Great Battles: Monte Cassino
Great Battles - The Italy Campaign: Excepting the Jews, no religious community suffered a greater proportion of casualties in World War II than the Sikhs. What is remarkable about the unsung Sikh contribution is that it was a voluntary sacrifice for the cause of freedom. As World War II loomed, Sikhs volunteered in ever-increasing numbers to serve in the British military despite their opposition to the British colonization of India. This Sikh vigor of spirit, born partly out of national loyalty and partly out of recognition of Axis injustices, served the British well.
In the early years of the war as overwhelming Japanese might was thrown against unprepared British overseas holdings, skeleton Sikh formations were rushed to defend islands against ten-fold and sometimes even twenty-fold more numerous crack Japanese attack troops. Sikh divisions were considered elite forces that had the potential for victory against any odds. However, even the highly trained Sikhs were rapidly defeated in the resulting battles. Most Sikhs that weren't killed outright were starved to death as Japanese prisoners of war. A few successfully escaped and rejoined British forces.
As the tide of the war gradually turned in favor of the Allies, Sikhs were again placed on the front lines. They played a leading role in defeating Rommel, the supposedly invincible German general nicknamed 'Desert Fox', in Africa. In the following video, rare archival footage traces the movements of Indian troops, primarily Sikhs from the Punjab Regiment, in the campaign to liberate Italy from Axis occupation. The supporting role of Hindu Gurkhas is also mentioned.
The British ultimately named several warships after the Sikhs in commemoration of their service in World War II, including the famous HMS Sikh, which took part in the successful naval battle against the German supership Bismarck. Sadly, much of the history of Sikh sacrifices across the globe, particularly against Japanese imperial forces, has been lost with time.
In the early years of the war as overwhelming Japanese might was thrown against unprepared British overseas holdings, skeleton Sikh formations were rushed to defend islands against ten-fold and sometimes even twenty-fold more numerous crack Japanese attack troops. Sikh divisions were considered elite forces that had the potential for victory against any odds. However, even the highly trained Sikhs were rapidly defeated in the resulting battles. Most Sikhs that weren't killed outright were starved to death as Japanese prisoners of war. A few successfully escaped and rejoined British forces.
As the tide of the war gradually turned in favor of the Allies, Sikhs were again placed on the front lines. They played a leading role in defeating Rommel, the supposedly invincible German general nicknamed 'Desert Fox', in Africa. In the following video, rare archival footage traces the movements of Indian troops, primarily Sikhs from the Punjab Regiment, in the campaign to liberate Italy from Axis occupation. The supporting role of Hindu Gurkhas is also mentioned.
The British ultimately named several warships after the Sikhs in commemoration of their service in World War II, including the famous HMS Sikh, which took part in the successful naval battle against the German supership Bismarck. Sadly, much of the history of Sikh sacrifices across the globe, particularly against Japanese imperial forces, has been lost with time.
Part One: Introductory Tribute (Length: 3 Minutes)
Part Two: "This picture postcard setting was at the center of a battle which stands in the heroic category of Dunkirk, Stalingrad, or Cayenne." (Length: 10 Minutes)
Part Three: "The battle had been one of the bloodiest in military history." (Length: 7 Minutes)
Part Four: "But if these soldiers are almost entirely forgotten in India, in Italy it's an altogether different story." (Length: 8 Minutes)
