third eye
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While many times we think of war, especially World War II, as a dichotomy - good/evil, axis/allied, German/American - this is truly not the case. Various political goals, ideologies, and national ties often blur the lines of war.
It is interesting to see using the example of foreign conscription of soldiers by Germany in World War II.
Foreign Volunteers
Made up from various backgrounds, foreign born soldiers hailed from countries such as India, France, Britian, the U.S., Turkey, Russia, Korea, and China, as well as soldiers from the Islamic faith. By the wars end, the supposed "racially-pure" Waffen-SS was comprised of nearly 60% non-Germans, with 25 of the 38 SS divisions comprised of foreigners.
One of the more large foreign contingents of the German Army was the Indische Legion (Indian legion), composed of Indian soldiers. As the Free India Movement developed, and the British placed a house arrest order on the Indian Congress, causing several Indian Congressman to travel to Berlin. In order to alleviate their hatred for British oppression, these congressmen formed an all-volunteer unit comprised of Indian soldiers, in the hopes of soon fighting the British in Europe and Africa. The Indian Legion initially fought with the German Army, and at war's end, the Waffen-SS. The Indian unit saw action in the Western Europe, and even fought the invading Allied force on D-Day.
Another non-Germanic unit of the German armed forces was the Legion Freies Arabien (Free Arab Legion). As the German Army entered Africa, it began conscripting Muslim volunteers. The Free Arab Legion was comprised of Libyan and Ethiopian Muslims. Towards the end of the war, this division was folded into the 13th SS Handschar Division, composed of Muslim Bosniaks.
While the division was composed mostly of volunteers, problems of dissidence often arose, when the Muslim soldiers wanted to stop combat duties during prayer time. After high desertion rates, SS Commander Heinrich Himmler eventually allowed Muslim soldiers their prayer time. Interestingly, Bosniam Muslim soldiers were allowed to wear traditional Bosnian hats in conjunction with their SS uniforms. Many can be seen wearing red fezzes with the SS skull and German National Eagle pinned on. Ultimately, 20,000 Muslim volunteers belonged to the German armed forces, fighting mainly in Africa and Yugoslavia.
Pictures follow ...
---------- Post added at 02:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:45 PM ----------
An African-Muslim volunteer in the German Army
Muslim members of the 13th SS Division stop to pray.
Bosnian members of the 13th SS Division. Note the traditional Fezzes (with German Eagle and Skull). Note also the middle-eastern scimitar swords their collar patches.
---------- Post added at 02:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:48 PM ----------
A French volunteer in the German Army, and a member of the Legion des Voluntaires. Note the French flag patch on his forearm.
French soldiers of the German "Legion des Voluntaires" unit holding a French flag in Russia, 1941.
---------- Post added at 02:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:49 PM ----------
A British member of the Waffen-SS. Note the British flag patch on his wrist.
Some Chinese troops training in Germany in the 1930s stop to play a game of chess.
---------- Post added at 02:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:51 PM ----------
Chiang Wei-Kuo, son of Chang Kai-Shek, in his German Army uniform.
It is interesting to see using the example of foreign conscription of soldiers by Germany in World War II.
Foreign Volunteers
Made up from various backgrounds, foreign born soldiers hailed from countries such as India, France, Britian, the U.S., Turkey, Russia, Korea, and China, as well as soldiers from the Islamic faith. By the wars end, the supposed "racially-pure" Waffen-SS was comprised of nearly 60% non-Germans, with 25 of the 38 SS divisions comprised of foreigners.
One of the more large foreign contingents of the German Army was the Indische Legion (Indian legion), composed of Indian soldiers. As the Free India Movement developed, and the British placed a house arrest order on the Indian Congress, causing several Indian Congressman to travel to Berlin. In order to alleviate their hatred for British oppression, these congressmen formed an all-volunteer unit comprised of Indian soldiers, in the hopes of soon fighting the British in Europe and Africa. The Indian Legion initially fought with the German Army, and at war's end, the Waffen-SS. The Indian unit saw action in the Western Europe, and even fought the invading Allied force on D-Day.
Another non-Germanic unit of the German armed forces was the Legion Freies Arabien (Free Arab Legion). As the German Army entered Africa, it began conscripting Muslim volunteers. The Free Arab Legion was comprised of Libyan and Ethiopian Muslims. Towards the end of the war, this division was folded into the 13th SS Handschar Division, composed of Muslim Bosniaks.
While the division was composed mostly of volunteers, problems of dissidence often arose, when the Muslim soldiers wanted to stop combat duties during prayer time. After high desertion rates, SS Commander Heinrich Himmler eventually allowed Muslim soldiers their prayer time. Interestingly, Bosniam Muslim soldiers were allowed to wear traditional Bosnian hats in conjunction with their SS uniforms. Many can be seen wearing red fezzes with the SS skull and German National Eagle pinned on. Ultimately, 20,000 Muslim volunteers belonged to the German armed forces, fighting mainly in Africa and Yugoslavia.
Pictures follow ...
---------- Post added at 02:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:45 PM ----------
An African-Muslim volunteer in the German Army
Muslim members of the 13th SS Division stop to pray.
Bosnian members of the 13th SS Division. Note the traditional Fezzes (with German Eagle and Skull). Note also the middle-eastern scimitar swords their collar patches.
---------- Post added at 02:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:48 PM ----------
A French volunteer in the German Army, and a member of the Legion des Voluntaires. Note the French flag patch on his forearm.
French soldiers of the German "Legion des Voluntaires" unit holding a French flag in Russia, 1941.
---------- Post added at 02:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:49 PM ----------
A British member of the Waffen-SS. Note the British flag patch on his wrist.
Some Chinese troops training in Germany in the 1930s stop to play a game of chess.
---------- Post added at 02:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:51 PM ----------
Chiang Wei-Kuo, son of Chang Kai-Shek, in his German Army uniform.
@ this. 
