Indonesian Volunteers in the Waffen - SS (NAZI Germany Armed Forces in WW II)

[Silent_Hunter]

Do you have Information about Indonesian Volunteers in Waffen - SS of World War II

[kutter]

What makes you suspect there were any Indonesian volunteers in the Waffen SS? I doubt there would be enough Indonesians in Europe to make up a significant contingent in the SS (a few in the Netherlands but not many).

On a semi related note I do know of one Indonesian who worked as one of Albert Speer's assistants. My father actually knew his son while he was studying in Germany.

[USGRANT64]

I do not know of any specific "Indonesians" in the W.SS. However, you are more likely to find such exotic ethnic groups in the ranks of "abwehr" (German Army Military intellignece). I have seen rosters of Abwehr members with such unusual ethnic types. When the Abwehr foreign espionage operations were taken into Skorzeny's SS-Jagdverbande it is then that such agents became nominal members of the Waffen-SS.
So my answer to your question wiould be "probable" but not impossible.
Next question would be is what was indonesia refered to in World War 2? In any roster then they would be refered to as such.

Phil

[nata4190]

I do not know of any specific "Indonesians" in the W.SS. However, you are more likely to find such exotic ethnic groups in the ranks of "abwehr" (German Army Military intellignece). I have seen rosters of Abwehr members with such unusual ethnic types. When the Abwehr foreign espionage operations were taken into Skorzeny's SS-Jagdverbande it is then that such agents became nominal members of the Waffen-SS.
So my answer to your question wiould be "probable" but not impossible.
Next question would be is what was indonesia refered to in World War 2? In any roster then they would be refered to as such.

Phil
Prior to indpendance, Indonesia was commanly reffered to as the Dutch East Indies.

[East Scout]

I do not know of any specific "Indonesians" in the W.SS. However, you are more likely to find such exotic ethnic groups in the ranks of "abwehr" (German Army Military intellignece). I have seen rosters of Abwehr members with such unusual ethnic types. When the Abwehr foreign espionage operations were taken into Skorzeny's SS-Jagdverbande it is then that such agents became nominal members of the Waffen-SS.
So my answer to your question wiould be "probable" but not impossible.
Next question would be is what was indonesia refered to in World War 2? In any roster then they would be refered to as such.

Phil

Abwher used many enthic types but i have never heard of any Indonesians...Brandenburg Kommandos were all recruited form ethnic groups but most were of Slav/Eastern European orientation or Austrians on the outer borders of greater Germany...There were a group called the Tiger Legion that were Indians that fought in Russian but that all i know of..Good question though, if you find the answer be sure to post it..

[Canuck Farrier]

A little off topic but Ive seen photos of a small Indian unit in the Whermacht stationed in Normandy called the free india army.not sure why they joined up with the Germans though but in the photo they were allowed to wear their turbins with German army uniform.

[sp2c]

Those that weren't on our side would most likely end up in Japanese service instead of the Waffen SS

Sukarno would be a prime example

[East Scout]

Did the Germans have any actual blacks in service..As in in uniform with a rifle..Not an allie but actually in the Wehrmacht?

[Uruk-Hai]

Do you have Information about Indonesian Volunteers in Waffen - SS of World War II

I have only a pic of muslims in SS

http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~whatfor/aa5/handschar1.jpg (http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/%7Ewhatfor/aa5/handschar1.jpg)

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1542181

[Atlantic Friend]

Do you have Information about Indonesian Volunteers in Waffen - SS of World War II

Don't you mean Indian volunteers ?

[Roaming East]

Did the Germans have any actual blacks in service..As in in uniform with a rifle..Not an allie but actually in the Wehrmacht?
That would surprise the ever living hell out of me if they did...

[AROUETLJ]

http://www.patriot.dk/neger.jpgThere were some dark-skinned soldiers in the Legion Freies Arabien. I suppose some of them would have been living in the Arabian Peninsula, while others would have come from outside. Now I'll let you debate whether you can classify Sudanese, Eritreans or Somalis as Blacks.

[USGRANT64]

Here is a famous picture of the driver for Von Lettow-Vorbeck the famous commander of German troops in Africa. After world war one he returned in triumph to Berlin at the head of his colonial troops. Among them some of his Askaris that remained in Germany. I have no information on what became of them. Most I would imagine were alittle too old for active service (late 30's early 40's) if the Third Reich was inclinded to make any use of them at all. Most no-doubt did not contribute to Hitler's war effort because of the Reich's racial policies.

[USGRANT64]

Here is a famous picture of the driver for Von Lettow-Vorbeck the famous commander of German troops in Africa. After world war one he returned in triumph to Berlin at the head of his colonial troops. Among them some of his Askaris that remained in Germany. I have no information on what became of them. Most I would imagine were alittle too old for active service (late 30's early 40's) if the Third Reich was inclinded to make any use of them at all. Most no-doubt did not contribute to Hitler's war effort because of the Reich's racial policies.

[East Scout]

http://www.patriot.dk/neger.jpgThere were some dark-skinned soldiers in the Legion Freies Arabien. I suppose some of them would have been living in the Arabian Peninsula, while others would have come from outside. Now I'll let you debate whether you can classify Sudanese, Eritreans or Somalis as Blacks.

Thats a good post thanks......

[chulo_allen]

as for the free indian army - AKA Indian National Army

The Indian National Army (I.N.A) or Azad Hind Fauj was an auxiliary force to the Imperial Japanese Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Japanese_Army) in its southern mainland campaign during the Second World War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II). It consisted mostly of Indian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India) prisoners of war (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoners_of_war) who, in the course of service in the Indian Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Indian_Army), had been captured by Axis forces (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_powers), although a significant portion were recruited from Indian civilians in Japanese-controlled Malaya (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaya) and Burma (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma).

..
Background

The focus of the I.N.A. was the idea that as I.N.A. troops entered India, they could convince Indian army troops in India to join the I.N.A.. Along with popular civilian support, they could ultimately loosen British control of India. The I.N.A. literally planned to march to Delhi from the India/Burma border and lead a popular uprising along the way.
The Japanese supported this idea, at times more or less, but sufficiently to provide material support to the formation of the I.N.A. in Japanese controlled territory in Asia, notably Malaya and Burma. Although the Japanese had not seriously planned on invading India themselves, the idea that their western boundary would be controlled by a more friendly government was attractive. It was also reconciled with the idea that Japanese expansion into Asia was part of an effort to support Asian government of Asia, driving out Europeans, and was useful to support this propaganda.
The I.N.A. was formally the military of the Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind, the Provisional Government of Free India.
.............
Troop Strength

Although there are slight variations in estimates, the I.N.A. is considered to have comprised about 40,000 troops when it was disbanded. The following is an estimate attributed to Lt. Colonel G.D. Anderson of British intelligence:
There were 45,000 Indian troops from Malaya captured and assembled in Singapore when the Japanese captured it. Of these, about 5,000 refused to join the I.N.A. The I.N.A. at this time had 40,000 recruits.
The Japanese were prepared to arm 16,000. When the "first I.N.A." collapsed, about 4,000 withdrew.
The "second I.N.A.", commanded by Subhas Chandra Bose, started with 12,000 troops.
Further recruitment of ex-Indian army personnel added about 8,000-10,000. About 18,000 Indian civilians enlisted during this time. In 1945, at the end of the I.N.A., it consisted of about 40,000.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Army

i have read about that, however .. there was another army lead by subhash chander bose during the second war that helped the axis and even sent some troops to help the germans out (dont think they got much action but rather were coolies)

however
Azad Hindoustan Battalion (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Azad_Hindoustan_Battalion&action=edit) < Indian Volunteers in the German Wehrmacht >
http://www.feldgrau.com/azadhind.html The order of battle of the Battaglione Azad Hindoustan in August 1942[7] was as follows: Compagnie Fucilieri (a motorized rifle company consisting of Indians), Compagnie Mitraglieri (a motorized machinegun company consisting of Indians), Platone Paracadutisti (a parachute platoon consisting of Indians), and an Overseas Italian Platoon

However, despite their investment in the Indian's training the Italians considered the Indian troops of Battaglione Azad Hindoustan to be of doubtful loyalty and this view was confirmed when the Indians mutinied on learning of the Axis defeat at El Alamein in November 1942. Following this the battalion was disbanded and the Indians returned to their prisoner-of-war camps.[8]

Thus ended the disappointing Italian efforts to recruit Indians for service in the Axis armed forces. But their German partners, who began to recruit Indians earlier, were not put off by the negative Italian experience as they possessed a trump card not available to their Mediterranean allies.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was a lawyer from Calcutta and an ex-president of the Indian National Congress who was a major rival to Mahatma Gandhi for the popular leadership of the movement to end British rule in India. Unlike Gandhi, however, Bose was a not averse to the use of violence in the achievement of Indian independence. Using the old adage that "my enemy's enemy is my friend", Bose saw war between Britain and Germany as an opportunity to advance the cause of India's independence from the British Empire.


and Legion Freies Indien (also Azad Hind Legion and Indian Infantry Regiment 950), a later effort in Nazi Germany to form units with Indian prisoners convinced by Bose.

http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=2157
Infanterie-Regiment 950 (indische), or Legion Freies Indien, was formed 26 Aug 1942 from Indian volunteers fighting in the British 3rd (Indian) Motorised Brigade and other units captured in North Africa. It should also be noted that not all were volunteers, many were also pressured to join the unit.
The Indians were recruited with the help of Subhas Chandra Bose, ex-president of the Indian National Congress, who had escaped India despite British surveillance.

Apr 1943 it was transferred to Beverloo, Belgium, were it was attached to 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division. (http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=2694) A large number of men of the 3rd company, 1st battalion, refused to follow orders and go to the Netherlands, this ended with 47 of them being court-martialled and sent back to the POW-camps.
Aug 1943 it was sent to Bordeaux, France, and was attached to 344. Infanterie-Division (http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=3921). When that division was sent to northern France, the Indians remained and was attached to 159. Infanterie-Division (http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=2382).

21 Jan 1943 it was made part of the Japanese sponsored Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army), an "army" that would grow to include 3 divisions with a total of 33.000 men. Bose had left Germany Feb 1943 on U-180 from Kiel and met up with the Japanese submarine I-29 near Madagascar, reaching Japan occupied Sumatra 6 May. He then travelled to Tokyo were he got involved with Japanese plans. He did of the wounds he suffered in a airplane crash after take-off from Taipei, Formosa (Taiwan), 18 Aug 1945.

The 9th company, the one most reliable one, was sent to Italy in the spring of 1944 where it saw action against the British 5th Corps and the Polish 2nd Corps before it was withdrawn from the front to be used in antipartisan operations. It surrendered to the Allied forces Apr 1945, still in Italy.

Following the allied landings in Normandy the activities of the partisans, Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur (FFI), began to increase and as the Allies advanced the Indians withdrew, loosing men both through combat and desertions.

It was transferred to the Waffen-SS in Aug 1944 and was redesignated Indische Freiwilligen Legion der Waffen-SS (http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=1720).

Italy also recruited Indians for their forces, they served in Battaglione Azad Hindostan of the Raggruppamento Centri Militari (http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=5800).
http://www.axishistory.com/clear.gif
Area of operations Germany (Aug 1942 - Apr 1943) Holland (Apr 1943 - Sep 1943) France (Sep 1943 - Aug 1944) http://www.axishistory.com/clear.gif

Order of battle
I. Bataillon
II. Bataillon
III. Bataillon
13. Infanteriegeschütz Kompanie
14. Panzerjäger Kompanie
15. Pionier Kompanie
Sonderkompanie


however i havent heard of a west indies force

[Silent_Hunter]

Don't you mean Indian volunteers ?

Not for Indian Volunteers but Indonesian volunteers including Javanese, Batak, Bugis, Papuan, Sunda, others , in Waffen SS

[nata4190]

Not for Indian Volunteers but Indonesian volunteers including Javanese, Batak, Bugis, Papuan, Sunda, others , in Waffen SS
Honestly, I have never heard of Indonesians in the Waffen SS.

[Silent_Hunter]

You can see :
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=97482

[Silent_Hunter]

I have a photo of one in one of my books. The photo came from Mark Bando, the American researcher of American Airborne units. In the course of his research into the 101st Airborne Division, he met with Wilson Boback, who had fought in the Netherlands during Market-Garden in September 1944. Boback's unit came into contact with part of the Landstorm Nederland, and Boback killed a man from the LN and then searched his body. He took from it a photo of the man, who was obviously Indonesian (or part), which showed him in the uniform of the Legion Nederland (wolf's hook collar patch, Dutch made armshield and cufftitle), along with the flaming grenade helmet decal of the LN.

This shows there was at least one Indonesian in the Waffen-SS, and it is likely at least a few similar cases existed.

[Silent_Hunter]

I have a photo of one in one of my books. The photo came from Mark Bando, the American researcher of American Airborne units. In the course of his research into the 101st Airborne Division, he met with Wilson Boback, who had fought in the Netherlands during Market-Garden in September 1944. Boback's unit came into contact with part of the Landstorm Nederland, and Boback killed a man from the LN and then searched his body. He took from it a photo of the man, who was obviously Indonesian (or part), which showed him in the uniform of the Legion Nederland (wolf's hook collar patch, Dutch made armshield and cufftitle), along with the flaming grenade helmet decal of the LN.

This shows there was at least one Indonesian in the Waffen-SS, and it is likely at least a few similar cases existed.

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/4465/indonesiandutchssvolunteer1lk.jpg

Rare picture of an Indonesian volunteer in the Dutch SS

For more info..., visit here :

http://www.geocities.com/alvinlee_81/WarPics1.html (http://www.geocities.com/alvinlee_81/WarPics1.html)