Did Nazi ideology consider Indians part of a "racial family ?" -The very fact that Hitler personally met/ shook hands with Bose is the FACT !!!!

Did Nazi ideology consider  Indians part of a "racial family" even if  Nazi racial theory was heavily focused on the superiority of the Aryan race, particularly those of Northern European descent it included a strong belief in racial hierarchies and based on Hitler’s engagement with Subhas Chandra Bose, and other geopolitical considerations, one could easily see that Indians were viewed with more complexity within Nazi ideology. Hitler would never have agreed to meet Bose if he'd been classified in the same category as Nazis classified Jews, Gypsies ETC

Hitler's Interaction with Subhas Chandra Bose:  

The meeting between Adolf Hitler and Subhas Chandra Bose, where they discussed cooperation for India’s independence, raises an interesting point: despite the Nazis’ racial ideology, they formed alliances that went far beyond strict racial boundaries when it suited them. Bose was instrumental in organizing the Free India Legion (Indian National Army) with the support of Nazi Germany. This alliance was also intended to weaken the British Empire, which controlled India at the time.

While this collaboration can be seen as a pragmatic choice on the part of the Nazis, it also suggests that Indians were not regarded in the same light as groups targeted by Nazi extermination policies, such as Jews or Romani people. The Nazis did not view Indians with the same intense hostility as they did with races they deemed "Untermensch" (subhuman). The very fact that Hitler personally met with Bose and supported the creation of the Free India Legion implies that Indians were treated differently in Nazi racial thinking.

Nazi Views on "Aryans" and India’s Ancient Civilizations

Another point that complicates Nazi attitudes toward Indians is their view of ancient civilizations, particularly their admiration for the ancient Aryans who were thought to have originated in parts of India and Central Asia. Heinrich Himmler, a leading figure in the Nazi regime, was fascinated by the Vedic traditions and Indian history. The Aryan migration theory, which suggests that the original Aryans migrated from somewhere around the Indian subcontinent to Europe, influenced Nazi racial mythology.

In Nazi rhetoric, there were instances where the Indo-European connection was referenced, even though this did not translate to political or racial equality between Indians and Germans. Himmler himself was said to have respected some aspects of Indian culture, especially its spiritual heritage. Some fringe Nazis viewed the Indo-European origins of Aryanism as a shared racial heritage, linking Germans and ancient Indians in some philosophical or mythical sense.

This position, though not mainstream within Nazi ideology, does suggest that certain elements of the regime did not entirely dismiss Indians as racially alien or subhuman, at least not in the way they treated other races like Jews or Slavs. This line of thinking opens the possibility that Nazi racial ideology contained some room for flexibility when it came to Indians, especially if geopolitical or ideological interests aligned.

 Geopolitical Strategy

The Nazi pragmatic approach to alliances during World War II is evidence that Nazi racial policy was not always rigidly applied. Hitler’s engagement with Bose proves the use of Indians as strategic partners in the wider aim of undermining the British Empire, which was a priority for Nazi Germany.  During World War II, Nazi Germany cultivated relationships with several groups that it would not normally consider racially equal, including Arabs and Japanese. 

These alliances were based on mutual geopolitical interests, such as opposition to British colonial rule and Western imperialism. The Nazis viewed India as a critical region where anti-British sentiment could be generated, and Bose’s leadership of the Indian National Army aligned with their larger strategy. Hitler’s willingness to engage with Bose, support the Free India Legion, and promise assistance in Indian independence shows that Indians were not merely pawns but were valued as partners in a mutually beneficial relationship.

The Free India Legion: Not Treated as Subhuman

The formation of the Free India Legion (also known as the Indian National Army) under Nazi Germany further strengthens the argument that Indians were not seen as "Untermensch" in the same way that Jews, Slavs, and other groups were. Soldiers of the Free India Legion were treated as allies and were trained by the Wehrmacht (German military). They were not subjected to the same brutal treatment as other groups classified as inferior races. The Nazi regime provided Indian soldiers with military training, resources, and even recognition in official German military documents. Had Indians been viewed in the same light as those Nazi ideology sought to exterminate or enslave, it would be difficult to imagine them being incorporated into the Nazi war machine in such a capacity.

Hitler's Rhetoric vs. Actions: A Flexible Application of Racial Ideology

While Hitler's speeches and writings do contain disparaging remarks about non-European races, his treatment of Indians through his alliance with Bose suggests that his application of Nazi racial ideology could be flexible when it served his geopolitical goals. Hitler’s disdain for British imperialism and his desire to see the British Empire collapse made him more open to partnerships that might not align perfectly with Nazi racial theories. It could be argued that, at least in the context of war and strategic partnerships, Hitler saw Indians not as racial inferiors but as valuable allies. His willingness to meet with Bose and support Indian soldiers within the Free India Legion indicates that, at least in practice, Hitler did not treat Indians with the same scorn and racial enmity he directed toward Jews, Romani, or Slavic peoples.

 Pragmatic Partners, if Not Racial Equals

While it is a stretch to claim that the Nazis considered Indians as part of a racial family on par with Germans, it is clear that Indians were not viewed with the same hostility and contempt reserved for those groups explicitly targeted by Nazi extermination policies. Hitler’s engagement with Subhas Chandra Bose and the support for the Indian National Army shows a practical alliance, suggesting that Nazi racial ideology was not always rigidly applied when it came to Indians.

The Nazis’ treatment of the Free India Legion, combined with their fascination with India’s ancient Aryan heritage, hints that Indians occupied a more ambiguous space in Nazi racial thinking.