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Indiansoldiers.Pdf Indian_Embassy_Italy_final.qxp 4/11/2008 7:31 PM Page 1 A TRIBUTE TO THE YOUNG INDIAN SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT WITH BRAVERY FAR AWAY FROM HOME UN TRIBUTO AI GIOVANI SOLDATI INDIANI CHE COMBATTERONO CON CORAGGIO LONTANO DALLA PROPRIA TERRA Indian_Embassy_Italy_final.qxp 4/11/2008 7:31 PM Page 2 Rajiv Dogra Ambassador of India Rome 10 September, 2007 MESSAGE Invariably, my travels through Italy have taken me in route of the cemeteries honouring the war dead. From deep South to far North, I have found grave yards lined with the tomb-stones of young Indian men. The thought that a larger story lies unveiled led us to compile this account of Indian involvement in Italy during that tragic chapter of history in World War II. The picture that we have pieced together shows that the first Indian troops landed at Taranto and in the south of Naples on 19 September, 1943. From then until 29 April, 1945 they were engaged in a heroic mission. Almost 50,000 troops, mostly between the ages of 19 and 22, fought for the sake of free- dom in Italy. Close to 50 per cent of them were injured in the process. Of these, a total of 5782 Indian soldiers died in Italy. It is to their credit that out of twenty Victoria Cross decorationsgiv- en for bravery during the war in Italy, the Indian soldiers received as many as six. The story of their bravery and their sacrifice is still talked about in Italian cities and villages that they helped to liberate. However, the full account of their bravery is not available to the wider public. This book is an attempt to piece together that story. I would like to thank all the Italian and Indian men and women and the members of the Italain Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Italy who have come forward readily to support this initiative with their accounts and helpful suggestions. I would like to mention in particular the commitment of Col. Amarjeet Singh, the Defence Attaché of the Embassy of India, Rome, in making this compilation possible in the short time target that we had set for ourselves. I hope this book becomes an inspiration for the young professionals and to all those who would like to pause for a minute once every year in the memory of 5782 young Indian men who gave up their lives in Italy so that others could live in freedom. Rajiv Dogra Indian_Embassy_Italy_final.qxp 4/11/2008 7:31 PM Page 3 Rajiv Dogra Ambassador of India Rome 10 Settembre 2007 MESSAGGIO I miei viaggi attraverso l’Italia mi hanno immancabilmente portato a visitare i cimiteri com- memorativi dei caduti in Guerra. Dal profondo Sud all’estremo Nord, ho trovato camposanti con fila di pietre tombali di giovani uomini indiani. Il pensiero che gran parte della storia non fosse stata ancora rivelata ci ha portato a realizzare questo resoconto sul coinvolgimento dei soldati indiani in Italia durante quel tragico capitolo della storia nella Seconda Guerra Mondiale. Dalla ricostruzione che abbiamo compilato si evince che le prime truppe indiane giunsero a Taranto e a sud di Napoli il 19 Settembre del 1943. Da allora fino al 29 Aprile del 1945, esse furono impegnate in una missione eroica. Circa 50.000 truppe, formate per lo più da soldati di età compresa tra i 19 e 22 anni, com- batterono in Italia in nome della libertà. Circa il 50% dei soldati rimasero feriti. Tra questi, 5782 soldati indiani morirono in Italia. È per questo che delle 20 Croci Vittoria insignite per il corag- gio dimostrato durante la guerra in Italia, sei furono conferite a soldati indiani. Nei villaggi e città italiane che i soldati indiani aiutarono a liberare si parla ancora del loro coraggio e sacri- ficio. Ciò nonostante, il racconto completo delle loro gesta coraggiose non è ancora noto ad un pubblico più vasto. Il libro rappresenta il tentativo di ricostruire questa storia. Vorrei ringraziare tutti gli uomini e le donne italiane ed indiane ed i membri della Commissione del Commonwealth per le Onoranze ai Caduti di Guerra, con sede a Roma, che hanno voluto dare un supporto a questa inziativa con sollecitudine, fornendoci le proprie considerazioni e preziosi suggerimenti. Vorrei, quindi, fare menzione in particolare dell’impegno del Colonello Amarjeet Singh, l’addetto mil- itare dell’Ambasciata dell’India a Roma, per aver reso possible questa raccolta nel breve lasso di tempo che ci eravamo prefissati. Spero che questo libro diventi una fonte di ispirazione per i giovani professionisti e per tutti coloro che vorranno osservare un minuto di silenzio una volta all’anno in memoria dei 5782 giovani uomini indiani che persero la vita in Italia affinchè altri potessero vivere in libertà. Rajiv Dogra Indian_Embassy_Italy_final.qxp 4/11/2008 7:31 PM Page 4 MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF ITALIAN ARMY It was a great pleasure to write a message for this booklet and to receive the invitation to pay homage to the soldiers of this great Nation who contributed with generosity for the liberation of Italy. From their landing in Taranto till their arrival in Trieste, the soldiers from New Delhi played a great role in the difficult advance of the Allied forces. The Indian Contingent was the third largest after the American and the English Contingents. The Fourth, Eighth and Tenth Indian Infantry Divisions were employed in the battle for the capture of Monte Cassino and in the bitter campaign that followed for the breaching of the Gothic Line. This is what Field Marshal Wavell wrote about the heroic effort of the Fourth Division: “The fame of this Division as one of the greatest fighting formations, will be remem- bered in military history, just like the Tenth Legion, the Light Division who fought in the Peninsular War and the old Napoleonic Guard.” For me reading the pages of this guide, which has the aim of providing some additional historical facts so as to better understand the Italian Campaign, is like opening a book of mem- ories. Besides praising the undoubted bravery that the troops were able to show, it is our duty to exalt the contribution that they made for the Italian people to reaffirm the values of liberty and brotherhood between populations. These values are beyond every historical context and form the base for cohabitation between free nations. On my behalf and on behalf of the Italian Army I express my deep and sincere thanks to those men, who paid with their lives for the defence of these eternal values. Chief of Army Staff Lt General Fabrizio CASTAGNETTI Indian_Embassy_Italy_final.qxp 4/11/2008 7:31 PM Page 5 MESSAGGIO DI SALUTO DEL CAPO DI STATO MAGGIORE DELL’ESERCITO ITALIANO Ho accolto con grande piacere l’invito ad aprire le pagine di questo opuscolo, anche per rendere omaggio ai soldati di questa grande Nazione che contribuirono con generosità alla liberazione dell’Italia. Le truppe di Nuova Delhi sostennero un ruolo di primo piano nel corso della lenta risalita delle potenze Alleate, dal momento dello sbarco a Taranto fino al loro arrivo a Trieste. L’e-serci- to indiano fornì, infatti, il terzo contingente per numero di uomini, superato solo da Americani ed Inglesi. La quarta, l’ottava e la decima Divisione di fanteria indiana furono du-ramente impegnate negli scontri per la conquista di Montecassino e nelle successive aspre campagne per lo sfondamento della Linea Gotica. Il Feldmaresciallo Wavell scrisse a proposito del valore della quarta Divisione: “La fama di questa Unità passerà alla storia come una delle più grandi formazioni combattenti della sto-ria militare, tale da accostarla alla decima Legione, alla Divisione leggera nella guerra pe-ninsulare e alla vecchia Guardia napoleonica”. Sfogliare le pagine di questa guida che, con pregevole sintesi, si prefigge l’obiettivo di fornire qualche elemento storico integrativo per meglio affrontare lo studio della Campagna d’Italia è come aprire un libro di ricordi. Ma, oltre l’indiscusso valore militare che le truppe sep- pero esprimere, è doveroso esaltare il contributo che esse diedero al popolo italiano nel riaffer- mare quei valori di libertà e fratellanza fra i popoli che esulano da ogni contesto storico, ponen- dosi come base dei rapporti di convivenza fra libere nazioni. A quegli uomini che pagarono con la loro vita la difesa di tali intramontabili valori, va dun- que il convinto, commosso ringraziamento dell’Esercito Italiano e mio personale. Il Capo di Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito Gen. C.A. Fabrizio CASTAGNETTI Indian_Embassy_Italy_final.qxp 4/11/2008 7:31 PM Page 6 MESSAGE The Indian Soldier since times immemorial has been in the forefront of all wars to fight against the forces of evil. During the Second World War, the Indian formations in Italy played a predom- inant role in the many battles fought, what is collectively known in military history as the Italian Campaign. Keeping the grand strategy in mind, they admirably assisted the Allied invasion of France by keeping a large number of German formations engaged in Italy. The Indian forces though limited to the strength of 4, 8 and 10 Indian Division, distinguished themselves for courage and tenacity in the battles of the Sangro, Cassino, the Liri Valley, the Gothic line, the Senio and several other engagements. The Indian soldiers fought in a terrain that was ideally suited for defence and the offensive proceeded against the grain of the country. Yet they fought with unparalleled courage and relentless tenacity. Almost 50,000 Indian troops fought for the liberation of Italy of which 5782 of our gallant soldiers made the supreme sacrifice. The heroic actions and fighting mettle of Indian soldiers were fully recognized by the erstwhile allied Generals who repeatedly called on them to perform the most demanding and challenging tasks and magnificently did the Indian soldier rise to every challenge and emerged victorious each time.
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