How India helped the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War

India soldiers Narayan Nikkam and Gajedra Singh were awarded the Soviet Order of the Red Star during World War II.
Photo: Rossiyskaya Gazeta

During World War II, from November 1942 to March 1944, Indians transported tens of thousands of tons of supplies to the Soviet Army. The historical episode called in India “Aid Convoys”.

“This may not look like a very significant contribution from India. But it was obviously a very difficult route to overcome in 10-ton trucks,” explains Indian historian, Squadron Leader Rana T.S. Chhina (Retd), Secretary and Editor of CAFHR. “The roads were broken, and the mountain passes were narrow.”

According to available data, the Royal Indian Army Service Corps carried out 428 trips through the mountain passes and deserts of the “Indo-Soviet route”: 275 with ammunition, 52 with bitumen, 35 with oil, 66 with various military materials.

“In 1944, in recognition of the work done by the Indian Supply Corps, two soldiers from India were awarded the Soviet Order of the Red Star. One of them was Narayan Nikkam and the other was Gajedra Singh,” said Rana Chhina. Nikkam and Singh were unique among Indians who received Soviet military awards during the war with Nazi Germany.

This is Rana Chhina story.

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