Worn by some of the soldiers of 250th spanish blue division in wehrmacht patch was worn on the left breast, under the pocket of the falangist partys militia members. Carlos caballero jurados book blue division soldier 194145 introduces the. Ospreys survey of the blue division soldiers of world. This book, translated from the original spanish, is the primary academic and historical study of the blue division a falangist initiative involving the dispatch of some fortythousand spanish combatants over a half of whom paid with their lives, health, or liberty to the russian front during the second world war. In stock scale75 s75seb004 spanish blue blaue division commemorative medals english, 188 pages worldwide shipping in 24hrs. Spanish blue division military and feldpost history bizland. Joining army group north as the 250 infantry division in the german order of battle, this spanish expeditionary force served continuously in the line for two years in the siege of leningrad. For nearly three years, august 1941march 1944, 47,000 spanish. After initially naming the spanish force as 250 th infantry division of the wehrmacht, it was referred to as the azul division. Allied success in north africa changed the political realities for spain, and in september franco agreed to recall the volunteers, save for a single regiment that remained until the spring of 1944 as the blue legion or spanish legion. Time militaria medals ww2 spanish blue division russia medal. Carlos belongs to the spanish army volunteer reserve, as a 2nd lieutenant.
Spanish blue division commemorative medals libros angel gonzalez pinilla and antonio barrera format. The blue division in russia in wwii stackpole military history series paperback may 1, 2014 by gerald r. The end of the blue division came about for political reasons, rather than military ones. This great little book covers the spanish volunteers of the blue division so named because of the blue shirts of the falangist party militia worn by many of its men. Infanteriedivision in the german army was a unit of spanish volunteers that served in the german army on the eastern front of the second world war. Although spanish dictator field marshal generalisimo francisco franco. Third reich iron cross on the frontrussia 1941 on reverse. Schiffer publishing the military intervention corps of the spanish blue division in the german wehrmacht 1941 1945. Spanish blue blaue division commemorative medals english. The spanish blue division along the eastern front warfare history. The death of the spanish blue division war is boring. Infanteriedivision in the german army, was a unit of spanish volunteers and conscripts who served 19411944 in the german army on the eastern front during the second world war. Rare period large size medal with original ribbon with top clasp,in good used condition,hard to find.
Schiffer publishing the spanish in the ss and wehrmacht, 1944 1945. The ezquerra unit in the battle of berlin when talking about the spanish intervention in the second world war, the first thing that comes to mind is the blue division. This division was formed from volunteers in spain before being sent to germany for accelerated training and then on to german army group north on the eastern front. Vivid chronicle of the division of spanish volunteers who battled the soviets on the eastern front centerpiece of their service was the siege of leningrad, which is covered in depth here details on how spanish dictator francisco franco negotiated his countrymens participation. This book, translated from the original spanish, is the primary academic and historical study of the blue divisiona falangist initiative involving the dispatch of some 40,000 spanish combatants more than a half of whom paid with their lives, health, or liberty to the russian front during the second world war. Organization uniforms insignia documents for the first time in english, a new and detailed dimension to the history of the spanish troops fighting with the german wehrmacht in world war ii. This book, based on massive documentation in german, british and spanish archives, is an essential source of information to understand spain. The spanish blue division was formed in 1941 just after germany invaded russia, in fact, a few days after operation barbarossa was launched, many spaniards wanted to get spain into the war against russia only because of what they did in the spanish civil war they sold tons of tanks, planes, light weaponry, ect to the second republic after it became communist in late 1936, but thats another. Spanish blue division song primavera katyusha melody. Though well publicized in europe, and with enormous bibliographic resources in german and spanish, on which this history principally draws, the famous spanish blue division francos military and diplomatic ploy in world war iiis very little known in this country, as this first full, analytical account in english attests. The spanish blue division on the eastern front wwii forums. Spanish blue division military and feldpost history.
Organization, uniforms, insignia, documents by jesus dolado esteban, eduardo ramos redondo and eduardo robles esteban 2008, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. The blue division by xavier moreno julia overdrive rakuten. Officially the 250th infantry division of the wehrmacht, it was commonly called the division azul, blue division, after the color of spains. A history teacher in alicante, carlos has written and cowritten seven osprey titles for the menatarms and elite series. Classic story of the 47,000 spaniards who fought for the third reich in world war ii. Blue division supplement, i regretted that we used the very primitive combbound format that made it look like someone assembled it in their garage. The blue division, spains contribution to the russogerman war, 194145, is a microcosm of the eastern campaign. Audio pronunciations, verb conjugations, quizzes and more. Early variant, spanish work, arrows embroidered with red silk thread over blue cotton cloth. Division in spanish translate english to spanish spanish. Schiffer publishing the military intervention corps of the spanish blue division in the german wehrmacht 19411945. Spanish blue division volunteers medal axis history forum.
There were 22,000 casu alties, of which 4,500 were killed in ac tion or died of wounds, disease, or frost bite. I would like find more affordable books on subject. Patch was worn on the left breast, under the pocket of the falangist partys militia members. We made them in the office, not a garage, but the 1970sera nostalgia was not. As a spanish division under the command of a fiercely antisoviet general agustin munozgrandes, it was to be treated as a valued ally. Worn by some of the soldiers of 250th spanish blue division in wehrmacht. The military intervention corps of the spanish blue division. The military intervention corps of the spanish blue. He has published several books and articles on german and allied paratroopers, as well as on spanish volunteers in the wehrmacht blue division. Eduardo robles esteban author of the military intervention. Blue divisionspanish soldiers serving on the eastern front in russia.
Carlos belongs to the spanish army volunteer reserve, as a. Spanish blue division sort by total items found 52. The military intervention corps of the spanish blue division in the. A new symbolic uniform was created which consisted of the red beret of the carlist movement, the blue shirt of the falangist movement from which the division received its name and the khaki trousers of the spanish foreign legion, while officers wore khaki shirts with blue cuffs and collar. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Medal is made of tombac with a lacquered cross and smooth even patina. Ww2 division azul or 250inf div spanish falangist uniform, bevo. The spanish volunteer medal formally known as the commemorative medal for spanish volunteers in the struggle against bolshevism german. Collectors consensus tells that these medals were made for spanish veterans being former volunteers, of the wartime spanish blue division, a unit of spanish volunteers and conscripts who served in. Ww2 division azul or 250inf div spanish falangist uniform patchfranco fascist. Spanish volunteer on the eastern front warrior paperback october 20, 2009 by carlos caballero jurado author visit amazons carlos caballero jurado page. May 02, 2014 the blue division was named for the movements identifying color and designated 250th infantry division in the german order of battle. During the course of its two and a half years in the soviet union, september, 1941march, 1944, more than 47,000 spaniards served in its ranks. Translation of division at merriamwebsters spanish english dictionary.