I have been assigned to the three former Axis powers of World War II–Japan, Italy and Germany–during my diplomatic career. Besides the memories of World War II and its aftermath, the major link to India has been the visit of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to pre-war Germany and Japan. And thereby hangs a tale.
In 2016, while stationed in Berlin, I learnt that an interpreter for the Indian Legion, named Rudolf Hartog, lived near Gutersloh. Since there was no recent contact with him, we contacted him through the embassy.
Finally, I had the chance to meet him when I visited North Rhine Westphalia. At the age of 92 (he was born in 1924), he was gracious to drive down to meet us at our hotel. The moment he saw me waiting for him in the lobby of the hotel, he profusely shook my hand and asked in Germanic Punjabi, ‘Ki haal hai’?
Hartog was a spritely person, full of laughter and life. He had many fascinating stories to tell, recollections of his time with Indian soldiers who joined the Indian Legion in Germany. He wrote about many of his experiences in the book Sign of the Tiger, which discusses Netaji’s vision and the Indian Legion.
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