AH Question: Indian revolt during WW2.

[Rudi Maxer]

Was there a possibility for large scale anti-British revolt in India during World War 2? Could such revolt succeed in pushing British out of India, or seriously influence the course of the war?

Perhaps if Subhas Chandra Bose remains leader of INC, or Quit India movement takes more forceful approach? What POD would be necessary for that?

 

[mowque]

I doubt they could really get it off the ground. Many Indians thought that helping with WW2 would lead to greater freedoms after the war. Unlike most times in history, they were right. Working with the British is a tough trend to break here. I am sure you could get them to be tougher about it.

 

[Rudi Maxer]

Really no more answers?

Assuming there was stronger anti-british sentiment for whatever reason, was such rebellion militarily feasible during WW2?

 

[Rich Rostrom]

Really no more answers?

Assuming there was stronger anti-british sentiment for whatever reason, was such rebellion militarily feasible during WW2?

If we had some ham, we could have ham and eggs, if we had any eggs.

British control of India was dependent on the Indian Army. The Indian army enforced the orders of the British Government of India.

By WW II, all of its other ranks and most of its officers were Indian.

If there was "stronger anti-British sentiment", then there would be fewer men enlisting in the Indian Army, and many of the troops would refuse the orders of the Government of India, which could allow a rebellion to succeed.

Because there was sufficient pro-British sentiment to sustain the Indian Army, there was insufficient anti-British sentiment for a rebellion. There wouldn't be both.

 

[Bolschewik]

If we had some ham, we could have ham and eggs, if we had any eggs.

British control of India was dependent on the Indian Army. The Indian army enforced the orders of the British Government of India.

By WW II, all of its other ranks and most of its officers were Indian.

If there was "stronger anti-British sentiment", then there would be fewer men enlisting in the Indian Army, and many of the troops would refuse the orders of the Government of India, which could allow a rebellion to succeed.

Because there was sufficient pro-British sentiment to sustain the Indian Army, there was insufficient anti-British sentiment for a rebellion. There wouldn't be both.

If say the British suppressed the Quit India Movement brutally and/or killed some prominent leader then the troops of India will revolt. There would be some nationalists who would seek for an alliance of India. Since this would happen after August 1942, the Japanese would be eager establish an alliance.

 

[hipper]

Was there a possibility for large scale anti-British revolt in India during World War 2? Could such revolt succeed in pushing British out of India, or seriously influence the course of the war?

Perhaps if Subhas Chandra Bose remains leader of INC, or Quit India movement takes more forceful approach? What POD would be necessary for that?

Well the Quit India Movement was lead by a noted pacifist so taking a more forecull approach is problematic.