Indische Freiwilligen Legion der Waffen-SS was formed when Infanterie-Regiment 950 (indische) was transferred from Heer to Waffen-SS control 8 Aug 1944 and continued its retreat towards Germany.

It remained at Truppenübungsplatz Heuberg until Mar 1945 when the Indians began a march towards neutral Switzerland but they were forced to surrender to US and French troops before reaching their goal.

Known war crimes

29 POWs from this unit were killed by French partisans at Poitiers 22 September 1944 and additional POWs were killed later at Bourges and Levet.

Order of battle

I. Bataillon

II. Bataillon

III. Bataillon

13. Infanteriegeschütz Kompanie

14. Panzerjäger Kompanie

15. Pionier Kompanie

Ehrenwachkompanie

Insignia

A collar insignia with a tiger's head was authorized but most likely not issued.

Flag of Legion Freies Indien

Illustration © Flags Of The World

Obergefreiter of Legion Freies Indien

(Courtesy of Joe Imwalle)

Soldier of Legion Freies Indien

(Courtesy of Thomas S)

Sources used

John R. Angolia - Cloth insignia of the SS

Dr. K-G Klietmann - Die Waffen-SS: eine Dokumentation

Peter Lieb - Konventioneller Krieg oder NS-Weltanschauungskrieg?: Kriegführung und Partisanenbekämpfung in Frankreich 1943/44

David Littlejohn - The Indian Legion (in The Military Advisor, Vol 6 No 3)

David Littlejohn - Foreign Legions of the Third Reich, vol 4

Antonio J. Munoz - The East came West: Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist Volunteers in the German Armed Forces 1941-1945

Frank Thayer - SS Foreign volunteer collar insignia and their reporductions (in The Military Advisor, Vol 4 No 2)

Reference material on this unit

Massimiliano Afiero - Indische Freiwilligen Legion der Waffen SS

Rudolf Hartog - The Sign of the Tiger: Subhas Chandra Bose And His Indian Legion in Germany, 1941-45

Antonio J. Munoz - The East came West: Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist Volunteers in the German Armed Forces 1941-1945