Subhash Chandra Bose in Germany

Subhas Chandra Bose’s period in Germany (1941–1943) marked a critical phase in his struggle for India’s independence, during which he sought international support to overthrow British colonial rule. His time in Germany was characterised by diplomatic engagement with the Axis powers, the establishment of the Free India Centre, and the formation of the Indian Legion. Bose’s activities in Europe reflected his strategic vision of globalising India’s freedom struggle and leveraging the geopolitical turmoil of the Second World War to advance national liberation.

Background and Escape to Europe

After his differences with Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress leadership, Subhas Chandra Bose found himself under close British surveillance in India. In January 1941, he made a daring escape from house arrest in Calcutta, travelling incognito across India to Kabul and then through Soviet-controlled Central Asia. His ultimate destination was Nazi Germany, which he believed could provide the political and military backing needed to challenge the British Empire in India.
Bose reached Berlin in April 1941 via Moscow. At that time, Germany was at war with Britain but had not yet invaded the Soviet Union. His arrival was facilitated by German diplomats sympathetic to his cause, and soon he began his efforts to seek recognition for India’s independence movement from the Axis powers.

Diplomatic Engagement with Nazi Germany

Upon his arrival, Bose met officials from the German Foreign Office, particularly Adam von Trott zu Solz and Ernst Woermann, who were responsible for overseeing relations with colonial and nationalist movements. He also established contact with Joachim von Ribbentrop, the German Foreign Minister. Bose’s principal demand was for the Axis powers to formally recognise an independent India and to provide military and logistical assistance for a national uprising against British rule.
He presented his political vision through the formation of the Free India Centre in Berlin in November 1941, which served as the diplomatic mission of a future independent Indian government. The German government permitted Bose to broadcast anti-British propaganda through Radio Berlin, where he delivered speeches in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Bengali, and Urdu, urging Indians to rise against colonial oppression.
Bose was accorded the title Netaji (“Respected Leader”) by his supporters, a name that became synonymous with his leadership of the Indian independence movement abroad. However, while the Nazis were willing to use Bose’s movement for propaganda purposes, they did not extend full military or political support for a large-scale operation in India. Hitler and the German High Command viewed India as peripheral to their European campaigns.

The Free India Centre and Azad Hind

The Free India Centre, established under Bose’s leadership, functioned as the nucleus of the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind). It issued identity cards, postage stamps, and currency notes symbolising the sovereignty of an independent India. The Centre also published materials and organised cultural events to mobilise support among Indians living in Europe and among the prisoners of war (POWs) captured from the British Indian Army in North Africa.
Bose’s political manifesto articulated his vision of a free, socialist, and united India, rejecting both British imperialism and Western capitalism. Through his broadcasts and writings, he sought to inspire both Indians and global audiences with the message that India’s liberation was part of a broader struggle against colonialism and oppression.

Formation of the Indian Legion (Indische Legion)

One of Bose’s most significant achievements in Germany was the creation of the Indian Legion, also known as the Free India Legion (Indische Legion). Established in 1942, the Legion was composed mainly of Indian prisoners of war captured by German forces in North Africa. Its strength eventually grew to around 3,000 soldiers.
The unit was formally part of the German Wehrmacht, though it operated under Indian officers loyal to Bose and under his political leadership. The soldiers swore an oath of allegiance not to Adolf Hitler personally, but to the cause of India’s independence and to Subhas Chandra Bose as the leader of Free India.
The Legion was initially stationed in Germany and later deployed in the Netherlands, France, and Italy. Although it was primarily used for security and training duties rather than combat in India, Bose’s intention was to prepare these troops for a future invasion of British India through the Middle East or the Caucasus. The plan, however, never materialised due to Germany’s deteriorating position in the war.

Meeting with Adolf Hitler

In May 1942, Bose met Adolf Hitler at the Führer’s headquarters in Rastenburg, East Prussia. During this meeting, Bose reiterated his appeal for military assistance to liberate India and sought recognition for the Provisional Government of Free India. Hitler, while expressing admiration for Bose’s determination, was reluctant to commit substantial resources to the Indian cause. He believed that the time was not yet ripe for such an operation, as Germany’s focus remained on the Soviet front.
Although the meeting did not yield concrete military results, it symbolised Bose’s unrelenting efforts to internationalise India’s independence struggle. Hitler’s scepticism about India’s readiness for independence and his Eurocentric geopolitical strategy limited the extent of German cooperation.

Propaganda and Public Diplomacy

Through Radio Berlin, Bose reached millions of Indian listeners, broadcasting under the banner of “Azad Hind Radio.” His speeches were characterised by their passionate appeal for national unity, sacrifice, and revolt against the British. He also utilised German media and press outlets to publicise the aims of the Indian independence movement to European and global audiences.
The Free India Centre issued publications in various languages, including English, German, and Hindi, emphasising India’s rich cultural heritage and the legitimacy of its demand for self-determination. Bose’s propaganda efforts were also directed at Indian students and expatriates in Europe, many of whom joined the cause as volunteers or cultural ambassadors.

Shift to Japan and the East

By late 1942, as the war situation in Europe turned against Germany, Bose realised that his objectives could not be achieved through the European Axis powers. He began exploring possibilities in East Asia, where Japan’s victories had created a large number of Indian prisoners of war and a politically favourable environment for anti-British movements.
In early 1943, Bose left Germany on a perilous submarine journey. He travelled on the German U-180 from Kiel to the Indian Ocean, where he was transferred to a Japanese submarine, eventually reaching Sumatra and then Tokyo. This marked the beginning of the next crucial phase of his struggle—the leadership of the Azad Hind Government and the Indian National Army (INA) in Southeast Asia.

Historical Significance

Subhas Chandra Bose’s time in Germany demonstrated his bold and pragmatic approach to India’s liberation movement. His willingness to engage with ideologically diverse powers reflected his belief that the enemy of Britain could be a potential ally for India’s freedom. Though his alliance with Nazi Germany remains controversial, it was driven not by ideological affinity but by strategic necessity.
The period in Germany laid the institutional and ideological groundwork for the Azad Hind movement that later took full form in Asia. The Indian Legion represented the first organised attempt to create a national army outside India to fight for its independence.