LA DIVISIÓN AZUL ACABADO

WHAT IS THE BLUE DIVISION ? An unit of about 18.000 volunteers (a large majority of Spanishes but

also some Portugueses). Created by Francos foreign minister Ramon Serrano Suner who wanted to thank Hitler's Germany for his help in the Spanish Civil War. Began in the 24th of June, in 1941 (date of Hitler's approvation)and finished in the 17th of November, in 1943 (date of the official dissolution of the Blue Division). ORIGIN OF THE NAME: when they arrived at the military camp in Grafenwhr, Spanish militaries wanted to keep their blue shirt instead of swearing the Werhmacht's official uniforms. Also named Spanish Division of Volunteers or the 250th Division. It was affected to Army Group North (Heeresgruppe Nord in German).

PLAN FIRST PART: RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SPAIN

AND GERMANY (FRANCO AND HITLER) THROUGH THE BLUE DIVISION. SECOND PART: THE EVOLUTION OF THE BLUE DIVISION AND THE FIGHTINGS ON THE EASTERN FRONT

FIRST PART: RELATIONSHIPS

BETWEEN SPAIN AND GERMANY (FRANCO AND HITLER) THROUGH THE BLUE DIVISION.

MAIN QUESTION: WAS FRANCO A GERMANY'S VASSAL ? Trough this question, we will focus on the

relationships between Franco's Spain and Hitler's Germany. And we can notice that their relationships were a bit complicated, ambiguous, incertain... In fact, we can oppose many arguments who were contradictories.

A- IN FACT, FRANCO WAS LIKE A VASSAL !

FIRST REASON Franco has a debt to Hitler: he helped him during the Spanish Civil War. How to return the favor?

Answer given by Ramon Serrano Suner. Taking advantage of invasion of USSR by Hitler. Sent Spanish Volunteers in the Werhmacht => In

this way was born the Blue Division.

SECOND REASON Moreover, Franco has an interest to help Hitler to conquest USSR. An opportunity to rejoin the winners side.

USSR represented, for Franco point of view, Communism and Bolchevism (Franco's main ennemies). Franco authorized a sending of professional soldiers and ex-soldiers => A real wish to beat Communism.

THIRD REASON honor de espaoles "Juris ante Dios y por vuestroabsoluta obediencia al jefe supremo del ejrcito alemn, Adolf Hitler, en su lucha contra el bolchevismo y que combatiris como valientes soldados dispuestos a dar vuestra vida en cada momento por cumplir este juramento?". "Will you swear in front of God and for your Spanish honnor absolute obedience to the supreme chief of the German Army, Adolf Hitler, in his fighting against bolchevism ? Will you fight like brave soldiers, ready to give your life at every moment in order to perform your oath ?".

MINI CONCLUSION AND TRANSITION

So much clues that let us think

that Franco was totally submised to Hitler. But, on the other hand, we will see the other side of Franco's relationship with Hitler.

B- WE HAVE TO RELATIVISE...

FIRST REASON Franco and Spain were neutrals. Didnt sent the Blue Division by

allegance but because he has a debt and because he wanted to beat Communism. That was the only reason.

SECOND REASON F. Franco was not (officially) responsible of the

invasion of USSR by the Blue Division ! Volunteers are sent in the Eastern Front, not professional soldiers ! So, Spain (as a state) had not officially invaded USSR !

THIRD REASON Spanish militaries wanted to keep their blue shirt

instead of swearing the Werhmacht's official uniforms. => SYMBOLIC ! The oath itself had been changed for priests engaged in the Blue Division, because of their pontifical condamnation of Nazism.

CONCRETE ILLUSTRATION : HITLERS REACTION AFTER THE BLUE DIVISIONS RETURNING TO SPAIN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX88ZZqjaos&f

eature=related

MINI CONCLUSION AND TRANSITION So, that's clear, Franco's relationship with Hitler was not

very easy to define. It was a bit ambiguous. In our opinion, the main thesis was that: Franco has quite good relationships with Hitler for interests (fighting Communism, having some territories and colonies) but could not accept Nazism ideology. Franco was from ultraright, but not at the same level than Hitler; Franco was not antisemit, not really racist. He was only a dictator, selfish, who have done many things only to his interests. Finally, we can wonder us: Who was the piece of whose in the European Chess ?

SECOND PART: THE EVOLUTION OF THE BLUE DIVISION AND THE FIGHTINGS ON THE EASTERN FRONT

NECESSARY CONDITIONS TO BE A VOLUNTEER-

Having between 20 and 28 years, and go through an exhaustive medical exhamination The 75% must demostrate they were ex combatant. The other 25% were captive or served enaugh in the national cause during the civil war. The official division must come from the army and the 2/3 of suboficials of the army as well The 85% of air army pilots and observers (around 2100) have been inscribed as volunteers.

-

Configuration of Blue Division in 1941 (aproximately 18.000 members)-

3 infantry regiment ( 3 battalions/regiment) 1 fix deposit regiment (3 batalions) 1 artillery regiment (1 group 150 mm and 3 groups of 105 mm) 1 sapper batalion 4 logistic groups: 1 transmission, 1 transport, 1 quatermaster corps, 1 health care

The comandant of Blue Division was going to be Muoz Grandes. They went to eastern front in July 1941

The Blue Division into combat: Fight offensive in the east of the Volkhov

the battle front is 40 kilometers in swampy land Novgorod was provincial capital and important communication centre Logistic problems, food problems, lack of horses and winter clothes Blue Division became a part of the XXXVIII German Corp of General Von Chappuis Powerful atack of the Red Army that made useless the advance of Blue Division The capitan was Agustin Muoz Grandes. They had war honours in this action

Static resistance on the west bank of the river Volkhov The proposal of Muoz Grandes was a winter defensive front The blue division was removed of the west part of the River Volkhov The front is stabilized December 1941 the first 3 weeks the Soviets counterattack to access the west side of the Volkhov river, achieving its goal in two villages:Teremets and Gorka. Lieutenant Garcia Rebull Strikes again fiercely recovering the lost positions Year 1941 ends with 1400 Blue Division and 250 000 of the German army deaths

Volkhov offensive was a failure.

Moscow and Leningrad has resisted. 1942 bodes ill omens.

Hitler recognized that German soldiers are glad to have the Spanish. The Red Army unleashed the Great Winter Offensive, attempting to establish communications with Leningrad. Planning to take Smolensk, attacking Volkhov defenses to go to Leningrad

The Blue Division was to help German soldiers besieged in 546 Vsvad (Mouth of Lovat) by the Company of Skiers Successful operation of Blue Division. They had war honours in this action

In the Volkhov the soviets take Teremets (west side)

Volkhov front line map

Operation Predator and its impact on Blue Division Its aim is to encircle and destroy the Soviet bag located in the west side of the River Volkhov. For the summer, try to take Leningrad The German army groups involved were the XXXVIII

The 126 Division and Blue Division reinforced with 58 would attack from the south.

The I Corps, consisting of the 215 Division and the SS Polizei Division would close the clamp from the north. The Russian armies possessed 52 and 59 , and the 2nd Shock Army. In the bag there were 130,000Russians.

Operation Predator began on 15 March, very late. The Roman Battalion moved north along the river bank, this penetration was doomed to failure. It seemed the same was going to happen with the rest of the operation Polizei Division succeed to reach its objectives. He moved south to link with the 58 Division, completing the encirclement of the Russian forces. General Friedrich Altrichter indicates that the Division 58 prevented a general breakdown of the front helping the spanish units. The Soviets give the order to escape the siege, od 30 thousand 14 thousand do not succeed.

The win in the end was ephemeral. casualties amounted to nearly 1,300,000 men.

Predator Operation map

Last Front: 1943 Leningrad and Krasny Bor

After 10 long months in the Volkhov. Now the blue division will protect the southwest in the assault on Leningrad.

Von Manstein was ordered to lead the operations of corps L and XXVI Army The front covered 30 km from Puschkin to Kraksny Bor. The plan Northern Lights to take over Leningrad was canceled because of Stalingrad disaster Blue Division could resist a tough atack of the Red Army, aproximately 6000 divisionaries resisted a 45.000 soldiers atack supported by tanks and artillery.

Krasny Bor map

Repatriation In June 1943 Stalins organs and katiushas were boming spanish possitions all the time. The front was blocked. Idealistic and romantic soldiers couldnt imagine in Madrid UK and US were preassuring the spanish government to finish Blue Division. General Infantes was condecotared with the iron cross. He recieved a notification that indicates the blue division must come back and leave the front line of battle. Two days later, General Lindemann acepted Blue Division Replacement.

The Blue Division was replaced by the 123 German Division 7th october 1943.

Conclusions

The effort and braveness of Blue Division has been recognized by Germany. Some of their members got the biggest german condecorations, like the iron cross. When the division was forced to return to Spain in 1943, the most part of the troops were against this decision. "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 Jrgens Commander of the XXXVIII Korps. The preassure of England and United States has provoked the withdrawal of the spanish blue division. Even if volunteers who were going to parcitipate in axis army were threatened, the german embassy in Madrid received a lot of requests of soldiers who didnt acept the order.

The last batallion to participate in the war was leaded by Miguel Ezguera Sanchez, during the assedy of Berlin. The final of the war was very hard, the axis was going to lose the war and volunteers were asking theirselves if all the effort was not worthless. 4500 volunteers were buried in russian land, 300 prisioners were sent to Siberia, not coming back to Spain until 1954 (when Stalin died). Besides 18 thousand soldiers were treated in spanish hospitals. 47 thousand soldiers were part of Blue Division, 22 thousand were killed, hurted, made them prisioners, almost 50% of the Division was damaged. The best part of youth idealistic spanish fascist men didnt come back to Spain. The main objectives of Falange are fighting comunism and creating a fascist unit. After the civil war and the fussion with carlism, Hedilla was fired and Franco took all the power, they were not the same anymore.

Spanish soldiers had a lot of respect for russian soldiers, not like germans who considered them inferiors. They were considered a brave enemy, being able to adapt to the hardest situation possible.

German and spanish tactic of war was completly different. If the firsts prefer to buil defensive positions in a static form, the seconds prefer to build strong isolated points, creating a deep defense and interconnections. Spanish militar tactic was more based in improvisation Local people of conquested territories protected spanish soldiers of partisans and Rd Army. Like combat force divisionaries were able to do everything, independent of the cost. Divisionaries were strong atacking and tough in the deffensive line. Protecting was almost considered cowardice. Officials lead the actions, they were the first, the german counterpart were doing the contrary. Blue Division has two purposes, both political and militar. Spain have to demostrate that our soldiers could and would be able to combat with the germans. In the beginings it was leaded by Muoz Grandes, he didnt acept cowardice. Soldiers who tried to scape or refuse to fight were executed. He was adored by the soldiers and oficials of the front line of combat

Later Esteban Infantes replaced Muoz Grandes, services and logistic was improved but he was more distant of the front line. Blue Division didnt combat as a whole. Muoz Grandes and Falange Party searched a new place for Spain in the New World Order that would be commanded by the Axis. Like Asensio and Yague, they wanted that Spain would join the war in the Axis side. Franco didnt trust anyone but himself, he would never put the spanish destiny in different hands. He was remembering the pact Molotov Ribentropp, the steal of Poland and the effort of Finland. When Blue Division came back home, veterans of war were asking theirselves if all the effort in Russia was worth.

BIBLIOGRAFIA Herbert FEIS, Franco and the Nations at war Raymond CARR, Modern Spain (1875-1980) Entre la antorcha y la esvstica : Franco en la

encrucijada de la II Guerra Mundial / Emilio SenzFrancs San Baldomero. Hitler y Franco / Xavier Moreno Juli. La Divisin Azul : nuevas perspectivas historiogrficas / [Francisco Torres Garca La divisin espaola de Hitler : la Divisin Azul en Rusia / Gerald R. Kleinfeld y Lewis A. Tambs.