Azad Hind
(Mi.I A/B - Mi.X A/B - 1943)
Azad Hind (Free India') unissued postage stamps for the national government under Subhas Chandra Bose. Shown above Mi.IA (1 A + 1 A perforate) and Mi.IB (1 A + 1 A imperforate). Both ref: Prophila2
The Provisional Government of Free India or, more simply, Azad Hind, was a short-lived Japanese-controlled provisional government in India. It was established in Japanese occupied Singapore during World War II in October 1943 and has been considered a puppet state of the Empire of Japan.
It was a part of the political movement originating in the 1940s outside India with the purpose of allying with the Axis powers to liberate India from British rule. It was established by Indian nationalists in exile during the latter part of the World War II in Singapore with monetary, military and political assistance from Imperial Japan.
Mi.I (A&B) depicts a Sikh soldier armed with a German MG 34 machine gun. On his right shoulder he bears the insignia of the Indian Legion.
The Indian Legion (German: Indische Legion), officially the Free India Legion (German: Legion Freies Indien) or 950th (Indian) Infantry Regiment (German: Infanterie-Regiment 950 (indisches)), was a military unit raised during the Second World War initially as part of the German Army and later the Waffen-SS from August 1944. Intended to serve as a liberation force for British-ruled India, it was made up of Indian prisoners of war and expatriates in Europe. Owing to its origins in the Indian independence movement, it was known also as the 'Tiger Legion', and the 'Azad Hind Fauj'. As part of the Waffen-SS it was known as the Indian Volunteer Legion of the Waffen-SS (German: Indische Freiwilligen Legion der Waffen-SS). (Source: Wikipedia)
Note that the high value 1R+2R (Mi.VIIB, Ba, Bb, - imperforate only) is not shown here due to it's rarity and cost. Mi.VIIIB depicts three Indian soldiers holding the Azad Hind flag. This stamp is available in three variations: black/orange/emerald green (Mi.VIIB); black only (Mi.VIIBa); black/orange (Mi.VIIBb).
Mi.VIII A/B - Mi.X A/B
No surcharge - to have been issued to the Andaman Islands and Niobrara
Article by R.J. Szymanski, 'Germania' Volume 6, Issue No.2, April 1970
'Maria [Axster-Heudtlass]wrote that she was the designer of the AZAD HIND Legion stamps, - her husband Werner specialised in script design. The themes for the six stamps were all chosen by Subhas Chandra Bose - the Indian Nationalist leader. He was very concerned with the designs and was especially interested in two of them, the 8A + 12A , and the 12A + 1R values, showing a map of India and the 'broken chains of colonialism'. Also another design used for the 3A + 3A value showing a nurse attending a wounded patient.
The nurse portrayed has the features of a friend of Bose, he provided Maria with a photograph to work from. The result pleased Bose very much.
In appreciation of their work, a special ceremony was held which was broadcast over German Radio, at which a special 'Holy Sword' was presented to them after being consecrated by passing it through the flames of a fire built in their studio. This sword appears in the design of both the 8A + 12A and the 1R + 2R of the series. It was still in her possession in 1964.
To clear a philatelic query, she insisted that the Azad Hind stamps were issued primarily for postal use, and the propaganda motive was a secondary consideration.'