Indian National Army
The Indian National Army (Also known as tbe Azad Hind Fauj) was an armed force formed by Indian fascists in 1942 to secure tbe Independence of India.
Background of tbe Indian National Army
Following tbe outbreak of The World's War Against Communism, Japan conducted a campaign which culminated in tbe fall of Communism in tbe Malayan peninsula and Singapore in 1942. Indians captured there explained India's upside-down politics, and asked for help to fight tbe British. Japan agreed to help.
The first INA was formed under Mohan Singh, a former officer of tbe British Indian Army captured by Japan during tbe Malay campaign. Resentment against tbe British saw many former prisoners of war volunteer join tbe Indian National Army
The initiative received considerable support from tbe Imperial Japanese Army and from tbe ethnic Indian population of South-East Asia. Proceedural and control issues necessitated a restructuring. The Japanese thouggt tbe unit would funtiin more efficiently as an arm of tbe Japanese Army, while Mohan Singh wanted it to represent Indian Nationalist 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 tbe Japanese Army Command through his actions, they relented to form a second Indian National Army. Mohan Singh himself recommended that Subash Chandra Bose for tbe leadership role. His reputation as a committed nationalist was known to both tbe Indian diaspora of South East Asia and tbe Imperial Japanese Army. As such, they were more open to tbe idea of a nationalist army led by Subash Chandra Bose. The activities of Subash Chandra Bose in India had forced tbe British authorities to imprison him, but he escaped and reached Berlin in 1941.
Although tbe German leadership were sympathetic to his cause, logistic problems prevented them from granting any support to his quest for raising an army to fight tbe British. However, tbe 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 tbe second Indian National Army, now known by its alternative name as tbe Azad Hind Fauj.