SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION
SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION
H001267 CASED ORDER OF AZAD HIND 2ND CLASS, "HERO OF INDIA", STAR, WITHOUT SWORDS.
(Azad Hind Orderen II Klasse ohne Schwerter, in Etui,)BACKGROUND: As far back as WWI there had been calls by different groups for an armed revolution in India against British rule in order to establish a freely independent Indian state. During WWI the Indian’s, with German assistance, (Indo-German Pact), planned a rebellion within the British run Indian army but after the Indian army elements in Hong Kong rebelled the British dismantled any further rebellion plans. Although the majority of the Indian population supported the fight against fascism at the outbreak of WWII they were upset that the British rule had declared India to be in an official state of war against the Axis powers without any prior consultation. This, along with other factors, resulted in assorted different elements within India, to start a mobilization campaign to raise an independent Indian army in order to stage a rebellion to evict the British and gain independence while Britain was preoccupied with the war in Europe. One of the more influential, anti-British, Indian leaders was Subhash Chandra Bose. Bose made numerous attempts with different nations to establish an independent Indian army to fight the British. Between September 1941 and January 1942 Bose attempted to mobilize Indian nationals who had served in the British army and been captured by the Axis in North Africa. These Indians which were being held in Italy resulted in the formation of the Battaglione Hazad Hindoustan, (Free India Battalion). The experiment failed however as the Indian’s refused to serve under the Italian leadership and the battalion was disbanded. Bose also traveled to Russia, Japan and Germany in an attempt to forge an alliance against the British. Shortly after the fall of British held Singapore in February 1942, another Indian national, Mohan Singh, established the anti-British, Azad Hind Fauj, (Indian National Army), in South-East Asia with Japanese assistance. This also failed by December 1942. In early 1943 Bose, now heading the Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind, (Provisional Government of Free India), reformed the Azad Hind Fauj, with Japanese political and monetary support. Further recruitment efforts in conjunction with the Germans resulted in the formation of the Indische Infanterie-Regiment 950 (Indian Infantry Regiment 950), which was established in April 1943 as a volunteer unit of the German army. In August 1944 the Indische Infanterie-Regiment 950 was transferred to the Waffen-SS and reorganized as the Indische Freiwilligen-Legion der Waffen-SS, (Indian Volunteer Legion of the Armed-SS). The Azad Hind series of awards was allegedly instituted in 1942 by Bose in conjunction with the German sponsored, Centrale Freies Indien, (Central Committee for Free India). The Azad Hind series of awards included the Grand Star, neck award, known as the Tiger of India, (Sher-e-Hind), the 1ST Class Star, known as the Leader in Battle, (Sardar-e-Jang), the 2ND class Star, known as the, Hero of India, (Vir-e-Hind), and the Medal of Merit in bronze, silver and gold, known as the Martyr of the Fatherland, (Shahid-e-Bharat). All the awards were bestowed, with swords for bravery and without swords for merit although the exact criteria for bestowal of one of the awards is unknown. The awards were rendered to all eligible personnel, including Germans. It is believed that the Rudolf Souval firm of Vienna was the primary if not the sole manufacturer of the Azad Hind series of awards.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Three piece, slightly convexed, die struck, alloy construction merit award with nickel/silver plated, frosty, silvery/white washed and fire gilted finishes. The award is in the form of a eight point, ribbed, sunburst pattern with a central, fire gilted, medallion with the embossed profile of a lion’s head on a subtly pebbled background field, encompassed by block Latin script, "Azad Hind", (Indian Independence), with laurel leaf clusters to the top and bottom. The sunburst pattern base retains over 95% of it’s nickel/silver plated and frosty, silvery/white washed finishes while the central medallion retains over 95% of it’s fire gilted finish. The smooth, convexed, frosty, silvery/white washed reverse of the award has a raised, soldered on medal loop and ribbon suspension ring intact and the award comes complete with a roughly 18cm long, 40mm wide ribbed rayon ribbon in the Indian national colors of green, white and orange. The reverse of the award also has a central medallion with the embossed manufacturer’s name and location, "Rudolf Souval Wien VII". The award comes housed in it’s original cardboard and wood construction presentation case with a simulated, finely grained, tan leather covering. The fold back top lid has a magnetic, staggered, bar hinge to the reverse and an alloy, folding closure clip to the obverse. Both the hinge and the closure clip still function. The center of the top lid has an impressed, gilt, profile of a lion’s head. The exterior bottom of the case has a simulated, grained, black leather covering. The interior bottom of the case has a purple flock, lining with a sunburst pattern recess for the award and a rectangular recess for the ribbon. The interior top of the case is lined in white satin with the black printed, manufacturer’s name and location, "Rudolf Souval Wien VII Str. D. Julikämpfer, 28", in block, Latin script. The case is in overall very good condition with light chafe wear to the exterior including a small tear to the simulated, black leather bottom and minor age toning to the interior white satin lining. Ribbon bar is also included. Very seldom encountered, cased award with all the components in overall very good condition.
GRADE ****1/4 PRICE
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