Japanese Propaganda depicting Winston Churchill cutting the hands of an Indian Farmer
~ "Scroll", circa 1939-1945
During the course of World War Two, when faith in the British Empire was low for India, Axis Powers had tried to take control over the subcontinent as well, but not in the usual method of warfare. Instead, they battled with the British in a much different manner- propaganda.
"...Nazi agents in India attempted to spread their ideology among certain sections of the Indian population."
- Eugene D'souza, "Social Scientist"
Nazi Germany Propaganda:
Due to the fact that India was directly under British control, German forces were hesitant to get involved. However, they took the unusual route of using propaganda to sway the already volatile India instead of invading. They put Subhas Chandra Bose in charge of German propaganda in India, who started a movement called the Free India Movement.
Subhas Chandra Bose in New Delhi
-"The Print", 1942
Instead of using posters, they created a radio station known as the Azad Hind Radio, or Azad Hind Fauz where they resented British colonialism, and advocated for revolution.
The Azad Hind logo displaying a tiger, over green, white, and orange, the colors of India's flag.
-"The Print" circa. 1942
“When we stand, the Azad Hind Fauz has to be like a wall of granite; when we march, the Azad Hind Fauz has to be like a steamroller.”
- Subhas Chandra Bose
Bose featured in "Time Magazine"
- "Time Magazine", 1939
The Germans also created a secret militant group known as the Free India Legion, a small army containing Axis loyal Indian troops, which was also backed by Japan, Subhas Chandra Bose, and the Azad Hind radio.
A video about the Free India Legion
- "France 24", 2019
Japanese Propaganda:
Since Japan, another Axis power, was also a nation in East Asia, they considered India to be in their “co-prosperity” sphere, meaning that they considered India as “one of their own”. Since the Japanese became involved in WWII, they wanted India to be one of their closest allies.
A Japanese propaganda piece displaying Mahatma Gandhi, a famous Indian Nationalist who advocated for independence, next to two other famous nationalists, and text that reads, "Japan is sworn to aid India Fight".
-"Scroll"
A propaganda leaflet showing four Indian farmers and one Japanese soldier in Unity, kicking Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain at the time, from where they sit.
-Herbert Friedman, "Psywarrior"
However, instead of going the route Nazi Germany did, by communicating radio-based propaganda, they decided to mainly push their ideas through leaflets and posters, a “Poster Push”. They distributed their leaflets in two main ways, the first, was distributing propaganda through postcards, the second, was dropping posters and flyers out of planes. Japan also had backed the Free India Legion, a small army containing Axis loyal Indian troops which was also backed by Subhas Chandra Bose.
A poster sent to India by Japan which reads, "Any Indian whose blood doesn’t boil at the memory of the Amritsar massacre cannot be called an Indian. This is the golden opportunity for revenge,".
-"Scroll"