News/Politics thread by @satyanewshi

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Great Escape part ~3 🧵

After the daring & adventurous escape via Afghanistan, Subhas Bose reached Moscow on March 27, stayed there for a night & reached Berlin by air on 28th March,1941. Navigating complex international politics in the backdrop of WW 2 for India’s Independence

সত্যান্বেষী@satyanewshi

The Great Escape 🧵Part 2: From Kabul to Berlin ,a perilous journey .
Illustrations in the 🧵done by @horek_rokom

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Netaji wanted to explore all possible means for achieving the cherished goal of India’s independence. Netaji was clear in his strategy that the ‘enemy’s enemy is your friend’. He looked at Nazi Germany solely from that perspective.

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It followed the approach taken by Indian revolutionaries towards German during the First World War. However, the Germany of the 2nd World War was very different, even with respect to India.

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Bose was looked after by the German Foreign Office under Dr. Adam Von Trott, assisted by Dr. Alexander Werth. Von Trott helped Bose in getting a rank and position and also sheltered him from the hard liner Nazis.

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The Germans provided luxurious accommodation along with telephone & access to German officials
But Bose was restless for his plans for India’s freedom & access to Fuhrer was not granted so he had to wait a full one year to meet Hitler

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In Europe Netaji’s key aides were Dr.Hiranmoy Ghoshal along with A C Nambiar & Abid Hassan
Dr.Ghoshal was polygot & multi linguist . He spied , gathered info & arranged meetings with key contacts for Netaji

সত্যান্বেষী@satyanewshi

Netaji's Spy ~ Dr Hiranmoy Ghoshal ~writer, journalist, polyglot, diplomat, professor and the first known Indian to set foot in Poland & a multi linguist who could speak 26 languages - He spied for Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose during WW2

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In the backdrop of WW2 & geopolitical situation, Bose was finalising his plan. Indien-Büro (India Office) which later became the Zentralstelle Freies Indien (Central Office Free India) & became his operational Head Quarter. Its aim was to spread information on India’s Freedom

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On April 9, Bose shared a memorandum to the Germans detailing the work required to be done in Europe, Afghanistan & India. He also outlined the geopolitical activities that needed to be in place for effectiveness of the plan

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Kingshuk nag in his book -Netaji :living dangerously wrote -“Bose wanted to create a volunteer base of 10,000, which would go ahead of the German forces to invade India through Russia, Persia and Afghanistan”

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Indian soldiers taken prisoners by the Italians were transferred to Annaberg camp, where Bose met them for 1st time
With the help of Germans,Bose set up the Indian Legion there in 1941

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According to military historians Some 27 selected Indian PoW of officer rank from North Africa war zone were flown to Berlin in May 1941, to help Bose set up the `Tiger Legion’.

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Historian R C Majumdar in his book “ History of Freedom movement of India” Vol -3 wrote about Bose spirited efforts to raise an army of Indian PoW. The soldiers of Indian Legion began addressed Bose with the honorific ‘Netaji’ ~ the epithet by which he has been immortalised

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Bose had been given a Free India Centre and a radio to broadcast his views .After diplomatic recognition from the German foreign ministry, The Zentrale Freies Indien or the Free India Centre was established in Berlin

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At the inaugural session of the Center on November 2, 1941 the ‘Azad Hind’ team formally decided that Tagore’s ‘Jana Gana Mana' & Jai Hind’ will be the national greeting

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Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose who was instrumental in making it the anthem of the INA, particularly appreciated its pan-India and secular reach.
Abid Hasan Safrani, The INA Soldier from Hyderabad Coined “Jai Hind”

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Azad Hind Radio was established in Berlin. It started broadcasting from 19 Jan1942 with the avowed objective of presenting world affairs from the purely Indian viewpoint to counter British propaganda through (BBC) which in Netaji described as ‘Bluff &Bluster Corporation’

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Parallely Bose Personal life was also taking a decisive turn . Bose & Emilie Schenkl were intensely in love. Emilie Schenkl was an Austrian lady by birth who became a German subject

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Subhas & Emilie had first met in Vienna in June 1934 during his stay in Europe .Subhas had begun to write his book ‘The Indian Struggle, a contemporary history of India drawn largely from memory during his exile in Europe.Emile was appointed for secretarial Job .

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From 1934 onwards, Subhas and Emilie kept in touch with each other through very regular correspondence – he wrote to her even at the busiest times and also from jail – and he came to Vienna every time he visited Europe.

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Owing to German racial laws which made it difficult for the country’s subjects to marry foreigners, she and Subhas had married in secret according to Hindu rituals & they named their Daughter Anita

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Bose views on Nazis were no secret , in a conversation with Mrs. Kitty Kurti a Czech Jewish woman of Berlin he clearly stated
“It is dreadful and it must be done. It is our only way out. India must gain her independence, cost what it may.

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And it may mean the collapse of Europe...and therefore does concern me surely there are excellent people, here and in England for whom I feel respect and affection; some may perish and die...But let us not be sentimental.

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I am doing what I have to do; what must be done. Have you an idea...of the despair, the misery, the humiliation of India? Can you imagine her suffering and indignation? British imperialism there can be just as intolerable as your Nazism here, I assume.”

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When Nazis were spying on Netaji & Emilie he openly stated them that - if he can defy British CID he can defy Gestapo too

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Subhas Bose escape from Calcutta enraged the British , they ordered his assassination & now with his broadcast & setting up of legion was a direct challenge to British Empire .

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Bose plans for Axis help to march an army of Indian PoW to India for liberation via central Asia backed by Axis power which he has been discussing with Germans fell apart as Hitler launched “Operation Barbarosa” against Soviet Union

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Bose had opined in his memorandum that in order for his plan to be successful, it was desirable that the status quo between Germany and Soviet Union was maintained

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On 29th May , 1942 ,Berlin a meeting between Subhas & Hitler was held Bose realised that Hitler was not interested in Indian Independence but was concerned with expanding his empire in Europe.

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In spite of this, because of the personal magnetism of Bose & seeing his grit and determination to free his country from foreign yoke, Hitler and other leaders were impressed.

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Hitler even acknowledged in an uncharacteristic manner shedding his condescending attitude, that he was the leader of 70 million Germans & Subhas was the leader of 380 million Indians. ‘Germans salute you. I salute you’.

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Subhas Bose escape & his direct challenge to British empire also forced Congress on a hard line path & In Aug 1942 Congress led by Mahatma Gandhi gave calls for Quit India movement.

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Rising above political diff Bose backed it whole heartedly in his broadcast in AZH Radio & also sent a message to Indian Nationalist in Far east to link up with Indian Nationalist across the world

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As German campaign in Russia faltered he knew he had to get out from Europe & reach SE Asia so that he can be closer to India Bose approached Japanese defence attaché in Berlin

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By Mid January 1943 Bose plans for Submarine voyage to Asia was finalised . With heavy heart he said final good bye to Emilie & his daughter
He instructed Nambiar specifically to take care of Indian Legion so that they Don’t become pawns in European theatre

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On 8th Feb ,1943 Bose embarked on another perilous journey with Abid Hassan through German U boat / Submarine from port of Kiel in the Baltic sea . During the 3 months that they were in the submarine, Netaji was also revising his Book “The Indian Struggle.”

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On April 20,1943 The German Submarine coordinated with Japanese Submarine in the coast of Madagascar & in the rough sea Bose & Abid Hassan took a raft to cross over from German U boat to Japanese submarine .

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This was the only submarine to submarine transfer in the history of world wars, that too in enemy waters & on May 6 ,1943 it docked safely in Sabang , Philippines

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Having the Western option closed , Bose took another perilous journey
to give shape his political millitary doctrine of leading an Indian army to uproot British occupation of India

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From Calcutta to Peshawar to Kabul to Moscow to Berlin to Kiel to Madagascar a difficult journey with risk at every step was undertaken by Bose ,exploring all means & ways for India’s Liberation

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After WW2 Emilie’s apartment was searched by British Intelligence & took away all letters written to her by Netaji,
Bose German Foreign office contact Adam Von Trott who was not a Nazi was involved in the conspiracy of assassinating Hitler in 1944 & met a dreadful fate

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As Netaji Said “For an enslaved people, there can be no greater pride,no higher honor,than to be the first soldier in the army of liberation”
Soon SE Asia was to witness fierce battles & death defying bravery by INA soldiers led by Bose,paving the way for liberation of Motherland

Great Escape part ~3 🧵 After the daring & adventurous escape via...

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