To celebrate VE Day, 10 interesting facts about how south Asians helped in World War Two
VE Day stands for Victory in Europe Day and is a celebration of the end of World War Two in Europe after the Aliied Forces formally accepted Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945. The contributions of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, (at that time unpartitioned, and still under the rule of the British Empire), to that victory, is often under-recognised. So to bring to the fore their contributions, that helped stop Nazism and bring peace, here are 10 facts about south Asians in World War Two.
2.5 million south Asian men fought in World War Two in the army, air force, and navy, forming the largest army raised by voluntary enlistment.
They provided £1.3 billion in money and supplies at that time which roughly translates to £53 billion in today’s money.
87,000 men died and unto 150,000 were injured.
The Victoria Cross is the highest military honour awarded for gallantry. 28 were awarded to south Asian soliders.
South Asian soldiers fought in Poland and the Soviet Union against Germany, in North Africa against Germany and Italy, in South Asia against the Japanese and in Burma against the Japanese.
India provided the base for American operations in support of China in the war effort in south east Asia.
The Muslim League which was a political party that strongly advocated for the establishment of a separate Muslim-majority nation-state, Pakistan, was one of the loudest voices in support of the British war effort.
In May 1942, the British formed the Women’s Auxiliary Corps for female volunteers to contribute to the war cause. They worked as typists, switchboard operators and drivers, and could be posted anywhere the army went.
Hundreds of nurses volunteered and were active alongside doctors in the Middle East. Some women cleaned and oiled spare parts for tanks. And thirty five percent of India's cotton textiles production, in which women worked, amounting to around 5,000,000,000 yards a year, went into war materials for and the Allies.
Force K6 were an all Muslim ( a deliberate decision, to simplify logistic and spiritual support needs) British Army mule transport corps which moved stores, ammunition and supplies during World War II. They consisted of 1800 personnel and 2000 animals, primarily mules. One company of them was captured in Dunkirk.
South Asian solider holding captured Swastika flag after the surrender of German forces in Italy, May 1945. Behind him, a fascist inscriptions says "VIVA IL DUCE", "Long live the Duce" (i.e. Mussolini). Image from bharat-rakshak and Wikipedia Commons.
