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GERMAN "AZAD HIND" LIASON OFFICER'S TUNIC

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:600.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 1,500.00 USD
GERMAN  AZAD HIND  LIASON OFFICER'S TUNIC
Very rare German infantry oberleutnant's M44 tropical tunic, its owner once serving as a liason to the Azad Hind ("Free India") provisional government of India. The khaki "duck" tunic bears sewn-in shoulder boards each bearing one brass pip. The collar tabs are of an unusual construction, possibly theater-made, while the bullion chest eagle, original to the garment, is regulation. A rare embroidered "Freies Indien" patch has been applied to the left sleeve. The short vent at the rear of the tunic has been hand-stitched closed, and the two top pockets have had small snaps added at each end to further secure them. Within, the jacket bears two chest pockets and is only partially lined at top. A rare tunic in otherwise very good condition. Azad Hind sought to organize Indian soldiers to fight the British in an effort to free India of British rule. Indian forces supported by the Japanese fought the British at Imphal, and the Germans trained a regiment of 2,000 Indians at Frankenburg. The experiment was a bust, as the Free French defeated them in battle and many attempted to flee to Switzerland. Other were trained as commandos, parachuted into Iran, and were intercepted before achieving any results.