For other periods, see British Indian Army. For Indians fighting with Imperial Japan, see Indian National Army. For Indians fighting with Nazi Germany, see Indian Legion.
Indian Army
New Indian Army recruits
Active
1895–1947
Country
India
Allegiance
British Empire
Type
Army
Size
2.5 million men
Headquarters
GHQ India (Delhi)
Commanders
Notable commanders
Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell Claude Auchinleck
Military unit
The Indian Army during World War II, a British force also referred to as the British Indian Army,[1] began the war, in 1939, numbering just under 200,000 men.[2] By the end of the war, it had become the largest volunteer army in history, rising to over 2.5 million men in August 1945.[2][3] Serving in divisions of infantry, armour and a fledgling airborne force, they fought on three continents in Africa, Europe and Asia.[2]
The army fought in Ethiopia against the Italian Army, in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria against both the Italian and German armies, and, after the Italian surrender, against the German Army in Italy. However, the bulk of the Indian Army was committed to fighting the Japanese Army, first during the British defeats in Malaya and the retreat from Burma to the Indian border; later, after resting and refitting for the victorious advance back into Burma, as part of the largest British Empire army ever formed. These campaigns cost the lives of over 87,000 Indian servicemen, while 34,354 were wounded, and 67,340 became prisoners of war.[4][5] Their valour was recognised with the award of some 4,000 decorations, and 18 members of the Indian Army were awarded the Victoria Cross or the George Cross. Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from 1942, asserted that the British "couldn't have come through both wars (World War I and II) if they hadn't had the Indian Army."[6][7] British Prime Minister Winston Churchill also paid tribute to "The unsurpassed bravery of Indian soldiers and officers."[6]
^"Indian Army personnel". The National Archives. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
^ abcSumner, p.25
^"Commonwealth War Graves Commission Report on India 2007–2008" (PDF). Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
^"Annual Report 2014-2015 by Commonwealth War Graves Commission - issuu". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
^Sumner, p.23
^ ab"The Indian Army in the Second World War - CWGC - Forever India". www.cwgc.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012.
^"Armed and ready". Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
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