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| Free India |
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| Propaganda Stamps |
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| Imperf examples of the Azad Hind set |
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Hitler was not that enthused with Bose, but did make use of him for propaganda purposes. One aspect of the propaganda was to produce a set of 'Azad Hind' stamps, printed in Germany. There is some doubt as to who ordered the stamps. Credit is given to Bose in Azad Hind and Chaco Delhi Stamps by Herbert A Friedman, 1972, and to Germany in Forged Stamps of Two World Wars by L.N. and M. Williams, 1954. What is clear is that they were printed at the German Government Printing Plant in Berlin on watermarked paper. The stamps were designed by Werner and Maria von Axster-Heudtlass, and each stamp has in small letters 'AXHEU' placed inconspicuously in the design.
In all, there are six different designs used for the 10 values within the set. The ½ Anna green, 1A dark red and 2As+2As pale red show a farmer ploughing a rice field with bullocks; it is assumed that the surcharge was intended to raise money for Bose. The 1A+1A brown shows a turbaned soldier using a German MG 34 machine gun. On the soldier's arm can be seen a regimental badge depicting a springing tiger. The springing tiger was Bose's personal emblem.
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The only multi-coloured
stamp is the 1R+2Rs
value, showing solders
bearing the flag of
Azad Hind (Free India) |
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An Indian girl using a spinning wheel is the subject for the 2½As orange and the 2½As+2½As blue. An Indian nurse was used for the 3As+3As stamp, whilst a map of India with a breaking chain, the symbol for freedom, was used for the 8As+12As and 12As+1 R values. Also included in this latter design are two ceremonial swords. According to Maria von AxsterHeudtlass, 'A large fire was built in our studio. The sword was held in the flames and consecrated with some Indian words. The entire scene was broadcast over the German radio'. (Friedman).
The final stamp in the set is the 1 R+2R value, which depicts three soldiers, one being a Sikh, carrying the battle flag, framed by the two ceremonial swords. The stamp is the only multicoloured value, being printed in black violet with orange and green used on the flag. The stamps can be found imperforate, or, for all values other than the 1R+2R, perf 10½ by 10½. We also have the 3As stamp pert 9¾ by 10½ and the 12As+1 R stamp pert 10½ by 9¾. There may well be other perforation varieties, but as the imperforate stamps are equally common, care is needed when buying these varieties, as any unusual pert variants could have been manufactured at a later date. |
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| Trial in Nuremberg |
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| There are a number of theories expounded on how these stamps came onto the philatelic market. For us, the account given by Friedman appears the most logical. He states that Bose had printed 12 million stamps, of which only 4,000 were of the 1R+2R value, hence its scarcity. In 1944, a German art and stamp dealer purchased the whole stock from the German Government. Some time between 1949 and 1950, this dealer left East Germany to settle in West Germany and then attempted to manipulate the market for the stamps. This resulted in a civil action for fraud heard
in the Nuremberg District Court on April 1, 1954. The presiding judge declared buying stamps was always a kind of speculation and thus dismissed the case! |
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| Indian National Army |
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What happened to Bose? He formed a force called the Indian National Army within the areas controlled by Japan. This force was made up of about 16,000 Indians, captured following the fall of Singapore, plus another 19,000 recruited from Indians captured in Malaya and other Japanese occupied areas. In April 1944, 8,000 of his soldiers were attached to a powerful Japanese striking force that launched an offensive against the British Forces. It reached Imphal, Burma before being heavily defeated by British troops. Of these 8,000, 1,500 deserted, 1,500 died and many others fell sick.
Bose and his close aides were killed in a plane crash at Taihoko Airport on the Island of Formosa on August 17, 1945, two days after the Japanese surrendered.
Independent India has issued five postage stamps commemorating Bose and his 'Army'. Two were issued in 1964 to celebrate the 67th anniversary of the birth of Bose, and the third stamp was issued in 1968 to mark the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Provisional Government of Free India. This last stamp depicts the flag with the springing tiger, Azad Hind, and the two ceremonial swords. Another stamp was issued in 1993 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Indian National Army, and most recently (1997) one to celebrate the centenary of his birth. |
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