Government involvement in Franco War II (Blue Division)

Another of the agreements reached in Hendaye interview was the creation of a body of Spanish volunteers to fight on the German side when the invasion of Russia began. General Agustín Muñoz Grandes was appointed to command the division, however, was later Emilio Esteban Infantes who replaced him. He fought in the siege of Leningrad and the Battle of Krasny Bor.

On August 20, after taking oath (which is specially modified to mention the fight against communism), the Blue Division was sent to the Russian front. He was transported by train to Suwalki, Poland, where I had to continue on foot. After advance to Smolensk, was deployed in the siege of Leningrad, where he joined the German Army XVI.

The number of losses of the Blue Division was raised to 4,954 dead and 8,700 wounded. Moreover, Russian forces took 372 prisoners of this division, the Blue Legion or volunteers of the SS 101, known as Englische Freiwilligen Kompanie. Of these, 286 were kept in captivity until 1954, when they returned to Spain on the ship Semiramis, were chartered by the Red Cross (on April 2, 1954).

Volunteers formed the Blue Squadron airmen, which aboard Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft was credited with 156 Soviet aircraft kills.

Major battles:
Battle of Volkhov
Battle of Lake Ilmen
Battle of Krasny Bor