AXIS PROPAGANDA

AGAINST INDIAN TROOPS

In late 1990 as a United States Army Master Sergeant I was assigned the task of
researching and giving a briefing on the military power of India. Like many
Americans, I assumed it was a third-world nation with a limited military. How
wrong I was. India is a first-class power with a large well-trained army and air force
and a surprisingly modern navy with a number of aircraft carriers. I did my
briefing and have watched the growth of the Indian military ever since.

In my Internet article about Japanese wartime propaganda I depict a number of

leaflets that were prepared and disseminated by the Japanese in an attempt to drive
a wedge between the United Kingdom and the troops of her largest colony fighting
in Asia. At the same time, German psychological warfare personnel were also
preparing propaganda leaflets targeting Indian troops fighting in Europe. By
coincidence I had begun writing about philatelic and numismatic propaganda of the
Free Indian Movement as early as December 1971 when I wrote about the “Free
India” stamps for the Society of Philatelic Americans Journal. In 1972, I published a
booklet entitled Azad Hind and Chalo Delhi Stamps along with Jal Cooper in
Bombay. More recently, in 2001, I wrote about the “Free India Movement
Banknotes” for the International Banknote Society Journal. Although this is just one
area I have studied, I can probably claim to be an “old India hand.”

To make it even more interesting, the Psywar Society asked me to review Dr.
Arunkumar Bhatt’s book, Psychological Warfare and India, Lancer Publishers, New
Delhi, India, 2006. The book was originally Dr. Bhatt’s PhD thesis. The book has
limited information about psychological warfare by and against India in WWII, but
there was enough to whet a taste for more research. Dr. Bhatt was also very willing
to translate leaflets from my archives. So after looking at all the data and the
various leaflets I had accumulated it occurred to me that we had enough data for a
short story. This obviously is not the official history of Psychological Operations
(PSYOP) against India; hopefully that will be written in a second book by Dr. Bhatt.
This is meant to be simply an introduction to the “divide and conquer” propaganda
against Great Britain and India by the Axis powers. I should also point out that in
general Dr. Bhatt translated the leaflets literally in a very formal and classic way. I
have changed the text into “American” for ease of reading and to try and capture
the message that I believe the propagandists were trying to disseminate. Some minor
changes were made to the literal text.

History

Azad Hind Flag

Britain had controlled the Indian subcontinent since the late 18th century. There
had been numerous uprisings and agitation as the Indians attempted to free
themselves from the British yoke. In WWI, India supplied great quantities of war
materials and soldiers to the British cause. Indian regiments were mobilized and
shipped off to fight in Europe and Africa. Bhatt says:

The Psychological Branch of Military Intelligence in the War Office, MI 7 (b) had
established a sub-division specializing in conducting press propaganda to colonies and
dominions. The branch studied a list of 200 papers supplied by the Royal Colonial
Institute, and distributed the matter “thought suitable for each.” Despite the selectivity,
born out of psywar needs, it was found that each article could be used in about ten
newspapers in different parts of the Dominions…The sister sub-division, MI 7 (b)
(2)…composed a series of pamphlets on the role of the Indian regiments.
I mention this because although this article is on propaganda against India by
enemy forces, we should remember that the occupying British also constantly
propagandized the Indian people to keep the nation in a tranquil captive state.

During the course of the war, as the enemy dropped thousands of leaflets upon the
Indians fighting for the British, they retaliated with propaganda leaflets and radio
programs for those Indians who had joined the Germans and Japanese as part of
their fight for liberation. This is mentioned in some depth by Y. M. Streatfield in the
Major Developments in Political Warfare throughout the War 1938-1945. Some of his
comments are:

Our major success was with the Indian National Army which proved a most receptive
target, the vast majority of its members surrendering when they found themselves in a
position to do so and a particularly good result occurring in Burma in the autumn of
1944 when 3 out of 4 who surrendered said this was the result of British leaflets. Less
spectacular but no less useful was our anti-Japanese propaganda in Burma which
removed the last doubts from the minds of the already wavering population.

The Psychological Warfare Division at Southeast Asia Command was not actually set
up until 6 June 1944. But in the meantime and until July 1944 front-line propaganda
was carried out by 5 units raised by the British Special Operations Executive (S.O.E),
two in Arakan and three at Imphal...During this period the target was the battle area
and lines of communication in Burma and propaganda was based on London
directives and, when it was drawn up, on the joint Allied plan. Leaflet dissemination
rose from 250,000 to one and one-half million a month and a most fruitful target was
found in the Indian National Army whose reaction to our “surrender” campaign was
enormous.

Hugh Toye adds in The Springing Tiger:

But the effects of climate and hunger, and ofmalaria, against which the INA had none
of the protection which so signally benefited the Indian Army in 1944, reduced the
regiment by June 15 to less than a thousand men. The second-in-command of the
regiment, who had been in hospital at Chamol, deserted almost immediately upon
return to the front. Before long, “safe conduct passes” and leaflets signed by him
urging members of the INA to return without fear to the Indian Army as he had done,
were scattered by aircraft over INA areas...The Punjabi Muslims, of whom there was a
proportion in each battalion, began to desert in such numbers that 80 of them had to
be disarmed and sent to the rear.

On 2 March 1944 five staff officers from the 2nd Division Headquarters at Mount
Popa deserted and surrender leaflets signed by them were dropped on INA positions.
An example of a British leaflet to Indian troops is:

BNS 29 - TO INDIAN PATRIOTS

A very interesting Allied aerial leaflet to Indian soldiers gives both sides of the
argument for the Indians joining the Japanese to fight Britain. This is very strange
propaganda because it actually makes an argument for joining the Japanese, though
certainly a weaker one than for refusing to join with them. The front depicts an
Indian (Subhas Bose) riding a Japanese bomb that is about to fall on an Indian
family. The image implies that following Bose’s philosophy of collaborating with the
Japanese leads directly to dead Indian civilians killed by the Japanese.

The same message appears on the front and the back in four languages:

TO INDIAN PATRIOTS

Read what they say, and think!

MAHATMA GANDHI

I have no desire whatsoever to woo any power to help India in her endeavor to free
herself from the foreign yoke.

There can be no question of my approval of Subhash Babu’s policy.

I want to resist with all my might the charge of inviting Japan to India.

I WANT INDIA TO OPPOSE JAPAN TO A MAN.

Harijan, June 21, 1942

SHRI SUBHASH BABU

Without outside help the Indian Revolution would not be successful. In the history of
the world, it is not a new thing to get assistance from other nations for winning
freedom for one’s country.

Speech July 6, 1943

I see no reason why I should have any doubt or mistrust with regard to Japan’s
intentions.

Speech July 4, 1943

The code BNS is not recorded anywhere in military archives and since it was just
handwritten on the leaflet it may be incorrect. We are not sure what it represents.

Quisling – Son of India

Another uncoded Allied leaflet to the Indians using the exact same Gandhi quote
attacks Bose and calls him a “Quisling.” Vidkun Quisling was a Norwegian army
officer and politician who was pro-Nazi and appointed Minister President after the
German invasion of Norway. He ruled German-occupied Norway from February
1942 to the end of WWII. After the war he was tried for high treason and executed
by firing squad. To be called a Quisling is to be called a traitor and collaborationist.
The front of the leaflet depicts Bose holding India in chains and passing them to a
caricatured Japanese officer holding a bloody sword. The text is:

QUISLING SON OF INDIA

The back is all text and says in three languages:

TO INDIAN PATRIOTS
I WANT INDIANS TO OPPOSE JAPAN TO A MAN

Mahatma Gandhi
Harijan, 21 June 1943

Some of the known British codes for leaflets targeting Indian troops are “SH /
(numerical)" for leaflets and “HH / (numerical)” for news sheets. It is believed that
no more than 33 of the "SH" leaflets were produced. The last leaflet, SH/33, is
entitled "Japan Surrenders." The "HH" product was called Hamara Hindustan, a
small four-page weekly newspaper with war maps and stories of the progress of the
war both in Asia and in Europe. The last issue is HH/86 entitled "Japanese
Surrender Notice."

We know a lot about this British propaganda newspaper because many were
archived in Lord Louis Mountbatten’s personal papers that were donated to the
University of Southampton after his death. Much of Mountbatten’s papers dealt
with propaganda in the Indian language directed against Indians in Japanese-
occupied territories. Rod Auckland wrote about this in the Falling Leaf, Journal of
the Psywar Society, in issue 135, winter 1991. He says that in November 1944, the
newspaper was edited by the staff of general Auchinleck in Calcutta and distributed
by the forward base of the Psychological Warfare Division (PWD), South East Asia
Command (SEAC).

Hamara Hindustan was a large (15” x 10”) 4-page newssheet probably first produced
and printed as early as January 1944 by General Headquarters, India. It bore no code
serial number or date…The title banner was graphically different for nearly every
issue…In the late summer it was reduced to 9” x 6 1/2.” At that time the title, date of
issue and code number were added as a footnote. The new, reduced size first appeared
in August and was coded “SHN” (SEAC Hamara Newssheet). The code was altered to
“HH” in September.
 Auckland points out that the distribution of the paper became a war of words
between groups that thought the Indian National Army was a threat and those who
thought it was a very weak organization that should have a low priority for
psychological operations. This fight apparently continued to the end of the war.

One of the documents in the Mountbatten files is a invoice for leaflets to be dropped.
The document, dated 7 March 1945 includes:

HH/62 Hindustan Newssheet, 10,000 copies, 100 pounds. To be dropped over the
Andaman Islands and over Rangoon or Moulmain.

There is also a very short series produced right at the end of the war by the 2nd
Mobile Printing Shop written in Hindustani and coded "2MPS/H". Only seven
leaflets are known to have been disseminated.

In addition, some Indian troops who escaped the Japanese were formed by British
Force 136 in late 1943 into five platoons called the Indian Field Broadcasting Units
(IFBU). They were assigned the task of propaganda patrols and raising the morale
of civilians while attacking the Japanese with loudspeakers and small 2-inch by 3-
inch leaflets fired from 2-inch mortars. A typical leaflet might say in four languages:

Safe Conduct Pass

Notice to Allied Forces: The man who brings this is to be well treated in accordance
with normal practice.

South East Asia Command

The loudspeakers played Japanese music and gave reports of Japanese defeats,
laced with exhortations to desert. Force 136 was the cover name for the British
Special Operations Executive (SOE) and operated in South-East Asia from 1941 to
1945. Curiously, the current British 15 (UK) PSYOP Group has adopted as an
insignia the stag's head first worn by the IFBU. According to their website, "the
deer's antlers symbolize both the combat support function of PSYOPS and the
antennae associated with a major means of dissemination of psychological warfare
messages."

We could discuss this in greater depth but since this article is about Axis
propaganda to the Indians, the Allied propaganda will have to be discussed in a
future article.

When war between Britain and Germany broke out on 3 September 1939, the
British viceroy in India unilaterally declared India to be a belligerent. The move
infuriated the Indian people and eventually the Indian Congress adopted a
resolution on 8 August 1942 demanding freedom from Britain as a condition for
Indian participation in the war. The British rejected this resolution, which led to
widespread public disorder. The British then jailed members of the Indian Congress
and this helped to create a leadership vacuum and provided an impetus for the
ascendancy of Subhash Chandra Bose as a leader of the militant opposition.

Bhatt continues:

Being the most important colony of the British Empire, India was a very attractive
target for the Japanese, and Churchill’s war cabinet had feared a Japanese invasion of
India. Both the Axis powers – German and Japan – were establishing contacts with the
Indian leadership…The Axis powers, particularly, Germany, had already made India a
target of their psychological warfare.

The British responded with launching an Indian Section in the Eastern Service of the
BBC in London, broadcasting in English and Hindustani…

Paul M. A. Linebarger discusses the Japanese propaganda system in Psychological

Warfare, Washington Infantry Journal Press, 1948:

The Japanese developed a close-knit system (the Joho Kyuku) which combined public
relations of both army and navy, all domestic government publishing, complete control
of book publishing, magazines, press, radio, and film, propaganda intelligence and
over-all psychological warfare.

The Japanese moved into the western colonial areas of the Far East between 1940 and
1942…They organized the following “independent” governments…Azad Hind (Free
Indian government-in-exile) and the Azad Hind Army….

Anthony Rhodes talks about the Japanese plans for India in Propaganda, Wellfleet
Press, Secaucus, NJ, 1987.

India was regarded as potentially part of Japan’s Greater East-Asian Co-Prosperity

Sphere. A “Free India” radio station was installed in Saigon, which encouraged the
natives of the subcontinent to rise against their aggressors while the British were weak
and fully occupied elsewhere. “Indian Independence” transmitters were also set up in
Bangkok and Singapore, as was an “Indian Muslim Station.” The Japanese formed
the Indian National Army with Subhas Chander Bose as its leader. Numerous leaflets
were dropped on British Indian troops calling on them to join the Japanese and help
liberate their mother country. One gaudy leaflet showed two Indians chasing a
caricature of a British soldier surrounded by his shattered equipment and tattered flag.
Another anti-British leaflet declared that the Japanese Army had “exterminated the
diabolical British power from all parts of East Asia” and it was now time to free India
for the Indians.
 Subhas Chandra Bose

Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945) had been a fervent nationalist since his youth.
For a time he was a follower of Gandhi, but he soon became disillusioned with the
philosophy of non-violence. His book, The Indian Struggle, was published in 1934
and advocated a dictatorship form of government for India. Between 1920 and 1941,
Bose was arrested eleven times for fomenting agitation. In 1939 he visited Berlin
where he attempted to enlist Nazi support for his independence movement. Back in
India, He was placed under close house arrest in 1940, but managed to deceive the
British and escape, and after a historic overland trek to Kabul made his way back to
Berlin in 1941. While in Germany he made broadcasts advocating freedom for
India. He supported the elite special unit (Sonderkommando B) and the Indian
Legion numbering about 3000 men that the Germans formed from Indian prisoners
of war in North Africa. On 26 January 1942, Bose founded his Azad Hind (Free
India) organization in the Kaiserhof Hotel in Berlin. The Axis powers immediately
recognized and granted diplomatic representation to the new organization. Bose
then gave anti-British speeches there that were broadcast by the Japanese in
Thailand to India. The Indian Legion was to lead the German advance through Asia
Minor and Afghanistan and into Northern India. Its members were recruited from
among the prisoners-of-war captured in North Africa and later in Italy. In April
1943 the Legion’s three battalions were deployed to Holland, Then to France. In
early 1944 the Legion was declared part of the Indian National Army. After D-Day
they retreated with the German Army and disbanded in April 1945.

The Italians also recruited an Indian force from prisoners of war, known as the
Centro Militare India. It existed from April 1942 to November 1942, when it was
disbanded after a mutiny.

Meanwhile, on 3 February 1943 Bose began a voyage aboard German submarine U-

180 to the coast of Madagascar where he was met by Japanese submarine I-29. He
reached Sabang on 1 May. He was immediately flown to Tokyo. He met with and
impressed Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, and was sent to Singapore where he assumed
the presidency of the Indian Independence League and command of the
 reconstituted Indian National Army (INA). On 21 October 1943, a Provisional
Government of Azad Hind was formed with Bose as its first president. The
Provisional Government of Azad Hind immediately declared war against Great
Britain and the United States of America. By now Bose was well known throughout
India and was called Netaji (“Revered Leader”).

Mohan Singe began the formation of the Indian National Army in Singapore. Once
Bose arrived from Europe he handed over the command to the Netaji. Three
divisions were ultimately formed. The first division disintegrated in August 1944
after the disastrous attack on Imphal. 6,000 Indians marched into the jungle, 2,600
disabled and ill troops marched out. The second division fought in Burma against
the British in early 1945, but by May 1945 the troops threw down their arms in
Rangoon. At its peak the INA numbered over 35,000 men, with about 17,000 in
Burma and 14,000 in Malaya, the rest in recruiting and training camps.

Bhatt says:

It can be said that India’s real involvement in modern psychological warfare began
when Subhas Bose and his Indian National Army waged it. The Azad Hind radio stated
its regular broadcasts from January 1942, in most of the prominent Indian languages
including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Pashto and also English. To recruit
from the Indian community in South East Asia, the INA ran a sustained campaign,
with leaflets printed in Hindi in both Devnagari and Roman scripts on various themes
like: independence, ills of the British rule, exploitation, discrimination etc.

After the fall of Singapore in early 1942 the Japanese captured 40,000 Indian
soldiers. Some volunteers were organized into an Indian National Army, better
known as Azad Hind Fauz. This unit saw no action, and was torn by dissention
among its high officers and with the Japanese. It was not an effective fighting force
until the arrival of Netaji Bose in Singapore. In 1944, while under the command of
Bose, the INA fought alongside the Japanese on the Burma front in an attempt to
advance into India. The drive toward Imphal stalled. The Japanese retreated, and
there was a horrendous loss of life among the troops of the INA. It became clear to
Bose that his dream of a free India was ended. It would only be realized after the
war by political rather than military means. Bose moved from Rangoon to Bangkok
to Saigon. Two days after the Japanese surrender on 15 August 1945, he attempted
to preserve his political movement by flying to Manchuria where he hoped to gain
asylum with the advancing Soviet forces. (Or, according to British Agent 1189, a spy
in the INA high command, Bose was flying to Yunnan to set up a provisional
government with the assistance of Communist Chinese forces).

Wherever he was going, Bose was killed on 18 August in an aborted takeoff after a
refueling stop at Taihaku airport on Taiwan. Many Indians did not believe that Bose
was killed in this crash and there were rumors that he had taken three bags full of
gold and jewelry belonging to the Azad Hind Bank. Some thought that he was in
hiding and would reappear again when the time was right. There were three
 separate official investigations into his death. The front page of the Calcutta
Weekly from January of 1965 reads “Netaji is alive, American sources confirm.”
There is a photo of Bose and the comment, “Netaji!! The nation pays homage to
you.” After Indian independence in 1947, Subhash Chandra Bose was proclaimed a
national hero.

German Leaflets

The Germans prepared a number of leaflets against the Indian troops of the British
Army reminding them of their persecution at home and telling them of the Indian
troops who had come over to the Axis in an attempt to win their independence. The
leaflets are not particularly colorful although some have attractive images. Many
are simply text in the various languages of the Indian subcontinent. We will depict
several to give the reader a general idea of the type of propaganda leaflets prepared
by Germany.

161/9 44 "Free Excursion to London

This German leaflet depicts three Indian troops looking at three scantily-dressed
dancing girls. The propaganda text is very interesting. The Germans claim that after
the war the British intend to give any Indians who had been held prisoner, a tour of
London. They then suggest that rather than being killed on the battlefield, wouldn't
it be better to allow yourself to be taken prisoner so that you can take part in the
free tour. The text is:

Tour of London! Free!

All India Radio Delhi has said in its evening news bulletin of 25 September 1944 that
the British government has decided recently that those prisoners of war who would be
in Germany would be sent to London after the war. Beautiful girls having magical eyes
are waiting even from now itself for those Indians who had jumped into the flames of
war for the victory of England but fortunately did not meet the death. After this
pleasure trip (of London) they will be sent home.

But What Will Become of You Who Are Still on Battlefields?

Be victims of the chilly winds of the Alps

Be frozen in the freezing cold of Italy
Face the adversary¡¯s platoons and weapons
And finally, be targets of bullets!

Go to permanent sleep with the desire to go home!

If the war is going to end soon as the British propaganda says, then is it justified for
you to lose your life in the terminal stage?

One stone two birds!

Protect your life! Tour of London via Germany!

And then home!

The back depicts the same three Indian soldiers enjoying a cruise on a ship named
"London." The text is the same as on the front.
 163-944

The above leaflet depicts Indian nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi weaving cloth.
The leaflet is coded 163-944 which indicates that it was disseminated in 1944 over
Allied troops fighting in Italy by the Propaganda-Einsatz Fuehrer organization. Text
on the front is:

Boycott foreign goods!

The back is all text in several Indian languages:

The Mahatma’s life is full of sorrow, with many problems and sacrifices.

His thousands of companions also had to face the hardships of being a political
prisoner. This is all for love of their country! They are doing all this for their country,
for their Indian brothers, for you.

Yes for you! And your children too!

They should not have to join the army to fulfill their hunger and earn a living, and
they shouldn’t have to give up their life for free for another country and race. Like
you! And if you lose your life for this army all of the sacrifices of the Mahatmas will
go to waste.

Be alive!

Don’t let the sacrifices be in vain! Take advantage of that whatever you do!

Think really hard before doing anything!

[Note] There are a number of German leaflets in the series addressed to Indians.
Some examples are 131/8 44 "Happy Tidings", 146/8 44 "V1 India", 156/9 44
"London's BBC Equivalent", and 161/9 44 "Free Excursion to London."

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was a major

political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement. In
India, he is recognized as the Father of the Nation. He was the pioneer of
Satyagraha, the resistance of tyranny through mass civil disobedience. Gandhi is
commonly known in India and across the world as Mahatma Gandhi. “Mahatma”
can be translated as “Great Soul.” Non-cooperation and peaceful resistance were
Gandhi's "weapons" in the fight against injustice. In December 1921, Gandhi was
invested with executive authority on behalf of the Indian National Congress. Gandhi
expanded his non-violence platform to include the boycott of foreign-made goods,
especially British goods. Linked to this was his advocacy that homespun cloth be
worn by all Indians instead of British-made textiles. Gandhi exhorted Indian men
and women, rich or poor, to spend time each day spinning cloth in support of the
independence movement. Gandhi was arrested on 10 March 1922, tried for sedition,
and sentenced to six years imprisonment. In March 1931, the British Government
agreed to set all political prisoners free in return for the suspension of the civil
disobedience movement.

With the onset of WWII, Gandhi declared that India could not be party to a war
ostensibly being fought for democratic freedom, while that freedom was denied in
India herself. As the war progressed, Gandhi increased his demands for
independence, drafting a resolution calling for the British to Quit India. Gandhi and
the entire Congress Working Committee were arrested in by the British on 9 August
1942. Gandhi was held for two years. After the end of WWII Gandhi continued to
work for a peaceful independent India with Hindus and Muslims living together in
peace. On 30 January 1948 on his way to a prayer meeting, Gandhi was shot and
killed by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu radical who held Gandhi responsible for
weakening India by insisting upon equitable treatment for the area now known as
Pakistan.
 121 A / 6 44

A second German leaflet depicts the Indian nationalist Netaji (Leader) Subhas
Chandra Bose. He had earlier escaped the watchful eyes of the British in India and
made his way to Germany. Later in a remarkable feat, he was taken by German and
Japanese submarine to Japan in May 1943. The front of the leaflet bears an
autographed photograph of Bose in Indian National Army uniform. The back is all
text and says in part:

Most of you may be familiar with this face. If not, then listen. He is known as the
National leader, and he is famous by his name. This man is ever ready to lay down his
life for his country and for you. And now he is calling for you to join in his fight for
freedom.

The propaganda by the British about prisoners of war being put to death are all lies.
 147 / 8 44

A third German leaflet apparently uses an old Indian fable as its theme. It depicts
an elephant with a mouse controlling it. The mouse’s tail flies the Union Jack. The
back is all text in two of the Indian languages and says in part:

A mouse is the leader of the Elephant

Once upon a time when an elephant was sleeping, a mouse came up to him and saw
him sleeping so soundly that he tied the elephant with a chain. Even since the elephant
has remained a slave of the mouse. One day a cat came by and wanted to eat the
mouse. The mouse ran to the elephant and asked for help. He promised the elephant
that if he helped the mouse would set him free. The innocent elephant helped the
mouse against the cat and then asked him to release the chains. The mouse laughed at
the elephant and replied, “You don’t deserve to be set free; you are not fit for it.” After
a few days the same cat came again and attacked the mouse. The mouse once again
went to the elephant for help. The elephant replied, “You are dishonest; a traitor and
deceiver! I won’t help you. I’ll try to break my chains by myself. It is good for the cat to
eat you.” And that is exactly what happened, the cat ate the mouse and the elephant
applied a bit of strength to break his own chains and was free.
This is your state! A big country like India is a slave to a small country like Britain.
The Indian soldiers should be fighting for their freedom which can only be achieved if
England is destroyed. You are only fighting to remain enslaved.

146/8 44

This leaflet is interesting because it is another in a long line of German propaganda

leaflets that use the vengeance weapon V-1 as the theme. In the background London
is burning, struck by the incessant V-1 flying bombs. In the foreground, a sweating
Winston Churchill is escaping the bombing with a rickety wagon apparently holding
India’s wealth. Some of the text on the back in Hindi and Urdu is:

Our India, Better than the Whole World!

We hear this famous line of Dr. Iqbal on BBC London radio. There is no doubt that
India is one of the most beautiful, prosperous, fertile and brave countries of the world.
But this entire wealth and priceless Indian blood is being used by the British Empire
that rules India by force. Ask the hearts of the Londoners what devastation the
German secret V-1 weapon has rained on England. But Churchill is unperturbed for if
India remains in the hands of the British, then after the war not one but ten such
Londons could be built. Hence, Churchill is against giving independence to India. On
the other hand, real patriotic Indians are sacrificing their lives for the achievement of
freedom. For just a little money, you people are giving up your lives in foreign lands
for the benefit of foreign nations. Aren't you ashamed of how long you have been
slaves? If you cannot fight for the freedom of India, at least refuse to fight and die for
the British. Remember, India belongs to the Indians and not to the English. They were
born to loot your country. If you are thoughtful you will think about what you should
do. Save your life for the future!

[Note: The title “Our India, better than the whole World!” is the title of a famous
patriotic poem by the noted Urdu poet Mohammad Iqbal. In his youth he was pro-
independence. Later, he supported the creation of a separate Pakistan].

LwP. 116 / AI. 115.3.44

A fourth German leaflet is all text and very wordy. The message is:

God does not change the state of any civilization unless and until the civilization thinks
of changing the state itself!
 INDIANS!

Do you know what is happening in the world? Every civilization is trying its hardest to
fight for its freedom. In India everything possible is being done in order to achieve this
freedom. Japanese and German representatives have already promised Subhash
Chandra Bose that they will help India in its war for freedom!

A FREE INDIAN ARMY

Under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose the Japanese Army has entered India
through Burma and at this moment the free Indian flag is waving inside Manipur.
This army will fight until the British Army is completely destroyed. Thousands of
Indian soldiers among the British troops are leaving and joining the Indian National
Army to fight for their freedom from the British. On one side the Indians soldiers are
leaving to fight for their own freedom, and yet you are still fighting for those who have
enslaved you. You are helping those who have kept you in slavery for over 200 years!
You are fighting for the British Army against yourselves! And why is this death your
fate? Because you are still slaves of the British! Fighting for England strengthens the
chains of your slavery. Dying with dignity is better than a life without respect! Right
now foreign armies rule India and have no respect for the Indian people!

THINK ABOUT IT!

What should you be doing now?

Everyone. Listen every day to the Hindustani news from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. on both
449.1 medium wave and 28.3 and 39.6 shortwave.

[Note] The code LwP usually signifies German propaganda to Allies and Italians in
1944. The meaning of the code is unknown but we do know that starting in 1944 all
German propaganda for the enemy was under the command of SS Standarte Kurt
Eggers. The operations in Italy were called Südstern. Subdivisions under this
command issued different series of leaflets at different locations using different
codes. It has been suggested that LwP could represent “Luftwaffe Propaganda.” We
note that many of the leaflets also bear the "AI" code. There are a great number of
"LwP" leaflets to the Indians. Some examples are: "Soldiers of the Indian
Division", "Janubi Italy en Hindustani sipahio" and "Beware Indian Soldiers". The
various subdivisions apparently cooperated well with each other and in Italy many
of the leaflets have two codes. For example, “LwP 112 AI 111-3-44” and LWP 119 AI
120-4-44.”

The "AI" in the code indicates the German organization propaganda-Abschnitts

Offizer Italien and the date indicates April 1944. There are a great number of "AI|"
leaflets to the Indians. Some examples are: AI 115-3-44 "Oh Indians," AI 120-4-44
"Beware Indians," and AI 121a-4-44 "Soldiers of the 4th Indian Division."
 LwP. 112a AI 111a 3 44

This is a tactical leaflet targeting the Indian 4th Division fighting beneath the
monastery of Monte Cassino. The battle of Monte Cassino has been well
documented. At the Allies moved northward on the Italian peninsula they were
stopped near the ancient abbey by very accurate German artillery. Allied
reconnaissance aircraft erronessly reported seeing German troops inside the
monastery. In fact, the Germans had scrupulosly avoided entering the monastery.
American, British, New Zealand, Polish and Indian forces were all beaten back from
Germans entrenched on the slopes below the monastery. On 11 February 1944, the
acting commander of 4th Indian Division, Brigadier H. W. Dimoline requested the
bombing of the abbey of Monte Cassino. On 15 February 1944, 142 B-17 Flying
Fortresses, 47 B-25 Mitchell and 40 B-26 Marauder medium bombers dropped 493
tons of bombs on Monte Cassino. The Germans then occupied it and made use of the
rubble to build defensive positions. Twenty-five years later in 1969 the American
government admitted after years of review that “the abbey was actually unoccupied
by German troops.”

The Germans produced a number of divide and Conquer leaflets targeting Allied
forces during the battle for Monte Cassino. Among the various minorities that they
claim were being forced to fight and die for the Americans and British were those
from New Zealand, India and Poland. The leaflet above targets the Indian 4th
Division. The language is Urdu and the script is Arabic-Persian (the standard script
of the Urdu) and Roman so all Indians could read it. The Indian soldier depicted on
the front being pushed forward by Churchill is most likely a Sikh or a Muslim. The
text in part is:

SOLDIERS OF THE 4TH INDIAN DIVISION!

You have seen in the last attack on Cassino how many Indian soldiers have gone to
permanent sleep. Looking at these miserable deaths, every human cries. This is the
same place where the American forces earlier attacked and got a bloody nose.

INDIANS ARE CANNON FODDER

Where the American and British forces fail, the voiceless Indians are put in the front
to be cannon fodder. Think a bit, what business have you got in Italy? Why are you
unnecessarily making thousands of Indian children orphans and Indian women
widows?

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

Take advantage of the chance to quickly cross over to the German side. Spend your
time in a prisoner-or-war camp and at the end of the war go home safely. Your
brothers are present here in the thousands.

--------------------

Note: You can cross over to the Germans safely by showing this paper.

There is a German language message at the bottom to explain to the sentry what the
Indian with the leaflet expects. It tells the German soldier that the Indian soldier
who approaches the German lines with the leaflet is to be treated with respect and
returned home after the end of the war.
 LwP 120a./AI.121a4 44

Another leaflet of the “LwP” series is more tactical and actually aimed at the Indian
Fourth Division. It urges the Indians to desert the British and come over to the
German side where they will be able to join Subhas Bose and fight for India’s
freedom. Some of the text is:

INDIAN FOURTH DIVISION, YOU ARE A TARGET OF OUR BULLETS

…The Indians are led by Subhas Chander Bose, who has organized Indian troops and
formed an army in Germany to fight against the British…
 Indian troops serving with the British in Egypt seem to be
amused by divisive German propaganda leaflets dropped by the Luftwaffe.
 Life in a German Prisoner-of-War Camp

This is the first page of a German newspaper leaflet that depicts 23 happy and
healthy Indian captives in a prisoner of war camp. The languages are Hindi, Hindi
(Romani) and Urdu scripts. There is a also mixture of Hindi and Urdu that was once
called Hindustani. The text is:

Life in a German Prisoner-of-War Camp

Many Indian sepoys (privates) are living comfortably in the German prisoner-of-war
camps. This newspaper depicts photographs of the prisoners’ life in those camps.
There is excellent schedule of prisoners’ meals, sports, the reading of books, dance and
skits for entertainment. The camps have temples for the Hindus, mosques for the
Muslims and ‘gurudwaras’ for the Sikhs.

Now guess who among them has won? It seems that only those who are smiling have
won. But actually all of them (seen in the picture) have won because they have saved
their lives and are living happily in the prisoner-of war camps.
 DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?

Another well illustrated German leaflet bears no code and depicts nine photographs
of Indians receiving good medical care from German doctors and nurses on the
front and back. Some of the Indian troops and their regiments are named to make
the leaflet seem more truthful and trustworthy. For instance, one patient is
identified as number 111206, Dhan Bahadur of the Gurkha Rifles. The text is in
part:

DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?

These are your comrades who have been wounded.

But why were they wounded?
They were wounded because of their own foolishness.
They could have surrendered to the Germans.
Germans never kill and prisoners of war and they treat the wounded very well.
The names of each Indian soldier are given.
 Milap

This German leaflet depicts an Indian family thinking of their husband far away
fighting the war. The title “Milap” can be translated as “union,” “meeting,” or
“being together.”The text on the front is:

UNION

After bidding farewell to you, we kept on looking for you on the horizon. We even
looked for you in the direction where we were not supposed to.

The text on the back is:

Indian Brothers! If you have a look at your situation, you will notice that your reunion
(with your dear ones) is not just very difficult, but impossible. Thousands die everyday
on the battlefield. Is it necessary that you also be one of them?
No, certainly not! Why not to cross over to the German side whenever the opportunity
arises? Thousands of your Indian brothers are leading a comfortable life in prisoner-
of-war camps. The war is over for them. At the end of the war, they will certainly
return to their relatives and be happy.

[Note] The message is a poetic couplet and it is in the “gazal” form. Urdu is famous
for this form of poetry which it borrowed from the Persian. It abundantly uses
similes, exaggeration and sharp contrasts for expression. The second line “looked
for you in the direction where we were not supposed to” ...sounds strange in English,
but can be explained as: We have been so desperate that we know where you have
gone and watch the way you are supposed to return home. But, not only in that
direction; we look all around hoping that you might return from any direction.

Praying Woman

This German leaflet depicts an Indian woman praying for the safety of her husband
and presenting a lotus blossom to a God. The back is in Hindi (in Roman script—
known in India as Romani Hindi) and Urdu:

OH GOD!

I humbly beg you with folded hands and by placing flowers on your idol. Please do me
the great favor of saving my husband’s life in the war. Please do not let a hot flame
come anywhere near the support of my life.
These are the prayers of a faithful wife, seeking blessings for her spouse, Subedar
(Warrant Officer) Ram Saroop Singh of the First Punjab Regiment while he was
breathing his last on a battlefield after being wounded for the sake of the British. How
could this innocent and sweet woman know that the branch bearing her desires has
been chopped off and that darkness is spread all over her world of aspirations. She
does not know that the bud of love in her heart has died before blossoming.

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

Because Subedar Ram Saroop Singh was uncaring and lost his life. Had he laid down
his arms, his wife's desires would have all been fulfilled.

DO YOU ALSO

want to expose your mothers, sisters and wives to such misery? NO! Then why are you
prepared to fight against the Germans and die for the benefit of the British? It is better
that in this difficult final phase of war you cross over to the German side and live
comfortably in our camps till the end of the war and then happily go home.

END THESE DIFFICULT MOMENTS OF SEPARATION

When I asked Arunkumar Bhatt if he recognized the God he said that it did not
seem to be among the Hindu pantheon. He thought it was more likely that the
representation was of Buddha. He also pointed out that the scenario did not look
Indian. For instance, it is not a Hindu practice to place flowers on the palm of God.
The flowers are placed either at the feet or on the head. The posture of the god was
also unfamiliar. One wonders if the Germans erred, or purposely chose a non-Hindu
representation for this leaflet.
 Leaflet * 376 / 12 /44

This leaflet was printed in December 1944 for use against the Indians in Italy. The
“*” indicates the Sudstern “Southern Star” section of the Skorpion propaganda
organization thought to be attacked to the German 10th Army. The text says in
part:

<BMAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH A HAPPY NEW YEAR

THINK ABOUT IT – DURING THE NEW YEAR – UNIFORMS, SHINING SHOES,

AND TURBANS, ETC. GOING BACK HOME IN GOOD SPIRITS. BUT ALL OF
THIS HAS BECOME A DREAM, AND NOW YOU DANCE ON A ROPE, AND A
LITTLE SLIP CAN BRING YOU DOWN RIGHT OVER THE SHARP BAYONETS.
THEN YOU WILL BECOME A STATISTIC OF THE DEAD. BUT IS IT POSSIBLE
TO GO HOME IN GOOD CHEER BY TAKING THIS LEAFLET TO THE
GERMANS WITHOUT ANY FEAR?
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS OFFER THAN LISTEN TO THE
RADIO AT 5:30 P.M. TO 6:00 P.M. ON MEDIUM WAVE 449.1 OR ON SHORT
WAVE 476.

[NOTE] THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SUDSTERN LEAFLETS TO THE

INDIANS. EXAMPLES ARE; *376/12 44 "HAPPY NEW YEAR 1945", AND
*378/12 44 "OUR INDIAN FRIENDS". THERE IS AN ENTIRE *1900 SERIES
CONSISTING OF ONLY INDIAN-LANGUAGE LEAFLETS. THERE APPEARS
TO BE 29, ENDING IN * 1929.4.45.

* 1907 – 1 – 45

A SIMILAR LEAFLET FROM THE SAME SKORPION ORGANIZATION IS

CODED * 1907 – 1 – 45, WHICH INDICATES PRODUCTION IN JANUARY 1945.
THIS LEAFLET USES THE PO RIVER AS ITS MAJOR THEME. THE
GERMANS PRODUCED A NUMBER OF LEAFLETS WITH THE SAME
CONCEPT, SHOWING ALLIED SOLDIERS DROWNING BENEATH THE
DARK WATERS AND TITLES SUCH AS “DEATH IN THE PO” OR “THE PO IS
WAITING FOR YOU.” THERE ARE FIVE PARAGRAPHS IN THE LEAFLET.
SOME OF THE TEXT IS:

A BATH IN THE PO

HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN YOUR COMRADES WHO DIED FIGHTING?

WHAT IS THE PO? IT IS A RIVER 208 YARDS WIDE AND 1040 YARDS AT ITS
MAXIMUM WIDTH. IT IS 7 TO 20 FEET DEEP AND THE BANKS ARE 18 TO 30
FEET HIGH. IT FLOWS AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
WHY DO YOU PLAY WITH DEATH?

WHAT CAN YOU DO? PRETEND TO BE SICK AND GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND
IN THIS WAY YOU CAN AVOID FIGHTING.

THE ONLY GOOD INDIAN…

THIS GERMAN DIVIDE AND CONQUER LEAFLET TARGETED THE

INDIANS FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THE BRITISH. NOTHING IS KNOWN
ABOUT THE PRODUCERS OF THIS LEAFLET EXCEPT FOR A SMALL
QUOTE STATING, “THE CODE-LETTER A CAN BE FOUND ON MANY
GERMAN LEAFLETS DROPPED IN NORTHWEST EUROPE 1944-1945.” AS
USUAL, THE GERMANS POINT OUT THAT THE INDIANS ARE DOING THE
FIGHTING FOR THE BRITISH, AND ADD THAT MONTGOMERY HAS GIVEN
HIS MEN SEVEN DAYS LEAVE WHILE THE INDIANS DIE ON THE FRONT
LINES. WE CAN DATE THIS LEAFLET TO SOME EXTENT BECAUSE IT
MENTIONS ARNHEM AND THAT AIRBORNE ASSAULT ON HOLLAND
TOOK PLACE IN SEPTEMBER 1944. THIS LEAFLET SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN
PREPARED IN OCTOBER 1944 OR SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. WHAT IS
PARTICULARLY INTERESTING ABOUT THE HEADING FROM THE
HISTORICAL POINT IS THAT IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH INDIA. THE
COMMENT, “THE ONLY GOOD INDIAN IS A DEAD INDIAN” IS A
BASTARDIZATION OF A STATEMENT ALLEGEDLY UTTERED BY U.S.
GENERAL PHILIP SHERIDAN IN 1869. SHERIDAN REPEATEDLY DENIED
EVER MAKING SUCH A STATEMENT, BUT SEVERAL EYE WITNESSES
AGREE THAT HE SAID IT. SHERIDAN WAS WELL KNOWN AS A BIGOT AND
INDIAN HATER AND FEW THAT KNEW HIM DOUBTED HIS AGREEMENT
WITH THE STATEMENT. THE ORIGINAL QUOTE IS THOUGHT TO BE “THE
ONLY GOOD INDIANS I EVER SAW WERE DEAD.” THE GERMANS
CLEVERLY WORKED AN AMERICAN VERBAL SLUR AGAINST ITS OWN
NATIVE PEOPLE INTO A BRITISH ATTACK ON ITS INDIAN COLONIAL
TROOPS.

LONG LIVE INDEPENDENT INDIA

COURTESY OF ROD OAKLAND

ALL OF THE GERMAN LEAFLETS DEPICTED ABOVE WERE DROPPED ON

INDIANS FIGHTING FOR THE BRITISH IN NORTHWEST EUROPE AND
ITALY LATE IN THE WAR. THE NEXT LEAFLET WE SHOW WAS DROPPED
ON INDIAN TROOPS FIGHTING IN NORTH AFRICA. NOTICE AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE LEAFLET THERE IS A BRIEF MESSAGE IN GERMAN
FOR AFRIKA KORPS TROOPS AND THEIR ITALIAN ALLIES. THE LEAFLET
IS CODED 434 J VIII./VIII.42. THIS PROBABLY INDICATES THAT IT WAS
DISSEMINATED IN AUGUST 1942. AT THE CENTRE IS THE SPINNING
WHEEL, THE SYMBOL OF MAHATMA GANDHI'S MOVEMENT CALLING
FOR USE OF HAND SPUN AND WOVEN COTTON CLOTHES IN
PREFERENCE TO THE MILL-MADE CLOTH OF BRITAIN. THE SPINNING
WHEEL IS ALSO IN THE FLAG OF INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS. THE
TEXT AROUND THE SYMBOL IS:

LONG LIVE INDEPENDENT INDIA

THE BACK IS ALL TEXT:

LIBERTY PASS

WHOEVER SHOWS THIS SURRENDER PASS WILL BE ACCEPTED AS A

FRIEND OF THE AXIS FORCES. HIS PERSONAL FREEDOM AND LIBERTY TO
FOLLOW HIS OWN RELIGIOUS PRACTICES ARE FULLY GUARANTEED. JUST
BRING THIS SURRENDER PASS WITH YOU.

<BINDIA, DEATH TO ENGLAND.

ALL INDIAN ENLISTED MEN AND OFFICERS WHO COME OVER WITH THIS
SURRENDER PASS WILL BE FREED.

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAFLET IN BOTH GERMAN AND ITALIAN:

SAFE CONDUCT PASS FOR INDIAN OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS.

THERE IS A REPORT OF A NORTH AFRICA LEAFLET CODED 348 J.V. IN

HINDU WITH A CIRCULAR SYMBOL. IT WAS DROPPED ON THE INDIAN
4TH DIVISION RESTING NORTH OF HAIFA. THE LEAFLET ABOVE COULD
BE THIS ITEM, OR THIS COULD BE A SECOND LEAFLET USING THE
SAME SYMBOL.

ANOTHER LEAFLET DROPPED ON THE BRITISH DURING THE NORTH

AFRICAN CAMPAIGN BEARS A CARTOON OF AN INDIAN CHAINED TO
ENGLAND WITH URDU TEXT. NO MORE IN KNOWN ABOUT THIS
LEAFLET.
THIS STRANGE UNCODED GERMAN LEAFLET IS ALL TEXT AND APPEARS
TO BE A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE GERMANS USING A FATWA OF JIHAD
AGAINST THE ALLIES. THE LANGUAGE IS URDU, AND THE SCRIPT IS
DEVNAGARI WHICH IS USED BY THE HINDUS AND NOT BY THE MUSLIMS
WHO ARE THE APPARENT TARGETS OF THE LEAFLET. IT IS LIKELY
THAT THE TARGET GROUP IS NOT THE MUSLIM BUT THE HINDU AND
SIKH TROOPS OF THE BRITISH INDIAN ARMY. IN THAT CASE, THE AIM
COULD BE A “DIVIDE AND CONQUER” ATTEMPT TO DRIVE A WEDGE
BETWEEN THE HINDU AND MUSLIM TROOPS IN THE ALLIED RANKS.
THE TEXT IS:

THE HIGH PRIEST OF ISLAM IN HOLY MECCA HAS ON THE OCCASION OF

THE ID FESTIVAL ISSUED AN EDICT TO YOU [ALL THE MUSLIMS] THAT
DECLARES “JIHAD” AGAINST THE ENGLISH AND FRENCH.

THE KING OF TURKEY HAS GONE ON WAR AGAINST THE BARBARIC

ENGLISH, FRENCH AND RUSSIAN NATIONS AND HIS ALLIES ARE THE
AFGHAN PEOPLE.

THIS IS A VERY MYSTERIOUS LEAFLET BECAUSE IT MENTIONS TURKEY

AS A GERMAN ALLY WHEN TURKEY WAS ACTUALLY ON THE SIDE OF
THE WESTERN POWERS. IT ALSO MENTIONS A TURKISH KING, A
POSITION THAT DID NOT EXIST DURING WWII. THE EMIR OF TURKEY
DID JOIN THE CENTRAL POWERS DURING WWI. SO, AT FIRST LOOK,
THIS APPEARS TO BE A WWI LEAFLET.
 THE GRAND MUFTI MEETS ADOLF HITLER

THE LEADER OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE ADOLF HITLER AND THE GREAT
MUFTI MR. AMIN AL-HUSSEINI DURING THEIR MEETING IN BERLIN.

THE PROOF WOULD SEEM TO BE OVERWHELMING, EXCEPT THAT THE

LEAFLET WAS A GIFT OF A GERMAN LUFTWAFFE PILOT STATIONED IN
NORTH AFRICA DURING WWII. AND, WE KNOW THAT THE GRAND
MUFTI MET WITH HITLER ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION TO OFFER
SUPPORT. SO, ALTHOUGH I STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT THIS IS A WWI
LEAFLET TO BRITISH INDIAN COLONIAL TROOPS, WE DEPICT IT JUST
IN CASE IT IS SOME STRANGE SORT OF GERMAN BLACK WWII
PROPAGANDA. IN 1942, JERUSALEM'S GRAND MUFTI, AMIN AL-
HUSSEINI, TOOK TO THE AIRWAVES AND BROADCAST IN ARABIC FROM
BERLIN. AT THAT TIME HE ALREADY WAS "PRIME MINISTER" OF A PAN-
ARAB GOVERNMENT FORMED IN THE GERMAN CAPITAL. COULD IT BE
THAT THE GERMAN PROPAGANDA POSTCARD ABOVE SHOWS THE MAN
THAT THE INDIAN-LANGUAGE LEAFLET CALLS “THE HIGH PRIEST.”
 GERMAN “AZAD HIND” PROPAGANDA POSTAGE STAMP

MY ORIGINAL 1972 DESCRIPTION OF THE ABOVE 1 RUPEE PLUS 2

RUPEES STAMP IS “A TURBANED SOLDIER CARRYING THE AZAD HIND
FLAG WITH TWO COMPANIONS IN GERMAN-STYLE FIELD CAPS, THE
DESIGN FLANKED BY TWO CEREMONIAL SWORDS.” THIS STAMP IS ONE
OF A SET PRODUCED IN GERMANY FOR PROPAGANDA PURPOSES AND
MEANT TO BE USED AT SOME FUTURE TIME IN TERRITORIES
CONTROLLED BY THE FREE INDIAN ARMY. TWELVE MILLION STAMPS
WERE PRINTED AND GUMMED BY THE REICHSDRUCKEREI IN BERLIN.
THE FAILURE OF THE FREE INDIAN ARMY TO ACHIEVE ANY MILITARY
SUCCESS LEFT THE STAMPS WITHOUT A REASON FOR USE, AND THE
ENTIRE ISSUE WAS STILL IN STORAGE IN EUROPE AT THE END OF THE
WAR. NONE OF THE STAMPS WAS EVER PLACED IN USE. POSTWAR
FORGERIES EXIST, PRINTED OFFSET RATHER THAN PHOTOGRAVURE,
WITH A WASHED-OUT AND SOMEWHAT UNCLEAR APPEARANCE.
A POSTWAR ENVELOPE BEARING THE GENUINE “AZAD HIND” STAMPS

ALTHOUGH THE STAMPS WERE NEVER USED POSTALLY, MANY

PATRIOTIC INDIANS AND PHILATELIC SPECIALISTS PLACED THEM ON
VARIOUS PHILATELIC COVERS FOR SHOW. THIS 1964 ENVELOPE,
DESIGNED IN HONOR OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY’S MARTYRS
MEMORIAL BEARS THE FIVE LOW VALUE DESIGNS. THEY ARE; A NURSE
COMFORTING A WOUNDED SOLDIER, A MAP OF THE INDIAN
SUBCONTINENT WITH A BROKEN CHAIN ACROSS IT, A TURBANED
SOLDIER WEARING THE SPRINGING TIGER INSIGNIA OF THE INDIAN
LEGION AND AIMING A GERMAN MG 34 MACHINE GUN, AN INDIAN GIRL
WORKING AT A SPINNING WHEEL, AND A PLOUGH FRAMING A RICE
FIELD WITH A FARMER WORKING ON IT. THE STAMPS ARE CANCELLED
WITH A SPECIAL STAMP READING “NETAJI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE –
CALCUTTA. ONE CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT THE GERMANS TOOK GREAT
CARE IN SELECTING THE IMAGES ON THESE PROPAGANDA STAMPS.
 AN “AZAD HIND” COMMEMORATIVE PROPAGANDA BANKNOTE

THERE IS NO PROOF THAT THE FREE INDIAN MOVEMENT EVER

PRODUCED ANY BANKNOTES. THERE IS A RUMOR THAT THE GERMANS
PRINTED BANKNOTES FOR BOSE ABOUT THE SAME TIME THEY
PRINTED THE STAMPS, BUT ALLEGEDLY THEY WERE LOST WHEN THE
SHIP THEY WERE SENT IN WAS TORPEDOED ON ITS WAY TO JAPAN. WE
DO KNOW THAT TO SERVE THE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE
PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF AZAD HIND, AN AZAD HIND BANK WAS
ESTABLISHED. THE BANK WAS CREATED ON 5 APRIL 1944 AND
CAPITALIZED AT SEVERAL MILLION RUPEES. THE BANK QUICKLY
BECAME THE PREFERRED BANK OF THE INDIAN COMMUNITY IN
BURMA. IT HELD A SIZEABLE AMOUNT OF GOLD FROM ORNAMENTS
AND VALUABLES DONATED BY INDIAN WOMEN. THE BANK PAID ALL
THE EXPENSES OF THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT AND THE INA, AND
EVEN REPAID SOME LOANS GIVEN BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT. IN
1944, WHEN THE BRITISH RECLAIMED BURMA FROM THE JAPANESE,
THE WAR DEPARTMENT SEIZED THE AZAD HIND BANK’S ASSETS.

THERE ARE NO KNOWN AZAD HIND BANKNOTES, BUT AT THE END OF

THE WAR, IN ORDER TO RAISE FUNDS FOR INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY
VETERANS AND OTHER CAUSES, A NUMBER OF COMMEMORATIVE
PROPAGANDA BANKNOTES WERE PREPARED BEARING THE IMAGE OF
SUBHAS BOSE OR OTHER INDIAN PATRIOTS. ONE ACTUALLY DEPICTED
BOSE WITH ADOLF HITLER. THESE BANKNOTES WERE SOLD WITH THE
PROFITS GOING TO VARIOUS CHARITIES. READERS WANTING TO KNOW
MORE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT SHOULD SEE MY ARTICLE “FREE INDIA
MOVEMENT BANKNOTES” IN THE INTERNATIONAL BANKNOTE SOCIETY
JOURNAL, VOL. 40, NO. 3, 2001.
 JAPANESE LEAFLETS
THE JAPANESE PROPAGANDA LEAFLETS TO THE INDIANS WERE QUITE
DIFFERENT FROM THE GERMAN LEAFLETS. WHEREAS THE GERMAN
LEAFLETS TENDED TO BE MONOCHROMATIC AND SOMETIME WORDY
ON THE BACK, THE JAPANESE LEAFLETS WERE VERY BRIGHT AND
FULL-COLORED, SOMETIMES VERY “BUSY” WITH NUMEROUS IMAGES
PILED ONE UPON ANOTHER, AND WITH MINIMAL TEXT. THEY ALSO
MADE GREAT USE OF POLITICAL SATIRE AND CARTOONS ATTACKING
ALLIED LEADERS SUCH AS FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT, WINSTON
CHURCHILL AND CHIANG KAI-SHEK, AND ALSO THE VARIOUS NATIONS
OPPOSED TO JAPAN.

THE JAPANESE ATTITUDE TOWARD PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE

AGAINST INDIAN TROOPS IS MENTIONED BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL
MAHMOOD KHAN DURRANI IN THE SIXTH COLUMN, CASSELL AND
COMPANY, 1955. DURRANI WAS A PRISONER OF THE JAPANESE AND
QUOTES A LECTURE GIVEN BY A JAPANESE OFFICER ON HOW
LEAFLETS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR USE AGAINST THE INDIANS
FIGHTING FOR THE BRITISH. HE SAYS IN PART:

PROPAGANDA LEAFLETS DROPPED FOR TROOPS MUST BE EASILY

NOTICED AND YET AT THE SAME TIME EASILY CONCEALABLE ON THE
PERSON OF THE SOLDIER SO THAT HE MIGHT HIDE THEM FROM HIS
OFFICERS AND READ THEM AT HIS LEISURE.

THE HANDBILL SHOULD BE OF AN ATTRACTIVE COLOR SO THAT IT MIGHT

NOT ESCAPE THE NOTICE OF ALL SOLDIERS.

THE LEAFLET SHOULD HAVE, IF POSSIBLE, THE PICTURE OF A

BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, AFTER THE METHOD USED BY THE GERMANS IN
THE FIRST WORLD WAR. THIS DEVICE WOULD INSURE THAT THE SOLDIER
WOULD BE ATTRACTED AND WOULD BE UNABLE TO RESIST LOOKING AT
THE PICTURE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS WOULD ROUSE HIS PASSION,
AND HIS HEART WOULD BE INCLINED FOR LOVE AND TO HATE FIGHTING.

THE TEXT OF THE POSTERS MUST REMIND SOLDIERS OF THEIR WIVES

AND CHILDREN IN TROUBLE, THANKS TO THEIR SERVING AS
MERCENARIES IN THE HANDS OF FOREIGNERS WHO HAD SELFISH
MOTIVES. THIS WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF STRIKING THE MOST
TENDER CHORDS.

THE POSTER SHOULD GIVE A PHOTOGRAPH OF OR MENTION THE

GARDENS AND FRUITS OF THE COUNTRY THE SOLDIERS BELONGED TO,
SO THAT IT MIGHT REMIND THEM OF THE HAPPY AND BUBBLING LIFE OF
THEIR COUNTRYMEN IN CONTRAST TO THEIR OWN WRETCHED LIVES AS
SOLDIER AND THE DEADLY DESTRUCTION OF WAR IN STORE FOR THEM.
THUS THE SOLDIER WOULD HAVE A CRAVING TO GO BACK TO THE
PEACEFUL AND HAPPY LIFE HE HAD ONCE LIVED, AND HE WOULD BE
LIKELY TO DESERT AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY.

THE HANDBILL SHOULD INCLUDE A DEFINITE PROMISE THAT IT WOULD

SERVE AS A TICKET FOR ENTRY INTO THEIR FOLD AS A FRIEND TO
WHOEVER SHOULD DESERT THEIR RANKS OF HIS ARMY AND COME TO
THEIR SIDE WITH IT. AND AS SUCH A FRIEND, HE WOULD BE GIVEN A
LONG HOLIDAY AND SENT TO HIS COUNTRY TO MEET HIS PARENTS, WIFE,
CHILDREN AND FRIENDS.

ONE OF THE EARLIEST REPORTED ATTEMPTS TO PROPAGANDIZE THE

INDIANS OCCURRED IN JANUARY 1942 IN SINGAPORE. JAPANESE
AIRCRAFT DROPPED SMALL YELLOW LEAFLETS PRINTED IN BLACK:

TERRIBLE RIOTS IN SINGAPORE! SECRET EVACUATION OF BRITISH

TROOPS!

A TERRIBLE RIOT HAS BROKEN OUT IN SINGAPORE! BRITISH AND

AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS ARE BEING SECRETLY EVACUATED FROM
SINGAPORE! MALAYAN AND INDIAN SOLDIERS! PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES
IN YOUR OLD KIT BAG AND COOPERATE WITH THE NIPPON ARMY.

BRITISH AND AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS! RETURN TO YOUR HOMES AT ONCE

BY HOOK OR BY CROOK. YOU MAY NEVER GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO SEE
YOUR BELOVED ONES IN ENGLAND OR AUSTRALIA.

THE CONCEPT OF THE BRITISH LEAVING THE INDIANS BEHIND WILL BE

FOUND BELOW IN A LEAFLET WE CALL “NO ROOM IN THE TRUCK.”

ANOTHER LEAFLET DEPICTED CHINESE, MALAY AND INDIAN SOLDIERS

WELCOMING THE JAPANESE TROOPS WITH JOHN BULL AND UNCLE
SAM RUNNING AWAY.
 YOUR DEMAND FOR INDEPENDENCE

ONE JAPANESE LEAFLET DEPICTS THE ALLIED LEADERS ROOSEVELT,

CHURCHILL AND CHIANG KAI-SHEK TRYING TO PUSH OR PULL AN
INDIAN INTO THE FIGHT AGAINST THE JAPANESE. I FIRST DESCRIBED
THIS LEAFLET IN MY 1972 BOOKLET. THE TEXT IN HINDI AND BENGALI
IS:

THE DEFEATED COUNTRIES, WHOSE DESTRUCTION IS INEVITABLE, ARE

CASTING GREEDY EYES ON INDIA. DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR
SWEET TALK.

CHURCHILL HOLDS A WHIP WITH A FLAG ATTACHED AND THE TEXT:

WE ACCEPT YOUR DEMAND FOR INDEPENDENCE.

 TOWARDS FREEDOM

SEVERAL LEAFLETS SHOW INDIANS ON HORSEBACK CHARGING.

SIMILAR LEAFLETS ARE FOUND IN BOTH HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL
FORMAT. THIS LEAFLET CURIOUSLY CALLS JAPAN'S OCCUPATION OF
BURMA AND THE PHILIPPINES “FREEDOM!” AND CALLS FOR THE
INDIANS TO REVOLT AGAINST BRITISH RULE. THE FLAG SHOWN IS
THAT OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (THE POLITICAL PARTY
SPEARHEADING THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT). THE PEOPLE ARE SHOWN
HOLDING FARM IMPLEMENTS AND STICKS AS WEAPONS TO
UNDERSCORE THE POINT THAT THEY CAN EVEN REVOLT WITHOUT
FIREARMS! THE JAPANESE LEAFLET IS BILINGUAL, HINDU
AND BENGALI, THE LANGUAGE THAT DOMINATES EASTERN INDIA AND
THE PRESENT BANGLA DESH. THE JAPANESE BELIEVED THAT THEIR
INVADING ARMY WOULD FIRST OCCUPY THE EAST DURING ITS MARCH
INTO INDIA FROM BURMA. THE TEXT IS:

BURMA AND THE PHILIPPINES HAVE ATTAINED FREEDOM. OH INDIA!

YOU MUST ALSO AWAKEN AND RISE.
 THE BRITISH BARBARISM

IN THE ABOVE LEAFLET, A CARICATURE OF CHURCHILL IS ABOUT TO

CHOP OFF THE FINGERS OF A BOUND INDIAN WORKER IN A TEXTILE
SHOP. OTHER FINGERS LITTER THE FLOOR AND IN THE BACKGROUND
THE BRITISH HAVE SET THE SHOP ABLAZE. THE LEAFLET IS WRITTEN
IN HINDI AND BENGALI. THE TEXT IS:

TO SAVE MANCHESTER, THE BRITISH RULERS SHED THE BLOOD OF

INDIANS AND IN RETURN GAVE THEM HUNGER AND POVERTY

THE THEME OF THIS LEAFLET IS BRITISH CRUELTY AND THE WAY THAT
THEY DESTROYED THE INDIAN ECONOMY. IT ADDRESSES THE TOTAL
DESTRUCTION OF THE INDIAN INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY WITH A VIEW TO
MAKING PROFITS FOR THE BRITISH TEXTILE INDUSTRY. THE THEME
WOULD BE WELL-UNDERSTOOD THROUGHOUT INDIA BECAUSE
MAHATMA GANDHI HAD BASED HIS NON-VIOLENT STRUGGLE ON
SVADESHI (THE USE OF INDIAN GOODS AND BOYCOTT OF BRITISH
FACTORY PRODUCTS). HE AND HIS SUPPORTERS WORE KHADI (HAND
SPUN AND HAND-LOOMED WOVEN CLOTH.

BECAUSE OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION THE BRITISH COULD

MASS-PRODUCE GOODS. THAT REQUIRED RAW MATERIALS AND HUGE
MARKETS FOR THE FINISHED PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY COTTON
TEXTILES. TO SECURE BOTH, THE BRITISH DESTROYED THE
DECENTRALIZED TRADITIONAL INDIAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY. THEY
IMPOSED HEAVY TAXES ON INDIAN TEXTILES MADE IN GREAT PART BY
HAND-LOOMS SO THAT THE INFERIOR CLOTH OF THE BRITISH
TEXTILE MILLS LOCATED MOSTLY IN MANCHESTER COULD CONTINUE
TO PROFIT.

INDIAN ARTISANS; SPINNERS, WEAVERS AND PROCESSORS, WERE

AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD. THE LEGEND IS THAT THE
SUPERFINE VARIETY OF CLOTH CALLED MALAMAL PRODUCED BY THE
WEAVERS OF DACCA (NOW THE CAPITAL OF BANGLADESH) WAS SO
THIN THAT A 20-YARD LONG PIECE COULD BE FOLDED AND PACKED IN
A PRESENT-DAY MATCH BOX! BECAUSE OF THE BRITISH ACTIONS IT
BECAME DIFFICULT FOR THE ARTISANS TO SELL THEIR PRODUCE AND
BUY RAW COTTON. QAS A RESULT, BOTH THE TEXTILE WORKERS AND
ALL THE OTHER ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES DEPENDING ON THE TEXTILES
WERE IMPOVERISHED. IT WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE DESPERATE
WEAVERS OF DACCA CHOPPED OF THEIR OWN FINGERS IN PROTEST.

IDEAL INDIA

THIS LEAFLET IS VERY BUSY. AMONG THE NUMEROUS IMAGES

CROWDED INTO THE FULL-COLOR LEAFLET ARE AN INDIAN WARRIOR,
A SCHOOL CHILD, A WOMAN, AN ELEPHANT, INDIAN ARISTOCRACY AND
BUILDINGS IN THE BACKGROUND. THE TEXT IS:

IDEAL INDIA

LOOK AT THIS NATION AND HER NATURAL BEAUTY AND RESOURCES. THIS
INDIA IS BEING EXPLOITED BY THE ATROCITIES OF THE ENGLISHMEN.
AN IDEAL INDIA CAN ONLY BE BUILT WHEN INDIANS THEMSELVES
PROTECT IT AFTER GAINING INDEPENDENCE.

[NOTE] THE WRITING ON THE BLACKBOARD IS, "PEACEFUL HAVEN."

THE LEAFLET USES SEVERAL SYMBOLS OF INDIAN CULTURE AND
RESOURCES. STRANGELY, THE WOMAN DOES NOT LOOK INDIAN. A
TYPICAL INDIAN WOMAN DOES NOT WEAR SHORT HAIR EVEN TODAY.

DESTROY THE BRUTAL BRITISH

THIS LEAFLET DEPICTS A BRITISH WOMAN WALKING ON THE
SIDEWALK WHILE AN ARMED BRITISH SENTRY LOOKS DOWN AT TWO
INDIANS IN THE GUTTER. THE BRITISH HAD BANNED INDIANS FROM
WALKING ON THE SIDEWALKS OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. IN PUNJAB,
THE INDIANS HAD TO CRAWL OFF THE ROAD IF A BRITISH PERSON
PASSED BY.

THE TEXT IS:

DESTROY THE BRUTAL BRITISH

REMEMBER THE PUNJAB EVENT OF 1919? WE INDIANS WERE FORBIDDEN

FROM WALKING ON THE SIDEWALKS OF OUR OWN MOTHERLAND. THE
BRITISH DID THIS TO US.

[NOTE] ON THE AFTERNOON OF 13 APRIL 1919, SOME 10,000 OR MORE

UNARMED MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN GATHERED IN AMRITSAR'S
PUBLIC SQUARE TO ATTEND A PROTEST MEETING, DESPITE A BAN ON
PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES. THE BRITISH POSITIONED MEN AT THE NARROW
PASSAGEWAY OF THE SQUARE. WITHOUT WARNING, 50 SOLDIERS FIRED
1,650 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION INTO THE GATHERING. NEARLY 400
CIVILIANS WERE KILLED, AND ANOTHER 1,200 WERE LEFT WOUNDED
WITHOUT MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE BRITISH BRIGADIER REGINALD
E.H DYER LATER STATED THAT THE FIRING WOULD HAVE CONTINUED
IF HE HAD MORE AMMUNITION.
 AVENGE THIS BRITISH OUTRAGE

ANOTHER LEAFLET THAT SEEMS TO USE THIS SAME THEME WAS

PREPARED BY THE INDIAN INDEPENDENCE LEAGUE OF EAST ASIA. IT
DEPICTS INDIAN WOMEN CRAWLING ON THE GROUND WHILE BRITISH
TROOPS RIDICULE AND BEAT THEM. THIS LEAFLET APPEARS IN THE
JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF MALAYA (SINGAPORE) AND ITS CURRENCY,
WONG HON SUM, WONG’S COLLECTIONS, 1996.

IN 1943, AN INDEPENDENCE LEAGUE POSTER ASKED INDIAN TROOPS TO

DESERT. SOME OF THE TEXT IS:

DON'T BE A TRAITOR TO INDIA! JOIN US TO STRIKE THE SATANIC BRITISH.

ANOTHER INDEPENDENCE LEAGUE IN EAST ASIA LEAFLET DEPICTS

MAHATMA GANDHI AND SEVERAL OTHER INDIANS AND THE TEXT:

GOD AND NIPPON TO HELP INDIA DRIVE OUT THE BRITISH DEVIL.

JAPAN IS SWORN TO AID INDIA FIGHT.

ANOTHER INDEPENDENCE LEAGUE LEAFLET FROM THE PHILIPPINES

TALKS ABOUT THE BRITISH LOSSES. IT SAYS IN PART:

FALL OF IMPHAL

WAY TO WHOLE INDIA NOW OPEN!

IMPHAL HAS FALLEN! THE INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY IN CONJUNCTION

WITH THE JAPANESE IMPERIAL FORCES HAS AT LAST CAPTURED IMPHAL
– THE STRONGEST DEFENSE LINE OF THE ENEMY AND A KEY TO THE
WHOLE OF INDIA. THE FALL OF IMPHAL NOT ONLY MEANS REJOICINGS
FOR THE WHOLE PEOPLES OF INDIA AND GREATER EAST ASIA, BUT
SPELLS ALSO THE BEGINNING OF THE DOOM OF NEARLY A CENTURY OF
BRITISH IMPERIALISM IN INDIA.

THE JAPANESE WERE A WEE BIT PREMATURE IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

IMPHAL NEVER FELL AND THE ENTIRE ADVANCE BECAME A DISASTER
FOR THE JAPANESE AND INDIAN FORCES. THE DEFEAT WAS THE
GREATEST TO THAT DATE IN JAPANESE HISTORY. THEY HAD SUFFERED
55,000 CASUALTIES, INCLUDING 13,500 DEAD. MOST OF THESE LOSSES
WERE THE RESULT OF STARVATION, DISEASE AND EXHAUSTION.
 WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

THE DARK AND BONY INDIAN MAN SHOWS WHAT THE BRITISH-
INDUCED HUNGER AND MISERY HAS REDUCED HIM TO. TO THE
WESTERN EYE THE JAPANESE WERE NOT COMPLIMENTARY IN THIS
DRAWING. IT IS VERY REMINISCENT OF EDUARDO CIANNELLI, THE
EVIL LEADER OF THE THUGEE CULT, DEVOTED TO KALI, THE GODDESS
OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION IN THE 1939 PRO-BRITISH PROPAGANDA
MOVIE GUNGA DIN. THE INDIAN MAN POINTS TOWARD THE READER OF
THE LEAFLET. THERE ARE THE BONES OF THE DEAD SCATTERED ALL
AROUND HIM. SOME OF THE INDIANS WHO STUDIED THIS PICTURE
SAID, “IT IS SURELY A DEAD PERSON WHO DIED OF HUNGER.” THE TEXT
IN HINDI, URDU AND BENGALI IS:

INDIANS ARE BEING KILLED IN LARGE NUMBERS. THE BRITISH ARE

TRAMPLING THEIR DEAD BODIES WHILE LOOTING INDIA OF ITS FOOD.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INDIANS' DEATH?
 NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR INFIGHTING

THIS LEAFLET ATTACKS WINSTON CHURCHILL AND DEPICTS HIM AS A

DEMON. HE IS IN THE BACKGROUND AND HOLDS TWO INDIANS IN HIS
HANDS. THE INDIAN ON THE LEFT IS IDENTIFIED AS A MEMBER OF THE
MUSLIM LEAGUE AND THE ONE ON THE RIGHT IS A MEMBER OF THE
INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS. THE TEXT AT THE TOP IS:

NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR INFIGHTING

THE TEXT AT THE BOTTOM IS:

THE BRITISH POLICY OF DIVIDE AND RULE

 CHURCHILL – THE SPIDER

THE JAPANESE OFTEN VILIFIED WINSTON CHURCHILL BY

CARICATURING HIM AS A BEAST OR A MONSTER. IN THIS LEAFLET HE
APPEARS AS A SPIDER AT THE CENTER OF A WEB HOLDING A POT OF
GOLD, SURELY STOLEN FROM INDIA. AROUND HIM, TRAPPED IN THE
BRITISH WEB OF DECEIT (WITH A “UNION JACK” IN THE BACKGROUND)
ARE VARIOUS CATEGORIES AND CASTES OF INDIANS. THE TEXT IS:

THE TIME HAS COME TO MAKE INDIA FREE. RISE UP AND SHATTER THE
BRITISH FETTERS.

THE ELEPHANT
IN THIS LEAFLET A CHARACTER WHO COULD BE CHURCHILL, BUT
LOOKS MORE LIKE THE BRITISH SYMBOL “JOHN BULL” IS HELD IN THE
TRUNK OF AN INDIAN ELEPHANT. THE ELEPHANT IS MARKED WITH
THE FLAG OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS. IT HAS BROKEN THE
CHAINS THAT HELD IT FETTERED TO ENGLAND, AND STOMPS ON THE
BRITISH FLAG. AT THE RIGHT A BRIGHT RED SUN SHINES DOWN, AND
THIS VERY LIKELY REPRESENTS JAPAN WHOSE FLAG BEARS A SINGLE
RED SUN (CALLED A “MEATBALL” BY THE AMERICANS DURING WWII).
THE TEXT IN HINDI AND BENGALI IS:

OH SLEEPING ELEPHANT! WAKE UP AND STAND UP.

AT THIS OPPORTUNE TIME, BREAK THE ENGLISH CHAIN AND BE FREE.

[NOTE] THE ELEPHANT IS A GREAT SYMBOL IN INDIAN CULTURE; IT IS

CONSIDERED VERY AUSPICIOUS, DIVINE, POWERFUL, MAGNIFICENT
AND FRIENDLY. IT SYMBOLIZES BOTH INDIA’S CULTURE AND ITS
MAMMOTH SIZE.
 A MOUNTAIN OF SKULLS

THIS JAPANESE LEAFLET DEPICTS A MOUNTAIN OF THE SKULLS OF

INDIAN DEAD, OVERLOOKED BY A FORT BRISTLING WITH CANNON AND
THE UNION JACK. VULTURES FLY HIGH OVERHEAD. THE FORT IS A
SYMBOL OF COLONIAL POWER. AS FOR THE PILE OF SKULLS, IT IS SAID
THAT TIMUR PILED UP HUMAN SKULLS AFTER SACKING DELHI. HE
KILLED AT LEAST 100,000 BEFORE THE CITY FELL, AND ANYWHERE
FROM HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO A MILLION AFTER THE
DESTRUCTION OF DELHI. THE LEAFLET COMPARES THAT ATROCITY
WITH BRITISH COLONIAL RULE.

THE TEXT IS IN THE URDU, HINDI AND BENGALI LANGUAGES AND SAYS:

THE ENGLISH ARE PREPARED TO FEED HUNDREDS OF INDIANS TO THE

CANNONS TO SAVE THEIR EMPIRE.

CANNON FODDER

THIS LEAFLET HAS A VERY INTERESTING IMAGE. IT DEPICTS FINELY

DRESSED BRITISH SOLDIERS ABOUT TO BLOW A CANNON BALL
THROUGH AN INDIAN PRISONER. THIS ATROCITY PROPAGANDA WAS
OFTEN USED BY THE BRITISH, SO IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE IT USED
AGAINST THEM. IT ALLUDES TO THE ACCUSATIONS THAT THE BRITISH
UNLEASHED A REIN OF TERROR TO SUPPRESS THE “MUTINY” OF 1857.
ALLEGEDLY, THEY WOULD BLOW PEOPLE APART WITH CANNONS AND
HANG THEM FROM TREE BRANCHES. THIS LEAFLET REMINDS THE
TARGET AUDIENCE OF SUCH ACTS AND EXHORTS THEM TO TAKE
REVENGE. THE TEXT IS:

WHEN WILL YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE REVENGE, IF NOT NOW?

DO NOT FORGET THE BRITISH PRACTICE OF BLOWING APART INDIANS
AFTER TYING THEM TO MOUTH OF A CANNON'S BARREL.

[NOTE] THE INDIAN REBELLION OF 1857, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FIRST

WAR OF INDIAN INDEPENDENCE WAS A PROLONGED PERIOD OF ARMED
UPRISINGS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF INDIA AGAINST THE BRITISH
OCCUPATION. THE INSURRECTION WAS TRIGGERED IN PART WHEN THE
BRITISH INTRODUCED NEW RIFLE CARTRIDGES RUMORED TO BE
GREASED WITH OIL MADE FROM THE FAT OF ANIMALS. THE FAT OF
COWS WAS TABOO TO HINDUS WHILE MUSLIMS WERE REPELLED BY
PIG FAT. IN FACT, THIS WAS JUST THE MOST RECENT IN A NUMBER OF
INDIAN PROTESTS AGAINST BRITISH RULE. BY MAY 1857 THE
REBELLION TURNED INTO WHAT WAS CONSIDERED A FULL-FLEDGED
WAR IN THE AFFECTED REGIONS. A PEACE TREATY WAS SIGNED ON 8
JULY 1858. THE VICTORIOUS BRITISH THEN ALLEGEDLY ADOPTED THE
OLD MUGHAL PUNISHMENT FOR MUTINY AND SENTENCED REBELS
WERE TIED TO THE MOUTH OF CANNONS AND BLOWN TO PIECES.

HANGING MEN

AS MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS LEAFLET, THE BRITISH WERE

ACCUSED OF BLOWING INDIANS APART BY CANNON OR HANGING
THEM FROM TREES AFTER THE ARMED REVOLT OF 1857. IN THIS
LEAFLET WE SEE THE CARICATURE OF JOHN BULL, THE SYMBOL OF
GREAT BRITAIN WALKING DOWN A TREE-SHADED LANE. FOR AS FAR AS
THE EYE CAN SEE INDIANS HANG FROM TREES, AND IN SEVERAL CASES
THEIR GRIEVING WIDOWS CRY AT THEIR FEET. IT IS REMINISCENT OF
THE GLADIATORS REVOLT LED BY SPARTACUS, WHEN THE ROMANS
CRUCIFIED THOUSANDS OF MUTINEERS ALONG THE ROAD TO ROME.

NEVER FORGET 1857. 100,000 INDIAN PATRIOTS WERE VICTIMS OF THE

BRITISH BARBARISM

WAR MATERIAL

THIS LEAFLET HAS SOME VERY STRANGE SYMBOLISM. IT DEPICTS A

CARICATURE OF CHINESE LEADER GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK
RIDING A HORSE. CHIANG HOLDS A WHIP TIED TO A GIANT BUNDLE OF
WAR MATERIALS THAT IS ATOP AN INDIAN. A HAND HOLDING SCISSORS
COMES FROM ABOVE (CERTAINLY REPRESENTING JAPAN) AND IS
CUTTING THE ROPE HOLDING THE BUNDLE TO THE HORSE. AT THE
LOWER RIGHT, BURMESE NATIVES CARRYING A PEACOCK FLAG
ATTACK BRITISH TROOPS AND HAVE THEM ON THE RUN. THE JAPANESE
CREATED A PUPPET STATE IN BURMA ON 1 AUGUST 1943 AND THE FLAG
IS THE INDEPENDENCE PARTY FLAG, CARRIED BY THEIR “LIBERATION
ARMY.” THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE A POLITE JAPANESE JIBE AT THE
INDIANS: “IF THE BURMESE CAN THROW OUT THE BRITISH, WHY NOT
YOU?”

THE TEXT IS:

HIS (CHIANG KAI-SHEK'S) PURPOSE OF VISITING INDIA IS ONLY TO GET
INDIA'S (WAR) MATERIAL. END RELATIONS WITH CHIANG KAI-SHEK
WHOSE END HAS COME AND BE FREE.

[NOTE] CHIANG KAI-SHEK VISITED INDIA FROM 9 FEBRUARY 1942 TO 21

FEBRUARY 1942. HE CONFERRED WITH THE BRITISH AND URGED
INDIAN NATIONALIST LEADERS—PARTICULARLY JAWAHARLAL NEHRU
—TO PUT ASIDE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AND JOIN THE FIGHT
AGAINST JAPAN. IN HIS FAREWELL MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF INDIA,
CHIANG KAI-SHEK CALLED FOR WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT IN THE
WAR AND INDICATED THAT BRITAIN WOULD CERTAINLY GRANT INDIA
FREEDOM IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

CHIANG KAI-SHEK IS NO GOD

THIS JAPANESE LEAFLET ONCE AGAIN ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY ANY

FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE CHINESE AND INDIAN PEOPLES. IN THE
FOREGROUND CHIANG KAI-SHEK WALKS WITH A RIFLE-BEARING
INDIAN WHO DOES NOT REALIZE THAT HE IS ABOUT TO STEP INTO A
BEAR TRAP LABELED "PRIVATIONS OF WAR." IN THE BACKGROUND,
HIDING BEHIND A BOULDER, ARE WINSTON CHURCHILL AND FRANKLIN
ROOSEVELT, BOTH BADLY BRUISED, APPARENTLY FROM EARLIER
BEATINGS BY THE JAPANESE. CHURCHILL HOLDS A CHAIN LEADING TO
THE TRAP AND HE IS ABOUT TO SPRING IT SHUT ON THE INDIAN
SOLDIER’S LEG. THE TEXT IN HINDI AND BENGALI IS:
 DANGER!

DO NOT FALL FOR THE BRITISH CARROT OF TOTAL SELF-RULE. CHIANG

KAI-SHEK IS NO GOD. NOR IS SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS AN ANGEL. ALL
THOSE MEN WHO LURE INDIA INTO WAR ARE INDIA'S ENEMIES AND
AGENTS OF CHURCHILL. ONLY INDIANS CAN SAVE INDIA.

CHIANG HOLDS A BLUE BANNER THAT READS:

CONSPIRACY TO ACQUIRE INDIAN MANPOWER AND RESOURCES.

[NOTE] THE LEAFLET REINFORCES THE NATIONALIST INDIAN DESIRE

TO STAY OUT OF WWII. SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS WAS SENT TO INDIA ON
WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE CRIPPS MISSION TO ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE
AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONALIST LEADERS MAHATMA GANDHI
AND MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH THAT WOULD KEEP INDIA LOYAL TO THE
BRITISH WAR EFFORT IN EXCHANGE FOR A PROMISE OF FULL SELF-
GOVERNMENT AFTER THE WAR. MAHATMA GANDHI DESCRIBED THE
OFFER AS “A POST-DATED CHECK DRAWN ON A CRASHING BANK!”

INDIAN NATION

THIS LEAFLET HAS INTERESTING SYMBOLISM. AT THE LEFT IS A

PEACEFUL INDIAN STANDING IN A FERTILE COUNTRYSIDE WITH
OUTSTRETCHED ARMS. GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK AND
PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT STAND AT THE RIGHT IN FLAMES
WITH BROKEN CANNON AND BENT SWORD, THEIR ARMS ALSO
OUTSTRETCHED, BUT THEIR HANDS DRIP BLOOD. THE JAPANESE
APPARENTLY THINK THAT ROOSEVELT IS ABOUT TO BE THROWN OUT
OF OFFICE BECAUSE HE HOLDS A PAPER THAT READS, “PROPOSAL FOR
RESIGNATION.” THE TEXT IN HINDI AND BENGALI IS:

INDIAN NATION! DO NOT GET BOGGED DOWN IN THE MUD OF WAR.

THE FLAMES AT THE BOTTOM ARE LABELED:

PRIVATIONS OF WAR.

A DANCE OF DEATH

THIS LEAFLET SHOWS CHURCHILL OR JOHN BULL AS A FIGHT

PROMOTER ENCOURAGING TWO INDIANS (A HINDU AND A MUSLIM) TO
FIGHT TO THE DEATH. THERE ARE AT LEAST SIX DEAD INDIANS ON THE
GROUND OF THE ENCLOSURE WHERE THE FIGHT TAKES PLACE. THE
JAPANESE ARE POINTING OUT HOW THE BRITISH HAVE SET INDIAN
AGAINST INDIAN TO WEAKEN THEM AND MAKE THEM EASIER TO
SUBJUGATE. BY THE TIME THE WW II BROKE OUT THE MUSLIMS
LEAGUE LED BY MOHAMMAD ALI JINNAH HAD ALREADY LAUNCHED
ITS CAMPAIGN FOR A SEPARATE MUSLIM PAKISTAN AND THE BRITISH
FOLLOWING THEIR POLICY OF “DIVIDE AND CONQUER” WERE
ENCOURAGING HIM. THE MUSLIM LEAGUE OFFICIALLY PASSED A
RESOLUTION FOR THE CREATION OF PAKISTAN IN 1940. THE BRITISH
WERE ENCOURAGING THE DIVISION OF INDIAN SOCIETY. THE
ENCLOSURE IS MARKED "INDIA" IN BOTH HINDU AND BENGALI. THE
TEXT IS:

STOP DANCING TO THE ENGLISH TUNE AND COME TOGETHER

FORGETTING RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES FOR THE SAKE OF
INDEPENDENCE.

NO ROOM ON THE TRUCK

THIS LEAFLET DEPICTS THE BRITISH PILING ONTO THE BACK OF A

TRUCK IN AN ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE THE VICTORIOUS JAPANESE
MILITARY FORCES. A JAPANESE BOMBER IS IN THE BACKGROUND.
SOME INDIAN COLONIAL TROOPS TRY TO GET INTO THE TRUCK ALONG
WITH THE BRITISH, BUT THEY ARE KICKED ASIDE AND KNOCKED TO
THE GROUND. ONE LIES DEAD BENEATH THE REAR WHEELS. THIS
CLEARLY SHOWS THE REGARD THE BRITISH HAVE FOR THEIR INDIAN
COLONIAL TROOPS. THE TEXT IN HINDI IS:

RESIDENTS OF INDIA! THE ENGLISHMEN ARE JUST NOT BOTHERED

ABOUT YOU. YOU WILL SEE THIS SCENE WHEREVER YOU LOOK.
 SLAVES OR INDEPENDENCE

THIS LEAFLET DEPICTS TWO SCENES ON INDIA. IN THE FIRST THE

INDIANS HAVE GONE TO WAR FOR THE BRITISH AND THE SCENE IS OF
DEATH AND DESOLATION WITH DEAD INDIANS ON THE GROUND AND
VULTURES OVERHEAD. IN THE SECOND SCENE, THE INDIANS HAVE NOT
BEEN PULLED INTO THE WAR BY THE BRITISH AND A COUPLE SHARE A
PLEASANT MEAL SURROUNDED BY TREES, CHILDREN AND FARM YARD
ANIMALS.

THE JAPANESE DESIGNERS OF THIS LEAFLET APPEAR TO HAVE LITTLE

KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ACTUAL INDIAN LIFESTYLE AND HABITS. AT THE
TIME, EXCEPT FOR A FEW WESTERNIZED URBANITES, MOST INDIANS
DID NOT USE FORMAL CHAIRS AND DINING TABLES. THE TEXT IS:

AS SLAVES OF THE BRITISH - HUNGER AND DEATH RULE.

AFTER INDEPENDENCE - HAPPINESS AND PEACE RULE.

 INDIAN SERVANTS

THIS JAPANESE LEAFLET DEPICTS WINSTON CHURCHILL BEING

WAITED ON AND SERVED BY INDIANS. ONE BRINGS HIM DRINKS WHILE
A SECOND POLISHES HIS BOOTS. ANOTHER INDIAN HAS PULLED BACK
A CURTAIN AND POINTS TO BURMESE NATIONALISTS ATTACKING AND
BEATING BRITISH TROOPS INTO SUBMISSION. THE CLEAR INTENT IS TO
SHAME THOSE INDIANS WHO HAVE COLLABORATED WITH THE
BRITISH OCCUPIERS. THE TEXT IS:

ALL OF THE BRITISH COLONIES ARE UP IN ARMS. WE INDIANS NEED NOT

CONTINUE TO BE SUBJUGATED UNDER THE BRITISH BOOTS ANY MORE.
COME ON, LET US ALSO ARISE AND DO NOT LET THIS GOOD OPPORTUNITY
SLIP AWAY FROM OUR HANDS.
 HIDE THE CROPS

THE NEXT TWO JAPANESE LEAFLETS SEEM TO BE FROM THE SAME

SERIES AND BOTH SHOW THE BRITISH DESTROYING INDIAN CROPS TO
KEEP THEM IN BONDAGE AND SERVITUDE WITHOUT A VIABLE
ECONOMY. IN THE LEAFLET ABOVE, THE BRITISH ATTACK PEACEFUL
FARMERS AND ACTUALLY BAYONET ONE IN THE FOREGROUND. IN THE
BACKGROUND, INDIANS TRY TO ESCAPE WITH THEIR CROPS WHILE
THE BRITISH SHOOT AT THEM. THE TEXT IN HINDI, URDU AND BENGALI
IS:

FARMERS: HIDE YOUR FOOD GRAINS AND PROVISIONS BEFORE THE

BRITISH COME TO LOOT YOUR STOCK.
 BURN THE COTTON

IN THIS LEAFLET THE BRITISH ARE BURNING THE COTTON FIELDS OF A

POOR INDIAN FARMER WHO IS DEPICTED WITHOUT ANY FINGERS ON
HIS HANDS. IN ADDITION, THEY HAVE DESTROYED THE EQUIPMENT
THE FAMILY USES TO MAKE COTTON CLOTH FOR THEIR CLOTHING.
THIS CERTAINLY IS TO REMIND THE INDIANS ONCE AGAIN HOW THE
BRITISH DESTROYED THE INDIAN COTTON INDUSTRY TO FORCE THEM
TO BUY CHEAP BRITISH PRODUCTS. THE TEXT IN HINDI AND BENGALI
IS:

A SAMPLE OF THE BRITISH ATROCITIES

JUST TO SAVE THEIR ECONOMY, THE BRITISH COMMITTED

THIS BARBARIAN ATROCITY.

INDIAN WORKERS HAD TO CHOP OFF THEIR OWN FINGERS AND LOSE
THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
 AT HOMES…AT FRONT

WE ARE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE THE JAPANESE DISSEMINATED

THIS LEAFLET BUT IT SHOWS ALLIED TROOPS DRINKING AND
CAROUSING WITH WOMEN AT THE TOP AND THE TEXT:

AT HOMES

THE IMAGE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAFLET DEPICTS INDIAN

TROOPS CHARGING FORWARD THROUGH HEAVY FIRE AND SOME
FALLING TO THE GROUND. THE TEXT IS:

AT FRONT
 LEAFLET 5508
COURTESY OF ROD OAKLAND

THIS JAPANESE LEAFLET IS ONE OF THE FEW THAT BEARS A CODE

NUMBER. IT IS ON A LOW-GRADE PULP PAPER AND IS PROBABLY A VERY
EARLY LEAFLET. THE TEXT IS ENGLISH ON THE FRONT, URDU, THE
LANGUAGE OF NORTH INDIA AND THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE OF
PAKISTAN ON THE BACK. IT ASKS THAT THE INDIANS CONTINUE THE
FIGHT TO DRIVE OUT THE BRITISH. THE TEXT IS:

COMPROMISE WITH BRITAIN MEANS SUICIDE

CRAFTY BRITAIN WILL SET TRAPS ALL AROUND YOU. BEWARE OF THESE
DEATH TRAPS. HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH BRITAIN OR HER TALKS OF
COMPROMISE. GO ON WITH THE FIGHT AND ABANDON ALL THOUGHTS OF
SETTLEMENT WITH BRITAIN.
REMEMBER THAT COMPROMISE WITH BRITAIN MEANS THE BETRAYAL OF
INDIA. IT WILL ALSO MEAN UNTOLD SUFFERING FOR INDIA’S MILLIONS
AND CENTURIES OF FOREIGN EXPLOITATION.

RISE ALL OVER INDIA

DRIVE OUT THE BRITISH

INDIAN INDEPENDENCE LEAGUE IN EAST ASIA

ALTHOUGH I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CODED

LEAFLETS, THEY WERE REPORTED IN THE JUNE 1959FALLING LEAF,
JOURNAL OF THE PSYWAR SOCIETY. IN AN ARTICLE ENTITLED
“JAPANESE LEAFLETS,” P.H. ROBBS MENTIONS JAPANESE PROPAGANDA
TO THE INDIANS BEARING THE CODES “A,” “M” AND “S.” SOME OF THE
LEAFLETS ARE SIGNED BY THE INDIAN INDEPENDENCE LEAGUE WHILE
OTHERS ARE SIGNED BY THE JAPANESE.

AN EXAMPLE OF “A” IS A.7521. ROBBS REPORTS THAT IT SAYS IN PART:

INDIAN SOLDIERS!

WHY KILL YOUR OWN BROTHERS? YOUR UNARMED BROTHERS AND

SISTERS AND FIGHTING THE BRITISH FOR INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE. THE
BRITISH ORDER YOU TO SHOOT THEM ALL OVER INDIA. DISOBEY THIS
ORDER. DO NOT FEAR THE CONSEQUENCES. THE BRITISH DARE NOT DO
YOU ANY REAL HARM…

THIS LEAFLET IS SIGNED BY THE INDIAN INDEPENDENCE LEAGUE IN

EAST ASIA.

AN EXAMPLE OF “M” IS M.9054. ROBBS REPORTS THAT IT SAYS IN PART:

ENLISTMENT CARD

TO THE INDIAN SOLDIERS

WHO IS THE ENEMY OF THE JAPANESE ARMY? THE BRITISH!

WHO IS THE ENEMY OF A FREE INDIA? THEBRITISH!
WHO ARE THE WEAKEST SOLDIERS IN THE WORLD? THE BRITISH!

TO BECOME A WATCHDOG FOR THE BRITISH IS THE MOST TREACHEROUS

ACTTOWARDS YOUR SACRED TASK OF INDIANINDEPENDENCE.

TO ABIDE WITH A WEAK ARMY IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! ABANDON

THE BRITISHAND JOIN THE INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY!
THE JAPANESE ARMY AND THE INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY PLEDGE TO
SAFEGUARD YOURLIVES AND HONOR…

ROBBS ALSO MENTIONS LEAFLET M.9051, “NOW IS THE TIME

FORINDEPENDENCE...”

THESE LEAFLETS ARE SIGNED BY “THE JAPANESE” AND “THE

JAPANESECOMMANDER.”

FINALLY, ROBBS GIVES EXAMPLES OF “S” LEAFLETS. HE MENTIONS

S.2506“BRITAINISINDIA’S AGGRESSOR” AND S.2510“FREEDOM OR
DEATH.” BOTH ARE SIGNED BY THE INDIANINDEPENDENCELEAGUE
INEASTASIA. TEXT ON THE FORMER IS:

BRITAINISINDIA’SAGGRESSOR

JAPAN HELPS LIBERATE INDIA. THE BRITISH BLEED INDIA WHITE .JAPAN
HELPS INDIA’S REJUVENATION. JAPAN AND INDIA SHARE JOYS AND
SORROWS.

TEXT ON THE LATTER IS:

FREEDOM OR DEATH

THAT IS MAHATMA’S MESSAGE. LIBERATE GANDHI FROM BRITISH JAIL.

RECEIVE MAHATMA GANDHI INTO AN INDEPENDENT INDIA.