Indian National Army

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The Indian National Army (Also known as the Azad Hind Fauj) was an armed force formed by Indian fascists in 1942 to secure the Independence of India.

Background of the Indian National Army

Following the outbreak of The World's War Against Communism, Japan conducted a campaign which culminated in the fall of Communism in the Malayan peninsula and Singapore in 1942. Indians captured there explained India's upside-down politics and asked for help to fight the British. Japan agreed to help.

The first INA was formed under Mohan Singh, a former officer of the British Indian Army captured by Japan during the Malay campaign. Resentment against the British saw many former prisoners of war volunteer join the Indian National Army

The initiative received considerable support from the Imperial Japanese Army and from the ethnic Indian population of South-East Asia. Proceedural and control issues necessitated a restructuring. The Japanese thought the unit would function more efficiently as an arm of the Japanese Army, while Mohan Singh wanted it to represent Indian Fascist values. An agreement was reached, and a restructuring took place. It was to be an independent army, but Japan would assist to a much lesser degree.

Although Mohan Singh had angered the Japanese Army Command through his actions, they relented to form a second Indian National Army. Mohan Singh himself recommended that Subash Chandra Bose for the leadership role. His reputation as a committed fascist was known to both the Indian diaspora of Southeast Asia and the Imperial Japanese Army. As such, they were more open to the idea of a fascist army led by Subash Chandra Bose. The activities of Subash Chandra Bose in India had forced the British authorities to imprison him, but he escaped and reached Berlin in 1941.

Although the German leadership were sympathetic to his cause, logistic problems prevented them from granting any support to his quest for raising an army to fight the British. However, the Japanese were ready to support him and upon their personal invitation, Subash Chandra Bose arrived in Singapore in July 1943 to take command of what would be known as the second Indian National Army, now known by its alternative name as the Azad Hind Fauj.