03-25-2006, 11:56 AM
Hello everyone.
I have always had an interest in World War 2 era history, with an emphasis on Axis history. What really caught my eye was the immense number of foreign troops in the German army. Over 1 million Russian soldiers fought under them, and interestingly enough, so did over 3000 Indian soldiers.
2 years ago, several of my friends introduced me to their hobby of World War 2 reenacting, which is kind of like a mobile museum exhibit, with different events scattered throughout the year that depicts to the visiting public what the life of a soldier was during the war. Whether they are American, German, Russian, British, Polish, most of the major players in the European Theater are represented. We get dressed up in authentic uniforms, carry real weapons, set up actual WW2 era camps, and give touring spectators presentations on what the equipment is and how it was used. Also, mock battles are put on for the public, using real tanks and vehicles and even WW2 aircraft. The 2 major events in the Midwest draw as many as 500 reenactors and thousands of spectators. It's all good fun. Something I've noticed though is the tiny amount of foreign soldiers represented in the Axis forces. So...
What I want to do is to change that. I'm looking for young Indian men in the Chicago/Midwest area who would have an interest in forming a reenacting unit portraying the 950th Indische Infantrie Regiment, also known as the Free India Legion of the German Army. Our goal would be to accurately represent the brave men who fought for the ideal of liberating their home country from the British.
If anyone is interested, you can send me an email at emojoerocks@hotmail.com, or just comment here. I'd really like to teach people about a lesser known part of world history, and not let the memory of the soldiers die.
To read about the Free India Legion, there is an excellent article dealing with its creator and its formation right on this very forum, located at:
http://www.india-forum.com/forums/index.ph...56&hl=azad+hind
To view some photos of some previous reenactments in Indiana and Illinois, here are some links from a group I am associated with:
http://www.25panzergrendiv.com/main_folder...,page1.2001.htm
http://www.25panzergrendiv.com/main_folder...,page2.2001.htm
http://www.25panzergrendiv.com/main_folder...,page3.2001.htm
http://www.25panzergrendiv.com/main_folder...W_Gallery_1.htm
http://www.25panzergrendiv.com/main_folder...W_Gallery_2.htm
Note*
Reenacting groups are entirely apolitical organizations, neither harboring, nor condoning, nor tolerating the beliefs of Nazi Germany, Fascism, or any other radical ideals. The organizations are for the education of the public, and to have a good time doing it <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I have always had an interest in World War 2 era history, with an emphasis on Axis history. What really caught my eye was the immense number of foreign troops in the German army. Over 1 million Russian soldiers fought under them, and interestingly enough, so did over 3000 Indian soldiers.
2 years ago, several of my friends introduced me to their hobby of World War 2 reenacting, which is kind of like a mobile museum exhibit, with different events scattered throughout the year that depicts to the visiting public what the life of a soldier was during the war. Whether they are American, German, Russian, British, Polish, most of the major players in the European Theater are represented. We get dressed up in authentic uniforms, carry real weapons, set up actual WW2 era camps, and give touring spectators presentations on what the equipment is and how it was used. Also, mock battles are put on for the public, using real tanks and vehicles and even WW2 aircraft. The 2 major events in the Midwest draw as many as 500 reenactors and thousands of spectators. It's all good fun. Something I've noticed though is the tiny amount of foreign soldiers represented in the Axis forces. So...
What I want to do is to change that. I'm looking for young Indian men in the Chicago/Midwest area who would have an interest in forming a reenacting unit portraying the 950th Indische Infantrie Regiment, also known as the Free India Legion of the German Army. Our goal would be to accurately represent the brave men who fought for the ideal of liberating their home country from the British.
If anyone is interested, you can send me an email at emojoerocks@hotmail.com, or just comment here. I'd really like to teach people about a lesser known part of world history, and not let the memory of the soldiers die.
To read about the Free India Legion, there is an excellent article dealing with its creator and its formation right on this very forum, located at:
http://www.india-forum.com/forums/index.ph...56&hl=azad+hind
To view some photos of some previous reenactments in Indiana and Illinois, here are some links from a group I am associated with:
http://www.25panzergrendiv.com/main_folder...,page1.2001.htm
http://www.25panzergrendiv.com/main_folder...,page2.2001.htm
http://www.25panzergrendiv.com/main_folder...,page3.2001.htm
http://www.25panzergrendiv.com/main_folder...W_Gallery_1.htm
http://www.25panzergrendiv.com/main_folder...W_Gallery_2.htm
Note*
Reenacting groups are entirely apolitical organizations, neither harboring, nor condoning, nor tolerating the beliefs of Nazi Germany, Fascism, or any other radical ideals. The organizations are for the education of the public, and to have a good time doing it <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->