power's use of its colonial troops to hold the doors open for the return of two other colonial powers. Right on point, but not something the British, the French and the Dutch like talking about these days, if they even know about such events.

[@ShubhamMishrabro]

Hopefully South-East theatre gets featured in future cod or battlefield games.

[@MurshedAnam]

Most colonial subjects would find it hard to identify who were evil in ww2

[@ps-uj5dm]

12:30 the British were waay worse than Nazies to us

[@orekiok8939]

Japanese and Nazis wanted to invade India after Britishers even netaji have mentioned it . So he just needed a army that's it netaji have never supported Nazis or Japanese

[@orekiok8939]

@Bigman1 S bro listen everyone knows Britishers were worse but netaji aand many freedom fighters have told that Nazis and Japanese wants to rule India

[@Thesungod95]

great factual video, i am from india, and i appreciate this video.

[@dr.batman2530]

A major correction. It's a common misconception that Indian National Army (INA) was formed by Subhash Chandra Bose. Even Indians make the mistake. INA was first formed by Rash Behari Bose, an Indian freedom fighter and dissident in exile living in Japan since 1915. After the fall of Malay and Singapore when large number of Indian POWs were captured by the Japanese, a Japanese intelligence unit under Major Fujiwara contacted Captain Mohan Singh, who deserted the British Indian Army in Malay. Rash Behari Bose then formed the INA and recruited those Indian POWs who were given a chance to escape the fate of their former comrades in infamous Japanese POW camps. Mohan Singh was made the first commander in chief. Many Indian POWs who refused were executed by the Japanese. But soon disagreements arose between Mohan Singh and Imperial Japanese Army, to the extent that Mohan Singh was briefly taken into custody by IJA. INA then was largely disbanded. Subhash Chandra Bose only came to Singapore in June 1943. Rash Behari Bose then decided to hand over the control of INA to Subhash and the INA was reorganized. After this INA saw combat alongside the IJA against the BIA in Burma and Northeast India.

[@sushanalone]

10:20 That one woman in robes, cracked me up, not much has changed i guess.

[@Urlocallordandsavior]

May I suggest to do Burma's WWII history next?

[@joshmusser9284]

I'd like to learn more about Finland and Norway's involvement during the war

[@raphlvlogs271]

those who share common enemies as you do are your allies. no one thinks exactly like you do, there are only those who share common goals and objectives as you do.

[@jeffjones4654]

Do a video about Bulgaria, Hungary, or Romania.

[@thespatulaa]

Thanks for sharing light on this , it would be also be worth mentioning that most of the British Indian Army recruitment forces were from the areas around Pakistan especially the areas around Pindi , Quetta and the NWFP But this is not to degrade the other regions who also contributed to the Raj's Army Great video

[@RedNip123]

Albania in WW2 next please. I visited this year in September and they have an incredible history.

[@nirmallangthasa2897]

Besides The Kohima & The Imphal War the North East India in the theater of WW2( China - Burma - India Theater) saw the Allies build an airport in Ledo Assam which saw air sorties carried out over the Hump for military supplies to China.The Allies under the command of an American General Joseph Warren"Vinegar Joe" Stilwell Constructed"The Famous" :Ledo/ The Burma Road/ The StilWell Road connecting Ledo in Assam &, Kaching region(Northern Myanmar) with Kunming in China as an alternative route when the Japanese had cut- off all supply lines to China in 1942.

[@kazakhdoge1822]

Can you do Central Asia in WW2 next, pls pls pls pls 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

[@dharmapersona2084]

India contributed so much

[@historyhayden]

Day 2 of asking Hillbert for San Marino(plz do San Marino next)

[@solsolsolomon]

I agree

[@From-Dehradun]

As per hindu buddhist mongol tibetan holy scriptures india is a subcontinent comprises of many nations. India means south asia. Later british united indian nations. Largest no of bravery medals, victoria crosses won by Gurkhas of Nepal 🇳🇵

[@TheHomieNickGurr]

Indians think Nepal belongs to 🇮🇳🤣🤣

[@From-Dehradun]

@@TheHomieNickGurr Indians feel proud n boast on the basis of illusion theories set-up by british n indian gov. Sooner or later truth speaks itself. Indian money n productivity been wasting in breeding traitors n indian supported government inside neighbouring nations that's y india is still poor.

[@anitathakur9340]

@@From-Dehradun british didnt united india thats a fake news.

[@johnkilmartin5101]

I remember reading a book many years ago about the Gurkhas and it mentioned that instead of giving them a cash gratuity when demobilizing at the end of the Second World War they were given a similar value in cloth. This makes more sense than the explanation it was to prevent inflation.

[@arrow1414]

I am sorry but I have to laugh regarding the woman in the full burka who posed with the men in the picture at 9:51. What was the point? "I look so young in that picture..."🤣

[@RedBlue_Purple]

17:30 When British arrived, Bengal is one of the richest places in India, contributing about 32% of Indian economy (at that time India's contribution in global economy is around 25%)..... And during British Raj, the region was purposefully deindustrlised and split to create religious tensions.... And i should noted here, during Bengal faminine, the food grains 'took' from India where not used to feed BIA soldiers or any soldiers. They were stock piled as buffer stock, in case, if need, in Yugoslavia. PS: Winston Churchill, one of the worst racist in modern era. British came to one of the richest lands in history, after 200 years of plunder, loot and exploitation, they left a third world, poverty stricken country, in which people's life expectancy is mere 27 years.

[@lb2kxx]

can you do a vid about Canada

[@philipbrookes1078]

to the people from india pakistan helped us your great people i love meeting you and your off spirn in the uk

[@jrjr4213]

Question is where do you get this research from?????🤔🧐

[@MrJoebrooklyn1969]

What the heck was wrong with the British? They just let Bengal starve?

[@tamberlame27]

There was a reason we wanted independence from them

[@TheRadPlayer]

No, they reasoned the food was better spent on the front lines against the fascists, than for the domestic population of Bengal, and did not wish to commit naval resources to alleviate the oncoming famine. It's the kind of ruthless, cruel calculus that war engenders.

[@py8554]

The British Raj also included other areas besides Pakistan, India and Bangladesh at various times: Aden (from 1858 to 1937), Lower Burma (from 1858 to 1937), Upper Burma (from 1886 to 1937), British Somaliland (from 1884 to 1898), and Singapore (from 1858 to 1867). On the other hand Maldives, Ceylon, Nepal and Bhutan were never part of the British Raj.

[@54032Zepol]

Tbh the Japanese had everyone cornered and up against the ropes, they had the Brits hanging on the thread between Burma!! And India!! They had taken over all of Europeans colonies in the Pacific, established a Japanese puppet state called Manchukuo in occupied China, they had the u.s. limping it's fleet back to the states. However tactics changed and the Japanese couldn't keep up we see it's desperation as mass banzai charges and kamikazes we're becoming the norm.

[@Hari-me2bq]

True. The way the tide shifted to the allies' favor is a really interesting aspect of the second world war.

[@yashvardhanojha6796]

Kudos to you for covering the famine.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

There’s must’ve been initial hesitation fighting the Germans because of their lucky swastikas.

[@PakBallandSami]

@Leo the British-Filipino nah

[@khosrowanushirwan7591]

Hitler used the hakuenkrauz not swastika check it up this myth is debunked.

[@orekiok8939]

Swastika is 90 degree but Hitler Nazi symbol isn't 90 degree

[@kc4276]

😂😅

[@proger1960]

@@khosrowanushirwan7591 *Still the same symbol with minor differences buddy*

[@angelmon6]

zoveel we nog niet weten... kan je iets meer over galliers en vlamingen doen ? want Al teveel vind ik niet... en de meeste interseert geschiedenis nie.... jammer...

[@golu4706]

A Correction Quit India movement was about Britishers quitting India , not British India quitting World War 2.

[@alexandermaas2504]

0:33 *ahem* you forget Burma/Myanmar

[@Indian_Marschall]

Finally

[@imtiazfromthehouseofthesea6849]

1 2 3 .... CHECKING ....

[@christopherludlam1602]

Enjoyed learning about the considerable sacrifices of the Indian Nation to aid the British war effort. But for that, I have a feeling I might be writing this in German.

[@TheyLuv_Anaya123]

Can you do Albania

[@ZainFKiani]

My grandfather from Rawalpindi (present day Pakistan) served in the western front (Italy). His younger brother served in Singapore and was taken as a POW. He was cannibalised by the Japanese officers for refusing to defect from the British and joining the axis forces. His remains were never recovered, only stories of his fate from his fellow soldiers. There’s an empty grave with his name in my family’s village. His name was Rustom Farid Kiani he was 20 years old.

[@jamessteel1719]

Apologies but I think you have completely missed the main reason for the Bengal famine which was that Churchill feared a Japanese invasion from Burma and therefore confiscated all the rice boats that normally brought food into Bengal. It was the disruption to seasonal food logistics that did it. Apologies but I can't believe you've done a whole video on this and omitted that fact - to suggest that 2-3 million people died because land was being used as air bases is completely absurd. It was a famine of choice not necessity.

[@Hari-me2bq]

True. Our current 'woke' mentality squints from how a government can massacre a few hundred people like in the Tienanmen massacre, while deliberate acts of negligence for political motives in the expense of millions of lives are not really discussed about to that extend. It is sad to see that convenience wins over the lives of many

[@MrAllmightyCornholioz]

SHIVA BLESS 🇮🇳

[@MrPoornakumar]

Why India wasn't declared as a victor, when China was declared as one & that too, India was provided a seat in th newly created UN (while being a British colony)?

[@mathewkelly9968]

How does anyone think 'India' didnt play a large part in ww1 and 2 ?

[@christophergould8715]

Very good. What about Chá ges in the Indianec economy

[@devendrapandey8794]

Bengal Famine wasn't the fault of Japan, it was only and only British

[@aAverageFan]

Exactly. It's hypocritical how the West denounces Stalin and Mao for man-made famines but glorifies Churchill despite he also created a man-made famine in India.

[@NoName-yo7ux]

0:34 Myanmar was also a part of British raj

[@historywithhilbert146]

Myanmar was ruled as part of the British Raj until 1937 when it started to be administered separately.

[@avinashs7571]

The way the colonisers picture themselves as great and heroic and other to be under their benevolence in sickening.

[@Hari-me2bq]

I mean that is present in everybody. Most people who give money to a beggar would feel a sense of superiority. The way the Europeans supported colonisation was to "enlighten" the people through Christianity, while the main reason was just for the money, resources, and power.

[@i.willacceptfood9352]

Starved. There I answered it.

[@haydenross8215]

It’s interesting how what happened in the Second World War shaped modern day India

[@_vallee_5190]

India is usually associated with having heavy involvement in WWII

[@aAverageFan]

But India never got the credit it deserved such as becoming a permanent member of the UNSC.

[@desmondburnett9286]

there is a statue for a dog for ww2. but none to honor the contribution of the Asian men who gave it all. more Asian took part in ww2 than Britain men

[@blackpowderuser373]

Gotta love how the minor nations in WW2 are getting more attention now. Also, United India

[@swayammm__]

You forgot that Japan gifted andaman and nicobar islands to netaji subhash chandra bose and women's regiment and the bengal famine was because of Winston Churchill

[@srdragan317]

same happen in North africa with algeria , Morco , tunisia , senegal etc.

[@hschaggar1]

I'd say 1840s, rather than 1818, was the time frame that major threats to British hegemony was removed after the first and second Anglo-Sikh wars, fairly close run.

[@Unfollowthem]

By blood and DNA =India, Pakistan, Bangladesh are one People... Always..

[@Whurlpuul]

Vatican City next?

[@pinklasagna8328]

I'm sure the comment section will be very peaceful and wholesome.

[@FemaleHachi]

Rip the millions of Indians who died in the Bengal famine all because of Churchill not shipping any food to India despite other British officials begging him to because he hated Indians

[@FemaleHachi]

@Leo the British-Filipino you can’t be a hero and purposely starve millions of people only because of your racism against them

[@alanbstard4]

that wasn't Churchill's fault. the primary reason for the famine was shortages in Rice. A variety of factors led to the shortage, but most prominent among them was not supply shortage rather it was due to improper allocation of the available rice stocks. ... A relatively bad harvest in winter crop of 1942, led to supply shortages

[@yassine073t]

@@alanbstard4 he was the leader who was responsible

[@alanbstard4]

the primary reason for the famine was shortages in Rice. A variety of factors led to the shortage, but most prominent among them was not supply shortage rather it was due to improper allocation of the available rice stocks. ... A relatively bad harvest in winter crop of 1942, led to supply shortage

[@siddarth3955]

@@alanbstard4 Churchill literally said 'if so many Indians are dying, why hasn't Gandhi died yet'. He was totally cold towards the deaths caused by his own country.

[@military_offence]

Next Rezang La War Sino-indo War of 1962

[@theoakatsuki]

A correction at 11:18. India is a motherland