Naik Yeshwant Ghadge

Subject: History

Section: Modern History

Context: V.C Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial” unveiled at Montone, Perugia in Italy

More about the news:

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute at the VC Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial in Montone, Italy.
The memorial commemorates the Indian soldiers’ participation in the campaign to liberate Italy during World War II, shedding light on a shared military history often overlooked until Italy recently opened this memorial earlier this year.

Who was Yashwant Ghadge:

Naik Yeshwant Ghadge was an Indian war hero who served during World War II’s Italian campaign (1943-45).
He epitomizes the forgotten Indian heroes of the war.
Ghadge, at the age of 23, single-handedly captured an enemy post in Montone, Italy.
He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest military honour.

What was the Italian campaign of World War II

Naik Ghadge sacrificed his life during World War II’s Italian campaign, which pitted the Allied Forces against the Axis Powers (Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan).
The Allies aimed to liberate Italy and began their counterattack with the invasion of Sicily in 1943.
While the Fascist Italian regime fell quickly, fierce German resistance persisted along defensive lines spanning the Italian mainland, including the area where Naik Ghadge lost his life, situated between the Trasimene/Albert Line and the vital Gothic Line.

What are some of the heroism of Indian soldiers in the war

The Indian Army, led by the British during World War II, provided more than 2.5 million soldiers to support the Allied cause.
Around 50,000 Indian soldiers took part in the Italian campaign, and sadly, 5,782 lost their lives.
Indian forces, including the 4th, 8th, and 10th Indian Divisions, as well as the 43rd Independent Gurkha Infantry Brigade, formed the third-largest group of Allied troops in Italy.
They made significant contributions to crucial battles such as Monte Cassino and the breach of the Gothic Line, receiving recognition for their professionalism and their impact on the campaign.