The German Condor Legion’s involvement in the Spanish Civil War is widely documented, but perhaps not so well known is the fact that many Spanish volunteers reciprocated during WWII. The Blue Division, also known as 250.Infanterie-Division, served on the Eastern Front. Spain did not officially enter WWII, but Franco allowed volunteers to join the Wehrmacht if they were to fight Soviet communists. Once Hitler approved the formation of a Spanish unit on 24 June 1941, a division of 18,000 men was quickly raised. Their name of “Blue Division” stemmed from the symbolic blue shirts they wore. However, in combat the Spaniards wore typical Wehrmacht uniforms with a badge emblazoned with the word “Espan~a” and the Spanish national colors on their upper right sleeves. The Blue Division fought in such actions as the siege of Leningrad. Under political pressure, Franco eventually disbanded the Blue Division in November 1943.
The Spanish Volunteer Blue Division is represented in Dragon’s latest 1/35 scale figure set. The box contains four figures fighting in the depths of winter on the Eastern Front, perhaps in the vicinity of Leningrad. Their poses are vividly crafted as they prepare to spring an ambush on Soviet troops and their accompanying T-34 tanks. On hand they have weapons like anti tank mines, bundled grenades, an MP40 and a rifle. They also wield captured Soviet weapons like a PPsH41 submachine gun and DP light machine gun. They are dressed in an array of uniform items such as snow smock, greatcoats and a sheepskin coat. The carefully sculpted plastic figures capture perfectly the tension of the ambush. Although it’s marketed as a Blue Division set, the soldiers could easily be adapted for any Eastern Front combat scene.