Awards Germany - Order of Azad Hind 1st Class Neck Cross with Swords

The Order of Azad Hind is a distinctive feature in the awards of the Wehrmacht. It was donated in 1942 by Subhas Chandra Bose to the leader of the Indian Freedom Struggle for soldiers of the 950th Infantry Regiment (Indian Legion) of the German Wehrmacht. The Indian Legion was assembled from Bose Indian prisoners of war. In December 1942, the number of the legion was about 3,500 people. As part of the Wehrmacht, troops were used first in Holland, and then in France to protect the Antlantik rampart. In August 1944, the unit was subordinated to the Waffen-SS. In March 1945, the legion was captured and sent prisoner to India.
The order was established in the 3rd grade and was awarded both with and without swords. The 1st class was a neck cross, the 2nd class was a nodal cross, and the 3rd class was a cross on a ribbon. At the same time, the medal was also donated in 3 classes (gold, silver, bronze). Awarding swords, in the form of Indian sabers, was awarded only for excellent use under the influence of the enemy. 1st class - the only cross with an enameled middle shield (23 mm), the rest are gilded with a rough bottom.

An eight-pointed silver radiant star with a gold middle medallion worn. Including 2 crossed gilded Indian sabers. The back side is silver. On top is a flattened hook for hanging a small ring. Thanks to this, an elongated tape ring.

Front side:

• Round gold central shield with a wide, enameled white, raised ring.
• It's outside and inside with a gold border. Inside rounded.
• On the ring on the left is a golden inscription: - AZAD - on the right: - HIND - (Free India).
• Above and below on the ring are green enameled, golden burgundy leaves.
• Each 3 on the left and 3 on the right, in the center of the point.
In
• a surrounded, deepened, white field, sublimely depicted,
• a golden Indian lion head looking to the left.

Downside:

• Smooth and silver. In the center is a round lining.
• On top is a flattened hook for the ring.