Search+Business News›News›India›Independence Day 2026: When Nazi Germany feared its women will fall for magnetic IndiansExclusivesField Marshal Erwin Rommel inspecting a unit of the Indian Legion at the Atlantic Wall in France in 1944SynopsisIndia's Independence Day: Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian Legion in Nazi Germany during World War II reveals a complex alliance shaped by shared opposition to British rule. Germany recruited Indian prisoners of war and supported Bose’s anti-colonial campaign, while Nazi officials maintained racial prejudices against Indians. Historian Baijayanti Roy’s research explores the Indian Legion, Nazi propaganda, racial tensions and its eventual collapse in Europe.By the summer of 1943, during the Second World War, German military authorities were confronting an unexpected problem. It had little to do with Britain, the Eastern Front or Allied bombing. The concern was that Indian soldiers serving in the German-sponsored Indian Legion were becoming too popular with local women. Some German officials worried that these exotic Indians possessed unusual powers of attraction over European women.This episode, ET Online 10 mins read, Last Updated: Aug 14, 2026, 01:16:00 PM ISTGift this Story to your friendsFONT SIZEAbcSmallAbcMediumAbcLargeSAVEPRINTCOMMENTContinue reading with one of these options:Limited AccessFreeLogin to get access to some exclusive stories & personalised newslettersLogin NowUnlimited AccessStarting @ Rs120/monthGet access to exclusive stories, expert opinions & in-depth stock reportsSubscribe NowETUh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.Worry not. You’re just a step away.What’s Included withETPrime Membership