Was it really a division( in terms of number)?And was there many spanish officers to command?
I don't knows if these volunteers perfomed well on eastern front?
division "azul"
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Der Schwarze Ritter
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spanish volunteers
It was a full division, don't know the number but in 1943 Franco recalled the division back to Spain, a large number of dedicated anti communists stayed and fought on with the Germans. These volunteers formed the SS Freiwilligen Kompanie 101 & 102. Both units fought in the battle around Krasny Bor and in the Battle of Berlin and were captured by the Soviets and were held prisoner until 1954. 30 % perished at the hands of the Soviets.
-Daniel-
-Daniel-
Azul
There were somewhere between 16,000 and 18,500 troops.I dont remember where i read but, they were at first despised by the Germans because of their womanizing but soon earned their respect after the Russian winter counter offensive.Stationed near The Volkhov River they held their ground against an onslaught of some 60,000 to 70,000 Russians.They were however,unlike many other auxilliaries,given German supplies and weapons,perhaps a gesture of respect but most likely because of the superior quality and reliability over Spanish made material.I dont know the numbers for casualties or officers among their rank but it is true that many stayed and fought to the bitter end. The "Azul" may not be as popular or well known like "Charlemagne" but it seems they fought just as bravely.
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Ebusitanus
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Marcus as a nice section here on this website about the div. Feldgrau has another nice piece.
To sum it up, when Germany attacked Russia, Franco finally found a way out of his predicament of owing Adold so much for his own Civil war.
Volunteers where called for a Legion (much in size and type as the French or Wallons) but so many run to join that actually several full strengh divisions could have been fielded (Many a Spaniard wanted to get even with Stalin for supporting the Republic). Franco upgraded his idea to a full division to match perfectly a German one in numbers and organization. While the rank and file was mostly facist militiamen from the Falange or other akin organization (who had already quite experience from their last war), most of the officers and NCOs were Spanish regular army effectives. Franco was fearful that his hold on Spain might be jeopardized by a too facist unit (He was more of an National Catholic than a fascist). Initially they thought they would become a motorized div but as soon as the volunteers arrived to Germany to train it became obvious they would be foot inf as the 250th Inf Div. soon to be nicknamed "Blue division" due to the huge numbers of Falangist volunteers, whose blue shirt the troops never discarded and whose upper neck they made hang over the German Litdzen (sp).
After some training and resuppliying (exchange of their Spanish Army uniforms for full German equipment) they were sent to Poland and so as to improve their cohesion to be foot marched all the way to the Central front. The idea was to join up on the offensive on the Russian capitol but along the way, womanizing (no rape) and their shaggy marching order and equipment care enfuriated some HQ German hot shots who in spite had the division redirected to the Northern axis of advance.
The div finally reached the front on Novogorod and inmediatly crossed the Volkhov on the planned offensive in direction Kalinin. This offensive was called of and only a battalion remained on the eastern side of the river. Like its neighboring German units, this Inf div was spread thin out to cover quite an area. With the onset of the early winter heavy fightings toke place on the river with the Spanairds inflicting heavy loses on the Soviets.
Special mention is the Spanish reief effort by its Ski company to cross the frozen lake Ilmen to relief a German garrison trapped behind lines. Many froze to death but fought on till contacting the braking out garrison. About only 8 out of the 200 or so skiers reached the Div unwounded.
With the Spring, the div fought on the southern pincer to destroy Gen. Vlassov's 2nd Shock Army that had broken through the marshes in order to relief the belagered Leninngrad siege.
After that, the div was sent to Leningrad propper to prepare for its assault after the destruction of Sebastopol by the XI Korps. The increasing costly Stalingrad campaign stopped this offensive short and static trench watfare ensued with some detachements sent even to Schlusselburg till the famed Krasny-Bor battle where the div hold out against overwhelming odds, inflicting the soviets over 11.000 casulaities for 3000 own.
With the worsening fortunes of the Reich, franco became more and more preasured by the western allies to take his div home.
Late 43 this happened, leaving a token "Blue Legion" of 1500 volunteers behind. This unit kept fighting and retreating with Army Grp North till mid 44 where it was repatriated too.
Many Spanairds still felt like fighting for the Reich and had to defy Spanish official stance by deserting before the Legion was sent home, crossing the Spanish-French border ilegaly and also from the numerous Spanish workers in the German industries sent years ago to help out and make some money.
In all, about 2000 Spanairds volunteered to the Waffen SS, being scattered all across Latin SS div and their own two SS companies. One of those companies fought in Berlin under Miguel Ezquerra who wrote a book about his SS experience.
In total about 40.000 Spaniards passed through the Div, Legion and SS.
Not to forget the existance of a Spanish Fighter unit attached to the JG-27 at the russian central front, fighting even at Kursk-Orel.
Minor involvement also with the Kriegsmarine on PTB on the Baltic under the excuse of cross training to purchase some German vessels.
Here some funny quotes by Hitler about the Blue Division.
"The Spaniards have not given an inch of terrain. You can hardly imagine more reckless beings. They barely take cover. They look death in the face. I know very well that our men feel very happy when they have the Spaniards as neighbors in their sector."
"Not even providence has been able to rein in the bravery and loyalty of the Blue Division"
"When the Spanish division returns to its country, we can't give her and its brave General other certificate than the aknowledgement of their loyalty and valor till death"
"...and I have to mention about a division, arrived from south Europe, that has endured at the shores of Lake Ilmen everything we could have asked of our own men"
"The Spanish volunteers organized in the Blue division are fighting, shoulder to shoulder, with the German soldiers in one of the most dificult sectors of the East front. The Blue Division is located with no interruption in the first line. The soviets have tried continuosly to break the sector, and in all sides have the heroic spanish volunteers been able to throw back such attacks with huge losses to the enemy"
"If at the front you meet an unshaven soldier, dirty, with run down boots, and unbuttoned tunic, stay to attention, he is a hero, he is a Spaniard"
General of the Artillery Jürgens
Commander of the XXXVIII Korps.
To sum it up, when Germany attacked Russia, Franco finally found a way out of his predicament of owing Adold so much for his own Civil war.
Volunteers where called for a Legion (much in size and type as the French or Wallons) but so many run to join that actually several full strengh divisions could have been fielded (Many a Spaniard wanted to get even with Stalin for supporting the Republic). Franco upgraded his idea to a full division to match perfectly a German one in numbers and organization. While the rank and file was mostly facist militiamen from the Falange or other akin organization (who had already quite experience from their last war), most of the officers and NCOs were Spanish regular army effectives. Franco was fearful that his hold on Spain might be jeopardized by a too facist unit (He was more of an National Catholic than a fascist). Initially they thought they would become a motorized div but as soon as the volunteers arrived to Germany to train it became obvious they would be foot inf as the 250th Inf Div. soon to be nicknamed "Blue division" due to the huge numbers of Falangist volunteers, whose blue shirt the troops never discarded and whose upper neck they made hang over the German Litdzen (sp).
After some training and resuppliying (exchange of their Spanish Army uniforms for full German equipment) they were sent to Poland and so as to improve their cohesion to be foot marched all the way to the Central front. The idea was to join up on the offensive on the Russian capitol but along the way, womanizing (no rape) and their shaggy marching order and equipment care enfuriated some HQ German hot shots who in spite had the division redirected to the Northern axis of advance.
The div finally reached the front on Novogorod and inmediatly crossed the Volkhov on the planned offensive in direction Kalinin. This offensive was called of and only a battalion remained on the eastern side of the river. Like its neighboring German units, this Inf div was spread thin out to cover quite an area. With the onset of the early winter heavy fightings toke place on the river with the Spanairds inflicting heavy loses on the Soviets.
Special mention is the Spanish reief effort by its Ski company to cross the frozen lake Ilmen to relief a German garrison trapped behind lines. Many froze to death but fought on till contacting the braking out garrison. About only 8 out of the 200 or so skiers reached the Div unwounded.
With the Spring, the div fought on the southern pincer to destroy Gen. Vlassov's 2nd Shock Army that had broken through the marshes in order to relief the belagered Leninngrad siege.
After that, the div was sent to Leningrad propper to prepare for its assault after the destruction of Sebastopol by the XI Korps. The increasing costly Stalingrad campaign stopped this offensive short and static trench watfare ensued with some detachements sent even to Schlusselburg till the famed Krasny-Bor battle where the div hold out against overwhelming odds, inflicting the soviets over 11.000 casulaities for 3000 own.
With the worsening fortunes of the Reich, franco became more and more preasured by the western allies to take his div home.
Late 43 this happened, leaving a token "Blue Legion" of 1500 volunteers behind. This unit kept fighting and retreating with Army Grp North till mid 44 where it was repatriated too.
Many Spanairds still felt like fighting for the Reich and had to defy Spanish official stance by deserting before the Legion was sent home, crossing the Spanish-French border ilegaly and also from the numerous Spanish workers in the German industries sent years ago to help out and make some money.
In all, about 2000 Spanairds volunteered to the Waffen SS, being scattered all across Latin SS div and their own two SS companies. One of those companies fought in Berlin under Miguel Ezquerra who wrote a book about his SS experience.
In total about 40.000 Spaniards passed through the Div, Legion and SS.
Not to forget the existance of a Spanish Fighter unit attached to the JG-27 at the russian central front, fighting even at Kursk-Orel.
Minor involvement also with the Kriegsmarine on PTB on the Baltic under the excuse of cross training to purchase some German vessels.
Here some funny quotes by Hitler about the Blue Division.
"The Spaniards have not given an inch of terrain. You can hardly imagine more reckless beings. They barely take cover. They look death in the face. I know very well that our men feel very happy when they have the Spaniards as neighbors in their sector."
"Not even providence has been able to rein in the bravery and loyalty of the Blue Division"
"When the Spanish division returns to its country, we can't give her and its brave General other certificate than the aknowledgement of their loyalty and valor till death"
"...and I have to mention about a division, arrived from south Europe, that has endured at the shores of Lake Ilmen everything we could have asked of our own men"
"The Spanish volunteers organized in the Blue division are fighting, shoulder to shoulder, with the German soldiers in one of the most dificult sectors of the East front. The Blue Division is located with no interruption in the first line. The soviets have tried continuosly to break the sector, and in all sides have the heroic spanish volunteers been able to throw back such attacks with huge losses to the enemy"
"If at the front you meet an unshaven soldier, dirty, with run down boots, and unbuttoned tunic, stay to attention, he is a hero, he is a Spaniard"
General of the Artillery Jürgens
Commander of the XXXVIII Korps.
Funny quotes
I see no fun in those quotes, because Hitler's remarks were pretty much true. The Spaniards were indeed heroes, despite their shaggy appearance, no less than tha ANZAC soldiers in Allied service. They were one of the few nations to be on par with Germans in regard to the bravery, skill and determination of the individual soldiers(alongside Finland, Australia and New Zealand, Belgium etc)
Who was, after all, the General who led the Division?
~Ovidius
Who was, after all, the General who led the Division?
~Ovidius
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Ebusitanus
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First it was a hero from the Civil war and military commander of the Spanish Army in front of Gibraltar.
Gen. Munoz Grandes. a very politicized General who made no qualms about his desire to join fully the Axis effort on all fronts. Due to his pro Axis fervor he was eventually recalled to Spain by Franco who began to worry about his good relations with the rest of German HQ and even Hitler himself.
Gen. Esteban-Infantes, Not less heroic but a typical Spanish ultra Catholic conservative Officer, much in line with some Prussian elements. He was a trusted friend of Franco too.
Gen. Munoz Grandes. a very politicized General who made no qualms about his desire to join fully the Axis effort on all fronts. Due to his pro Axis fervor he was eventually recalled to Spain by Franco who began to worry about his good relations with the rest of German HQ and even Hitler himself.
Gen. Esteban-Infantes, Not less heroic but a typical Spanish ultra Catholic conservative Officer, much in line with some Prussian elements. He was a trusted friend of Franco too.
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Lord Gort
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Hey I found something that may help, i have to say though that with Catalan relatives who fought for the Republic these quotes still fill me with pride.
Here some quotes by Hitler about the Blue Division.
"The Spaniards have not given an inch of terrain. You can hardly imagine more reckless beings.
They barely take cover. They look death in the face.
I know very well that our men feel very happy
when they have the Spaniards as neighbors in their sector."
"Not even providence has been able to rein in the bravery and loyalty of the Blue Division"
"When the Spanish division returns to its country,
we can't give her and its brave General other certificate
than the aknowledgement of their loyalty and valor till death"
"...and I have to mention about a division, arrived from south Europe,
that has endured at the shores of Lake Ilmen everything we could have asked of our own men"
"The Spanish volunteers organized in the Blue division are fighting,
shoulder to shoulder, with the German soldiers in one of the most dificult sectors of the East front
. The Blue Division is located with no interruption in the first line.
The soviets have tried continuosly to break the sector,
and in all sides have the heroic spanish volunteers been able to throw back such attacks
with huge losses to the enemy"
"If at the front you meet an unshaven soldier,
dirty, with run down boots, and unbuttoned tunic,
stay to attention, he is a hero, he is a Spaniard"
General of the Artillery Jürgens
Commander of the XXXVIII Korps.
Here some quotes by Hitler about the Blue Division.
"The Spaniards have not given an inch of terrain. You can hardly imagine more reckless beings.
They barely take cover. They look death in the face.
I know very well that our men feel very happy
when they have the Spaniards as neighbors in their sector."
"Not even providence has been able to rein in the bravery and loyalty of the Blue Division"
"When the Spanish division returns to its country,
we can't give her and its brave General other certificate
than the aknowledgement of their loyalty and valor till death"
"...and I have to mention about a division, arrived from south Europe,
that has endured at the shores of Lake Ilmen everything we could have asked of our own men"
"The Spanish volunteers organized in the Blue division are fighting,
shoulder to shoulder, with the German soldiers in one of the most dificult sectors of the East front
. The Blue Division is located with no interruption in the first line.
The soviets have tried continuosly to break the sector,
and in all sides have the heroic spanish volunteers been able to throw back such attacks
with huge losses to the enemy"
"If at the front you meet an unshaven soldier,
dirty, with run down boots, and unbuttoned tunic,
stay to attention, he is a hero, he is a Spaniard"
General of the Artillery Jürgens
Commander of the XXXVIII Korps.
Andy from the Shire-
Ebusitanus
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Ebusitanus
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When reading about the Blue Division one ends up necesarily reading about the Spaniards participation among the Waffen-SS. Once there you end up bumping into this Miguel Ezquerra who wrote a book "Berlin a vida o muerte" claiming to have fought with his Spaniards alongside the Lituanians and other European volunteers in Berlin, earning, acording to his book, the Knightscross from the hands of the Fuehrer himself along with an offer to honorary German citizenship which Ezquerra would have declined in Spanish pride.
More or less the part that there was actually a Unit Ezquerra in Berlin has taken roots among historians. Ezquerra, myth or reality?
More or less the part that there was actually a Unit Ezquerra in Berlin has taken roots among historians. Ezquerra, myth or reality?
Last edited by Ebusitanus on 07 May 2002, 02:57, edited 1 time in total.
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Ebusitanus
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Some more info about the Waffen-SS Spaniards.
After March 1944 when the last remains of the official Blue Legion are recalled to Spain to end Spain's official involvement in WWII, many men were still eager to fight communism and others, mostly Blue Division veterans, to go back to fight it out with, what they considered, their brothers in arms the Germans.
Hunderds crossed ilegaly the Pirinees mountains to France to such numbers that the Germans actually set up a full welcome aparatus to process all these volunteers.
The Sonderstab F had offices to receive them set up at Andorra, Puigcerdá, Port Bou and Hendaya. From there they would get shipped to Versailles to concentrate and from there in bigger groups to the training camp at Stablack in East Prussia. Other are sent to Hall in Tirol/Austria.
Ezquerra in East Prussia revolts at the idea to train like a common soldier when he had been an Officer with the Blue Division. Through conections he gathered while at Versailles with the fromer German ambassador to Spain Von Faupel, he gets the necessary clearance to begin a serious recruitment through the Todt Organization, Industries and even jails of all available Spaniard in the Reich. This unit which never reaches Battalion strengh is the one which fought at Berlin.
From the contingent at Hall in the Austrian Tirol, one company is sent to Yugoslavia to fight partisans. The other company is sent to Bukovina in the Carpatian mountains and assigned to the 3rd Mountain div.
Both companies are eventually recalled and sent to Stockerau and Hellabrun near Viena and reasigned as Spanish volunteers and sent to form part of a German-Croatian brigade. Most of them manage to get reasigned to the Ezquerra unit or to Degrelle's Walloon div by ways of an old aquaintace of Degrelle, García Valdajos. They are integrated into the 1st Battalion 70th Reg in Breslau under Cap. Deniè numbering 400 strong ending the war with the Walloons at Stargard at Pomerania.
Some even find their way to the famed Jadgverband of Otto Skorzeny fighting on the French border only to wander finally to Berlin to join Ezquerra. Those remaining with the Croatian brigade are assigned to the 357th Inf div fighting east of Bratislava.
The Ezquerra unit is shuttled from Potsdam to Berlin on April 21st via Underground train. The unit fights around the Airforce Ministery, Anhalter Banhof, Moritz Platz, Potsdammer Platz, Ubhan Anhalter. Lt.Ocaña falls prisonerin front of the Hotel Excelsior. Retreating in fight to the Propaganda Ministery and finally the Chancellery together with the Lithuanians. Finally the Spanish ambassador manages to give fake credentials to many Spaniards in the last moments so that they could try to pass as "guest laborers" and not soldiers. Many manage so to get their way home like Ezquerra himself only to get detained when they finally cross the border back home. The fight of these volunteers in Berlin is acredited by several international news reporters and the Spanish embassy personel remaining there.
Non substantiated reports locate also Spanish soldiers in fighting withdrawals around Trieste/Italy and the Brenner pass under the half German Martínez Alberich.
After March 1944 when the last remains of the official Blue Legion are recalled to Spain to end Spain's official involvement in WWII, many men were still eager to fight communism and others, mostly Blue Division veterans, to go back to fight it out with, what they considered, their brothers in arms the Germans.
Hunderds crossed ilegaly the Pirinees mountains to France to such numbers that the Germans actually set up a full welcome aparatus to process all these volunteers.
The Sonderstab F had offices to receive them set up at Andorra, Puigcerdá, Port Bou and Hendaya. From there they would get shipped to Versailles to concentrate and from there in bigger groups to the training camp at Stablack in East Prussia. Other are sent to Hall in Tirol/Austria.
Ezquerra in East Prussia revolts at the idea to train like a common soldier when he had been an Officer with the Blue Division. Through conections he gathered while at Versailles with the fromer German ambassador to Spain Von Faupel, he gets the necessary clearance to begin a serious recruitment through the Todt Organization, Industries and even jails of all available Spaniard in the Reich. This unit which never reaches Battalion strengh is the one which fought at Berlin.
From the contingent at Hall in the Austrian Tirol, one company is sent to Yugoslavia to fight partisans. The other company is sent to Bukovina in the Carpatian mountains and assigned to the 3rd Mountain div.
Both companies are eventually recalled and sent to Stockerau and Hellabrun near Viena and reasigned as Spanish volunteers and sent to form part of a German-Croatian brigade. Most of them manage to get reasigned to the Ezquerra unit or to Degrelle's Walloon div by ways of an old aquaintace of Degrelle, García Valdajos. They are integrated into the 1st Battalion 70th Reg in Breslau under Cap. Deniè numbering 400 strong ending the war with the Walloons at Stargard at Pomerania.
Some even find their way to the famed Jadgverband of Otto Skorzeny fighting on the French border only to wander finally to Berlin to join Ezquerra. Those remaining with the Croatian brigade are assigned to the 357th Inf div fighting east of Bratislava.
The Ezquerra unit is shuttled from Potsdam to Berlin on April 21st via Underground train. The unit fights around the Airforce Ministery, Anhalter Banhof, Moritz Platz, Potsdammer Platz, Ubhan Anhalter. Lt.Ocaña falls prisonerin front of the Hotel Excelsior. Retreating in fight to the Propaganda Ministery and finally the Chancellery together with the Lithuanians. Finally the Spanish ambassador manages to give fake credentials to many Spaniards in the last moments so that they could try to pass as "guest laborers" and not soldiers. Many manage so to get their way home like Ezquerra himself only to get detained when they finally cross the border back home. The fight of these volunteers in Berlin is acredited by several international news reporters and the Spanish embassy personel remaining there.
Non substantiated reports locate also Spanish soldiers in fighting withdrawals around Trieste/Italy and the Brenner pass under the half German Martínez Alberich.
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Ebusitanus
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Dear Ebusitanus,Ebusitanus wrote:"If at the front you meet an unshaven soldier, dirty, with run down boots, and unbuttoned tunic, stay to attention, he is a hero, he is a Spaniard"
I no speack good Espanol but maybe this is no complete.
If i remember well between "tunic" and "stay" is another phrase = cedele el paso or so.
DsUma
Luca
According with I read, the blue division casualties were:
3.934 kia
8.466 wia
326 mia and pow, between them, 219, returned to Spain in the greek ship "semiramis" April 2, 1954.
Also I´ve read 66% were professional military and the other 33% members of Falage... Is it true they were between the best not german soldiers in the Russian hell? Everything I´ve read about division number 250th is great. I think they were between the soldiers much combat experience in the world because they were fighting from 1936.
3.934 kia
8.466 wia
326 mia and pow, between them, 219, returned to Spain in the greek ship "semiramis" April 2, 1954.
Also I´ve read 66% were professional military and the other 33% members of Falage... Is it true they were between the best not german soldiers in the Russian hell? Everything I´ve read about division number 250th is great. I think they were between the soldiers much combat experience in the world because they were fighting from 1936.