Spanish volunteers 1941-1945

[Carlos Diez]

General Agustin Muñoz Grandez, first head of the Blue Division decorated with the Knights Cross with oak leaves. ünica photo in well-known color until now.

General Agustin Muñoz Grandez, primer jefe de la Division Azul condecorado con la Cruz de Caballero de la Cruz de Hierro con hojas de roble. ünica foto en color conocida hasta ahora.

[Carlos Diez]

The "Revista de Historia Militar" mentions in an article about Spanish SS in the Karstjäger Div (Nº 10;April 2001)that data source were a series of articles written in the late 40´s for two newspapers: MADRID and ALERTA,they say that both newspaper disappeared...But I Wonder if ALERTA is the same Newspaper still being published in my hometown,Santander, If so maybe I could search in their archives next time I go there on hollydays.But not before next summer

This the cover of the magazine "Revista de Historia Militar" with contains article about Spanish SS.

[Carlos Diez]

General Emilio Esteban_infantes, second head of the Blue Division decorated with the Knights Cross and German Cross in gold. only photo in well-known color until now (1.943).

General Emilio Esteban-Infantes, segundo jefe de la Division Azul condecorado con la Cruz de Caballero y la Gruz alemana en oro. unica foto en color conocida hasta ahora (1.943).

[Carlos Diez]

Picture published in the Signal Magazine of the first General who sent the Division Blue, Agustin Muñoz Great.

Retrato publicado en la Revista Signal del primer General que mandó La División Azul , Agustin Muñoz Grandes.

[Carlos Diez]

Photo of the Lieutenant Ramón_Escudé_Gilbert pilot of 2ª Blue Squadron in the Front of Russia. It takes on the left pocket of the single-breasted uniform jacket the symbol of pilots Spanish and German and the arm shield that it identifies to him like Spanish volunteer.

Foto del Teniente piloto Ramón_Escudé_Gilbert de la 2ª Escuadrilla Azul en el Frente de Rusia. Lleva sobre el bolsillo izquierdo de la guerrera el distintivo de pilota Español y aleman y el escudo de brazo que le identifica como voluntario español.

[asturwaffen]

La División Azul no es mi campo de coleccionismo; pero algo tengo, Es una foto original de prensa.

The Blue Division is not my field of collecting; but something I have, is a original photo-press



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Saludos

[ninoo]

Hi,

Is there anybody who could give me infos about the OOB, campaigns, and other stories of Spanish's Blue Legion (not Blue Division)?

Thanks,
Nino

[FANGIO]

Hi Nino!
I made a translation for you from a spanish web site:
http://usuarios.lycos.es/jnroldan/Legionazul.html

Doesn't give the full Order of Battle but it tells the story of the Legion.
Hope I made a good translation.

LEGION AZUL ESPAÑOLA

After the repatriation of the Blue Division, General Esteban Infantes gives to the General order nº 69 on 17.11.1943: the Spanish Legion of Volunteers is created (Legión Española de Voluntarios - LEV). This unit will follow the model of the Spanish Foreign Legion. A Regiment is formed with three Battalions or Flags: two of infantry and one compound (artillery, antitank, combat engineer and recognition). Their authorized personnels will be of 2133 pure volunteers. The command is given to Colonel Antonio García Navarro. His assistant will be Captain Urbano.

The Legion is concentrated in Jamburg, near Narva, to receive instruction. On November 28 of 1943 the unit is inaugurated officially. On November 15, leaves on train to integrate the 121 German Division replacing the 450 Rgt of Grenadiers. The Legio is deployed in a line of eleven kilometers.

When on 19 of January of 1944 the Russians start the great offensive to definitively release Leningrad from the German encircle, the Legion is ordered to protect the German immediate rear who backs down.

The exhausted legionaries are sent in train to rear, in the sector of Taps, to rest and to reorganize themselves. They receive strong discipline and great doses of instruction until they are sent to protect the coast of Narva on early February.

On March 3 of 1944 the Blue Legion receives the order of repatriation.
Lenchts, eight in the morning of March 6, García Navarro orders the unit to form:

"... this is a day of sadness for our mother country... this is a hard moment... The Legion must return to Spain!
... Return to the mother country with the proud of having accomplished your duty. Today, in this day of sadness, you will take the guns to the funerala*, like in a burial or Easter...
Long live the Legion! Long live the Legion!
Franco! Franco! Franco! "
*(don’t know what this means, even in spanish)

The firsts repatriated arrive at Irún on March 31 of 1944. Two weeks later all the legionaries would be back in Spain.
But many volunteers as much of the Legion as of the Division wished to return to fight in spite of the declaration of Spanish neutrality:
"Any people who join in the military service of belligerent governments are subject to the lost of the Spanish nationality"
Many returned concentrating themselves in Lourdes and forming the Spanish SS Battalion (once raised the excessive initial requirements). Under the command of the Captain Miguel Ezquerra Sánchez, this unit will defend Berlin until the last moment next to French, Italian, Latvians, Lithuanians and Rumanians.

Best regards.

FANGIO

[ninoo]

Dear Fangio,

Thank U a million times for your time to translate the article. I'm very proud to have your nicely help. And that it a nice translation.

Best Regards,
Nino

Bless the people who like to help others.

[FANGIO]

Your very welcome Nino.
Regards.

FANGIO

[Dan E. Moe]

What was the military designation for the Blue Legion?
Examples:
LVF = 638.Reinforced Infantry Regiment
Blue Division = 250.Infantry Division
Croatian Legion = 369.Reinforced Infantry Regiment
Wallon Legion = 375.Infantry Bataillon

What was the military numer designation for the Blue Legion?

Blue Legion = ???

Regards Dan

[FANGIO]

Hi Dan!
From http://boards1.melodysoft.com/app?ID=in ... a&msg=2492

In a few words it says that the "Legión Azúl" was part of the 121 German Division (121.InfDiv?) and that fought near Leningrad.
It doesn't give any unit number or military designation. I suppose it was just the "Legión Española de Voluntarios - LEV (Spanish Legion of Volunteers" (or Legión Azul).
Sorry if I'm not so helpful.
Best regards.

FANGIO

[Dan E. Moe]

Hi FANGIO!

Thanks for trying then!

Regards,

Dan

[Kaan Caglar]

Hey,

On the repatriation of the Blue Division in December 1943, the the Blue Legion was formed from men who decided to stay and continue the fight against communism. The force consisted of about 2,000 men under the control of Colonel Antonio García Navarro, and was attached to the 121st Infantry Division. The Blue Legion only existed for about four months, being ordered to return to Spain on 3 March 1944.

The Blue Legion was modeled on a Tercio of the Spanish Foreign Legion. Similar to a Regiment it contained:

Headquarters staff
Two Infantry Banderas (the Spanish name for a small Battalion).
One mixed Bandera containing
One company of artillery
One antitank company
One company containing a mixture of combat engineers, reconnaissance and signals.

From here
Best Regards!
Kaan

[ninoo]

Hi Kaan,

Thanks a lot for the site.

Regards,
Nino