Chapter I · Génesis y ocaso
Alfredo González Díez · Alegres Soldados
Automatic translation, pending editorial review. Consult the Spanish original.
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Figure 01. Chapter I.
[Retirement of illustration:] 1. Lieutenant, artillery. July 1941 Civil, Infantary and Retirement. July 1941 3 Pioneer, Engineers and Fingerjobs. July 1941
Published in the English book “GERMANY’S SPANISCH VOLUNTEERS 1941 / 45”, by Jonh Scurr.
José S. Muñoz Césaro, a military miniature artist from Málaga, made and supplied the drawing and authorises its inclusion in ALEGRES SOLDADOS.
Note: the troops of the first Blue Division contingent, July 1941, did not wear webbing or ammunition pouches. Blue shirt and red beret.
The corporal could be Corporal ALFREDO GONZÁLEZ DÍEZ.
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CHAPTER I. Genesis and sunset.
ALEGRES SOLDADOS divides its first chapter into two distinct parts: A) The decline of the DEV/LEV and B) The origins of the Blue Division.
Before taking the train to Germany, let us look at the final stages of the Blue Division.
A. PART ONE
A-1. Final stages
The Spanish Volunteer Division (DEV) was dissolved in October 1943, and those Spaniards who chose to return to Spain were repatriated.
Some 2,200 members of ID-250 decided to remain in the Wehrmacht and formed the Spanish Volunteer Legion (LEV), whose brief existence will be described in Chapter XXXV.
On the first day of February 1954, about 300 Spanish prisoners repatriated from the GULAG arrived at the port of Barcelona (Chapter XXXV).
Several of those missing from the DEV/LEV/EAE — prisoners or deserters — returned individually, while some Spaniards who had settled in the former USSR remained there.
A-2. Figures
A total of 40,460 individuals passed through the DEV/LEV, suffering 61.43% casualties, broken down as follows:
Killed: 3,934 Wounded: 8,365 Sick: 12,000 Missing: 326
These figures do not agree with some statistics. It is difficult to establish exactly how many people served in the Blue Division. The same individual may appear several times in the arrival and departure lists: he could join the first contingent and be sent back for being underage, then return to the DEV in a replacement battalion and be wounded, and, after recovering, rejoin his unit and be killed in action. That person would appear in four places.
Small groups, especially officers, also joined ID-250 headquarters directly, without belonging to a formally recorded expedition.
Separate from these were the Spanish airmen and ground crews who made up the Spanish Blue Squadrons, discussed in section A-7.
Finally, 200 nurses served in the DEV/LEV (Chapter XXXVI).
A-3. Establishment and replacements
The establishment of ID-250 Nr. WH comprised 18,693 people and 5,610 equines, as specified in its Tables of Organisation and Equipment (TO&E).
ID-250 Nr. WH was the official designation of the DEV, meaning Infantry Division No. 250 of the land defence force.
A further 21,757 people reached the DEV in 28 replacement battalions…
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…and march battalions; added to the initial 18,693, they give a total of 40,450 people.
A-4. Purges
Shortly after reaching the front line (HKL), the Blue Division carried out a purge of its personnel, removing those classified by the command as “undesirable”. Sergeant Kowalesky and two soldiers were removed from 1st Company/262 because they were of Russian origin, together with men considered unreliable by the officers.
The OKW ordered the removal of Russian combatants from Wehrmacht units. Russians allied with Germany were to enlist in the ROA (Russian Liberation Army). Other foreigners were to enlist in the SS.
A-5. German gratitude
The Spanish National Blue Division Brotherhood is the only foreign unit admitted to the VDS (German Soldiers’ Brotherhood), in recognition of the DEV’s distinctive integration into the regular German army.
Germany’s Axis allies formed their own expeditionary forces or were integrated into SS divisions.
A-6. Improvisation
The DEV was formed so quickly that there was no preparation, study or planning. Everything had to be improvised as events unfolded, especially supplies. German logistics did not prove as perfect as we Spaniards had imagined.
Bulk food supplies were distributed without weights or measures. The supply service delivered directly to the paymaster of battalion-sized, independent or detached units. At headquarters, food was divided by eye. Meat was cut with machetes or local saws into four portions, one for each company.
Pearl barley, sugar, tea, rice and so on were divided proportionately using cupped handfuls, called “almorzadas”; the word made me an object of mockery and jokes.
The company supply teams collected provisions in improvised containers. Procuring one from a laboratory controlled by the Germans cost me a fine of 1,000 DM.
The DEV’s second phase worked better, and each unit had a regularly supplied canteen. Food was distributed according to the ration allowance. Donations, Christmas gifts and extras arrived from Spain, supplementing the German rations and adapting them to the Spanish diet.
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A-7. Spanish Blue Squadron (EAE).
At the same time as DEC acted a squadron of Spanish aviators within his group Armies North from Eastern European Front, with no dependence on ID-250 headquarters and so omits itself in literature dedicated to Blue Division.
Under the heading of "Jesús SALAS LARRAZÁBAL, General 'his monthly Bulletin Blau Division published a serial with five chapters entitled The Blue Squadron. Summary:
"The EPA was replaced five times. The First Squadron came out of Spain on 26 June 1941 under Commander Ángel SALAS LARRABAL's command. On 02-SET-1941 she had her baptism of fire at Belarus as the DIV began its great march, following his Napoleonic path.
The last EAE was the 5th Squadron that partially arrived at Minsk's Front in December 1943, relieving to 4th EPA on 23rd Feb-1944. The 4th EAE, under Commander Cuadra's command and after his retirement with Juba 52 aircraft came to Spain on 28 Feb-1944.
The 5th EAE had an ingrate role to play in protecting the retirement of Wehrmacht and returned with his family from Vistula River.
The Spanish pilots and their air personnel on the ground from EAE have been those who are officially displaced to Eastern European Front GM-II, while they stayed outside of Spain with an earlier fight against Krasniyia Armiiya (Red Army).
The Spanish Air Army felt the long duration of German-Russian Campaign, initiated in June 1941 and planning for 6 months as a result. "
Rejected result: The EAE operated at the European Eastern Front for two months more than DEC / LEA. The EAE entered combat line a month earlier than the DEC and left his Fire Line one months after leaving for Spain.
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B. Part Two
B-1. Recruitment.
On June 22, 1941 the Wehrmacht crossed German border from an eastern area and invaded Poland occupied by The USSR in September 1939 with a clear advance to its Urals or Caucasus. BlitzkRieg, light war.
The Spanish Government decides to send a voluntary division at the new Eastern Front of European Operations Theater, in support and with its German-led opposition against Soviet Communism.
The Provincial Militia Jefatoriums have been established with recruitment office and the military units are requested to form an Expeditionary Infantry Division, for Germany.
The Spanish people's response was surprising. A massive number of volunteers come to recruitment centers and join the new training unit, popularly called The Blue Division with an official Spanish Volunteer Section (DEC).
The candidates put forward at Milicias are of every social status: from deputy ministers and governors to growers, or otherwise they have been born with their families but also some paria.
The ex-combatants who had fought soon earlier have been found at both sides of the recently concluded Civil War in 1936 / 39. Many Provisional Officers and Sargentes enlisted as soldiers.
Military Units and Academies will leave the command, specialist personnel from Health care (MTS) or Veterinary Section of Gendarmerie
Due to age, adolescents have been emphasized about veteran older than forty.
At a place of classification at Galicia, they have two candidates with their age and are: an old man from his or her retirement.
The veteran reached his place but the teenager was rejected in all their attempts to be admitted as a fighting soldier. The married person, after his or her affiliate and with a decision to intermittent the persistent asylum-seeker propose that they be suplanted by common agreement. The rejected boy moved to his place.
The imberbe recruit became an integral part of the place assigned to his suplanted...
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... with whose information they would figure up to be found by family claims.
The group partners nicknamed his child with GURRIATE's nominee, whose name served as an argument for writing the war tale referred to in subparagraph (c) of presentamento.
The Gurriato was a jovial puripas and with his songs, they cheered up monotony at moments of leisure without training or service. He began his repertoire with the following poupurri:
Without hair 3 hairs have my beard, and with his beebies three. If I had nothing but been put up to them
Refran: Pelona... with no hair, four hairs that you had been selling them as a strapperlo.
The lack of beards and mustaches, as a puber with his purport to disguise him by singing the Reproduced entrance that he had always begun its repertoire.
The Gurriato sings that he sold strapperlo hair. For those years, the term "espperlo 'was still not admitted by The Royal Spanish Academy of Lingua but widely used to name illicit trade in interested articles.
The origin of strapperlo dates back to 1935, motivated by an introduction in Spain with a fraudulent game that was called "Strus and Pelau (Spanish) but at his ears it sounds as though they were found out about them. The 1935 stalemate caused a serious ministerial crisis and repeated circumstances in later situations.
The Expeditionaries of the DEC would have found that this strapperlo existed in all countries and was referred to as a "black market '. The strict controls and harsh sanctions on the fringes - a black market) cannot eliminate illicit trade in precise goods.
COUNCIL. To appreciate their own deprivation of a war situation and to light up the gazzo that they would have endured, divisionaries accustomed with rationations thus sang: He who has an ham That will eat him or his food; for those from Abastos come but ration them.
The music of the foresight quartet corresponds to that song...
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... Argentina, "SALUD and DINERO Y AMOR with all his furour in Spain for these dates. His original letter is as follows:
Health and DIALTY AND LOVE 3 things are in life, health with money or love. He who has these three matters will give thanks to God That's how you have been with them. That's why I'm asking you to learn the words of this song:
He who has a love to care for him and his best. Health and talk about her that she doesn't pull, but I do. That's what we have to keep. He that keeps always has them and they put their lives into his place of care with us, but how do I get back? BIS: The one with a love...
The puripan of the Toro Basko at Company 1 / 262, with a extensive repertoire and his "Health as money or love 'was always singing about their parodies to ironize critical situations. Note: Sátira and metaphor were widely used in Russia, written as Spanish.
Common sparrow. "Passar domesticus. A face bird. The sparrow's chicken is GURRIATE.
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B-2. Organization of the VS.
The First Battalion of the first Infantry Regiment at his Spanish Volunteer Division was formed in Burgos, General Captain and with its name as Chief Colonel Pedro Pimentell Zayes.
At the Festivals of St. Peter, June 1941 and after his retirement from Bilbao came to Burgos. The ALFREDO GONZÁLEZ DIEZ Infantry Cape had been elected as a guest for volunteers with an office that was currently being put up at Russia's disposal in German assistance but began its first day on September 1 (1939) following their new front-line fight against World War II
The ALFREDO Cape was built furrel of the First Company and its Unit would be referred to as 1st I-262.ID.250Nr, with a re-organized FVD in Germany. The Captain of Supplement Don Sergio Gómez Alba and Maestro, with a degree in chemistry as his "primaco 'at the Transformation Academy was appointed to command that Company. Captain Sergio confirmed with his furrel to Corporal Alfredo and supported him in their work of seeking food for the tipple range from a 210-seater parrot.
Captain Sergio reached Brigadier General. He was a senior police officer and became an upper chief of the Barcelona Police. Absence from active service, she held executive office at several companies.
At Burgos, June 1941 the only problem with volunteer coupings was to be able and care for all applicants who have been put up in excess of their jobs as assigned them. More enlisted soldiers have been found at the rectimators, and as a matter of fact they are currently passing with their list.
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B-3. Military train
If Adelita went with another man, she would be followed by ground and sea or seawater on a warship but as an area of military train. Adelita. Cap. VI.
On the night of 12 / 13 July 1941, First Battalion PIMENTEL seizes by ground on a military train station Fc. Burgos, RENFE with an Irun. Troops stowed in goods or cattle cars.
The heads, officers and non-commissioned officials wear their statutory uniforms from the Spanish Regular Army but his troops wore clothing that came with them as a result of Recovery Services for an earlier Civil War in 1936 / 39. They're all with a red beret on their pledge (Fig. 01)
On 13 July 1941, First Battalion PIMENTELL arrived at Fc. station in Hendaya and was received by German occupying forces as the first convoy of Blaue Division
To the shower!, they order dooches as a precautionary measure of German Military Health. Fingered looks from the deutschchen toilets found out how manly Spanish steamed.
The German Intent facilitated the first production of pits. Foods with cold ranch: tube cheese, jam cans and cheesebooks. The bread, black and frying format. I weigh about 1,500 grams for two people / day
The "travel socks, and their labels called Profilactik (known as condoms) were distributed through the kit. Some of those condoms would have been as balloons at the front gates for his first train passing through occupied France, leading Germany.
Gurriato and his partners felt "mantle with a clear border Pyrenees, but to cover up their pain they broke them into singing:
Farewell, Spain! Farewell, Spain of my love. Farewell, Spain. When will I see you again? I don't leave because of girls, that pretty girl's been... That she was a good-looking lady.
Farewell, pamplona of my love and care. I don't leave because of girls, that pretty girl's are... beautiful and good-looking.
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The police were seamed onto a military train from the French railways - SNCF, with their cars keeping "20 boys' sign and have been tippled as tin sardines. They travelled as seedlings and in France they were interiors with horses. Later it would be worse and we'll see about that.
To distract the bad situation and hostile atmosphere of French people submitted by Germans, Koro Basko cheered up with his songs. He began their repertoire after parting:
Farewell, Bilbaidito! Farewell, Bilbaidito. Farewell, Bilbaidito. The little birds that come singing at the shore of a fountain, do not pass by across to see their raybits with light.
That's good, that'll be great. Riau! Long live the round we're here.
Gloria's Regiment The Sacraments of Glory, tomorrow I leave soldier. The Gloria Regiment. We'll have four dances, girlfriend's door. I'm going to leave tomorrow soldier
The girl doesn't get water at the fountain anymore, she's not going to have fun with her.
Asturias, Fairy dear. The Asturians joined the Basque Chorus to include his favorite song, "Asturias Fairy Dearest and Reported official hymnus of Seville at a later date.
Asturias, Fairy dear and with my love. That's how I have been in Seville sometimes I have to get up onto the tree, and we've got To cut out that flower. And give it for my brunette's place on a balcony but put her in his face with an end of them... That's true. No one will say no, but I have told them that they are right and we're wrong with him Asturias, dear homeland and my love's with them who was in Seville at all times.
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The Pinta's will be the good of my life, you'll have been best for me.
Farewell, with his heart I cannot say good-bye to you and have been killed.
You say you're leaving. You say you're going and get out of here, but never have been to see that blonde girl about what's up at Valladolid. You're not going, you aren't gonna go to St. Sebastian's Bulls. I have to go.
The doves of the Cantabra range do not leave and come to his Basque-Asturian chorus, while they all have their farewell with them:
The pigeon isn't going. No, I'm not gonna get it myself and that's what we have to do with them! If she's gone, I'll get her back and leave the pigeons half-grown. The pigeon isn't going, no. I'm not gonna get her. If she's gone, they'll come back and leave his girlfriend ready to get up. If his puripa goes, if he's going to have her rifle.
What's... what'll be? Following his earlier farewell from the Basque-mountainous group, former members of an late Spanish Republican Regular Army had broken their short pause and have been defeated as a Red Civil Military with its "Amor Carmela! 'in chapter XXXII. The second was dedicated to our Navy: [A handwritten reference)
To the Cape of Palos, and to them above waters have been put up with their guns. What will be they? What will be going on, the Spanish Navy that's fighting.
What's with all these fumes and so many lights, if our sailors are Spanish. What will have happened, the Spanish Navy that has been defeated.
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The F.c. Military convoy with the first Unit of DEC reached at midnight German Assistential Station, in Schwarzewald (Black Forest) and put an end to its passengers for supplies.
The first Hispanic Expeditionaries from the Blue Division were cared for by beautiful Schwesters (sisters), supplying hot soup and candy with a menu that would be repeated in successive foods. The soup turns out to be the unique plate at critical moments. The quality of the soup depends on how high water is boiled, that's to say with a ratio and / or as an ingredient for carrot products. The Germans say "Suppe, and after that the Russians pronounced a 'zhuppo's name as sup. That is to say, soup's international food.
After an hour's stop, the DEV Military train restarts its march with Bavaria destination and goes through Munich (München) to reach a camp set for adaptation into German system.
FUCK IT TO Section 1.
1 ª -01. Dates: The dates listed are from the Gregorian Calendar, called New Style in Russia and other countries. See Cap. X.
2nd-01. Graffies. The Russians have been using the Cyrillic Alphabet's writing. (Cap) The Commission will have to report back on its proposals and propose them for a decision. The Germans have been using Gothic writing a lot. [A handwritten note: "pág 145]