Blue Legion
| Spanische Legion of Volunteers (span.) Legión Española de Voluntarios Spanish Volunteer Legion | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | November 17, 1943 – April 12, 1944 |
| Country |  Spain |
| Allegiance |  Germany |
| Branch |  Heer |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | • 2.133 troops |
| Nickname(s) | Legión Azul |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |  Miguel Ezquerra |
The Blue Legion (Template:Lang-es, Template:Lang-de, officially called the Legión Española de Voluntarios) was a volunteer legion created from 2,133 Falangist volunteers who remained behind at the Eastern Front after most of the Spanish Blue Division was repatriated in March 1944 because Francisco Franco had started negotiations with the western Allies. It officially consisted of two battalions. It was later estimated that the legion grew to over 3,000 Spaniards.
The 101st company Spanische-Freiwilligen Kompanie der SS 101 of 140 men, composed of four rifle platoons and one staff platoon, was attached to 28th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Wallonien and fought in Pomerania and Brandenburg province. Later, as part of 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland and under command of Hauptsturmführer der SS Miguel Ezquerra, it fought during the last days of the war against Soviet troops in the Battle of Berlin.[1]
The troops bore the word ESPAÑA and a red/yellow/red horizontally striped shield worn on the upper right arm, and a helmet decal.
See also
References
- ^ Julio, Rodriguez-Puértolas (2008). Historia de la literatura fascista española. p. 712.