September 21, 2024 | by Unboxify
With the outbreak of war in Europe and the Far East, every corner of the British Empire had to stand ready to answer the call of King and Country. Nowhere was this loyalty stronger than in India, where the fabled lands showcased their affection for His Britannic Majesty. Indianization policies were taking root as natives assumed greater control over their destiny, and India marched into battle against the enemies of their common empire.
India was the British Empire’s “breadbasket,” supplying raw materials such as food, cotton, and rubber, essential for keeping British troops fighting indefinitely. No sacrifice was seen as too great for victory, and India’s resources were instrumental in this cause.
The Second World War is generally associated with Anglo-Saxon soldiers from Britain. However, it was a clash of empires that called upon all their people, including over 370 million inhabitants of India, the “jewel in the Imperial Crown.” Indian troops, more than 2.5 million by the war’s end, were an essential component of the British military force.
In the 1920s and 30s, the British initiated a policy of Indianization. This saw a significant number of Native Indians being placed in government and military roles, including Indian officers in military units previously under exclusively white command. While these reforms were presented as steps towards self-rule, they were in reality token gestures to silence nationalist rumblings.
With the fall of Poland in 1939, the British ordered the Indian army to mobilize. The Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow, believed that the Indian population would support the war effort wholeheartedly. Wealthy Maharajas, keen to maintain power amidst the rising Indian independence movement, eagerly pledged their resources and men to the British.
Average Indians had varied opinions about the war. Divided by ethnic and religious lines, some even found inspiration in Hitler’s idea of racial purity. Meanwhile, those who sided with the Allies found themselves frustrated by the British, who saw them primarily as a source of manpower.
In 1940, an agreement was reached where Britain would pay for India’s war expenses, infrastructure, and recruitment costs. However, this commitment was hollow as it involved “Sterling credits,” leaving India to bear the actual financial burden.
The British defense of India Act granted government officials unlimited power to silence any sentiment they considered disloyal. This act prioritized maintaining control over fostering genuine support and cooperation.
Indian soldiers faced racial discrimination even in the military. Pay discrepancies, disputes over rations, and segregation were common. However, certain units began to show progressive attitudes, prohibiting derogatory language and accepting Indian officers.
Indian troops fought across North Africa and participated in Operation Husky in Sicily. By 1945, they played a crucial role in recapturing Burma from Japanese forces, marking India’s significant contribution to the Allies’ triumph.
The attack on Pearl Harbor brought the war directly to India’s doorstep. Soon after, Imperial Japan advanced through Asia, capturing neighboring Burma and opening India to a potential invasion.
In response, the British enacted a Scorched Earth policy in Bengal, seizing food stockpiles, destroying bridges, and sabotaging waterways. This left Bengal on the brink of starvation, resulting in the Bengal famine of 1943 which killed millions. British policies, rather than extreme weather, exacerbated this famine, depriving India of essential resources.
Political pressures mounted as Gandhi’s Indian National Congress (INC) and Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s Muslim League grappled over India’s future. The INC, emphasizing Hinduism, faced opposition from the Muslim League, which sought separate states for Muslims.
In 1942, the INC issued the Quit India resolution urging a cease to support the British until independence was guaranteed. This led to the arrest of Gandhi and INC leaders. Violent protests erupted but were brutally suppressed by the Raj.
Indian troops helped reclaim Burma and key regions, playing a crucial role in the ultimate defeat of Japan in Southeast Asia. However, the war’s end saw rampant food shortages and high unemployment.
Post-war, talks between the British and Indian leaders led to the partition of British India into India and Pakistan. This partition addressed mounting tensions between Hindus and Muslims but led to significant geopolitical challenges.
India lost over 87,000 soldiers during the war. When accounting for civilian deaths resulting from the Bengal famine and other occurrences, the death toll was staggering, rising to over 2.2 million.
The Indian economy was severely impacted, suffering from war expenses and devastated agricultural output. Basic necessities were in short supply, contributing to prolonged economic struggles.
Despite the severe costs, India’s significant contributions to the Allied war effort catalyzed the end of colonial rule. The wave of decolonization that followed the Second World War saw numerous nations across Asia and Africa seeking and gaining independence.
Indian troops’ bravery and sacrifice played a crucial role in the Allied victory in World War II. Their contribution is a testament to the complex legacies of colonialism and independence movements that reshaped the 20th century.
Between the wars, Japan aggressively expanded in East Asia. The Great Depression further fueled military dominance, leading to invasions in Manchuria and China, and finally, the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor which pulled the United States into the conflict.
Japan’s occupation strategy included creating a resource zone to sustain its war efforts. The nation faced material shortages and prioritized aviation and naval capacities. Despite the initial victories, resource limitations and critical defeats—such as at Midway—crippled their continued blitz.
The Allies’ island-hopping strategy systematically dismantled Japanese defenses across the Pacific. Fierce battles highlighted Japan’s tenacious but ultimately doomed resistance.
The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki culminated the Pacific war, pushing Japan to unconditional surrender. The profound aftermath of these bombings marks a brutal end to a conflict that reshaped global order.
The Sino-Japanese war began in 1937 with Japan’s brutal campaign in China, marked by widespread atrocities. Chinese resistance was hampered by both internal strife and Japanese superiority.
Despite forming coalitions like the Second United Front, Chinese resistance struggled under severe conditions. The scorched earth tactics, including the devastating Yellow River floods, exemplified the harsh realities civilians faced.
The Burma Road became a vital lifeline, maintaining Chinese resistance despite Japanese occupation. U.S. and British support, although complicated by internal corruption, played a critical role in sustaining Chinese forces.
By 1944, operations against Japan saw renewed vigor aided by restructured Chinese forces. Yet, the fragile coalition between Nationalists and Communists crumbled post-war, leading to a renewed civil conflict.
The end of World War II ignited widespread decolonization movements. Countries like India emerged as independent states, setting a precedent for numerous former colonies to seek sovereignty and self-determination.
World War II reshaped geopolitical landscapes, economic frameworks, and ideological allegiances across the globe. The extensive human and resource costs underscore the significant lessons learned and the profound transformations that followed in its wake.
In essence, the Second World War from India’s perspective reveals a tapestry of sacrifice, resilience, and an ardent quest for independence—themes that continue to resonate in historical narratives and modern discourses.
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