Agustín Muñoz Grandes
Encyclopedia
Agustín Muñoz Grandes was a Spanish
general, and politician
, vice-president of the Spanish Government and minister with Francisco Franco
several times; also known as the commander of the Blue Division
between 1941 and 1943.
, Muñoz Grandes enrolled at the Toledo
Infantry Academy while in his teens. Upon graduating, he was deployed to Morocco
in 1915 and took part in the decisive Battle of Alhucemas. Muñoz Grandes fought for the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War
and was promoted to General, taking command in the Army of Africa
. He led the Spanish Legion
naires in the attack that won Málaga
for the Nationalists in February 1937.
In 1941, Muñoz Grandes was given command of the División Azul
, Generalísimo Franco's volunteer unit created for service under the Wehrmacht
in Russia
. Muñoz Grandes was well acquainted with the German
military establishment, and attended several interviews with Wilhelm Canaris
and Adolf Hitler
.
During his command Muñoz Grandes was decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
, with Oak Leaves personally added by Hitler.
He was recalled to Spain in December 1942. A promotion to Lieutenant General
awaited him at home, and his post on the Eastern Front
was taken up by Emilio Esteban Infantes
.
Muñoz Grandes was appointed Captain-General of I Military District
in 1945 and Minister of Defence in 1950. He served as First Vice President of Spain from 1962 to 1967. Нe also was decorated by U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower
after World War II ended and by Konrad Adenauer
, First Chancellor (Bundeskanzler) of West Germany
after the war.
Muñoz Grandes died in 1970.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
general, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, vice-president of the Spanish Government and minister with Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
several times; also known as the commander of the Blue Division
Blue Division
The Blue Division officially designated as División Española de Voluntarios by the Spanish Army and 250. Infanterie-Division 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.-Origins:Although Spanish leader Field...
between 1941 and 1943.
Biography
Born to a humble family in MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Muñoz Grandes enrolled at the Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
Infantry Academy while in his teens. Upon graduating, he was deployed to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
in 1915 and took part in the decisive Battle of Alhucemas. Muñoz Grandes fought for the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and was promoted to General, taking command in the Army of Africa
Spanish Army of Africa
The Army of Africa was a Spanish field army that garrisoned Spanish Morocco from the early 20th century until Morocco's independence in 1956....
. He led the Spanish Legion
Spanish Legion
The Spanish Legion , formerly Spanish Foreign Legion, is an elite unit of the Spanish Army and Spain's Rapid Reaction Force. Founded as the Tercio de Extranjeros , it was originally intended as a Spanish equivalent of the French Foreign Legion, but in practice it recruited almost exclusively...
naires in the attack that won Málaga
Battle of Málaga
The Battle of Málaga was the culmination of an offensive in early 1937 by the combined Nationalist and Italian forces to eliminate Republican control of the province of Málaga during the Spanish Civil War...
for the Nationalists in February 1937.
In 1941, Muñoz Grandes was given command of the División Azul
Blue Division
The Blue Division officially designated as División Española de Voluntarios by the Spanish Army and 250. Infanterie-Division 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.-Origins:Although Spanish leader Field...
, Generalísimo Franco's volunteer unit created for service under the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Muñoz Grandes was well acquainted with the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
military establishment, and attended several interviews with Wilhelm Canaris
Wilhelm Canaris
Wilhelm Franz Canaris was a German admiral, head of the Abwehr, the German military intelligence service, from 1935 to 1944 and member of the German Resistance.- Early life and World War I :...
and Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
.
During his command Muñoz Grandes was decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
, with Oak Leaves personally added by Hitler.
He was recalled to Spain in December 1942. A promotion to Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
awaited him at home, and his post on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
was taken up by Emilio Esteban Infantes
Emilio Esteban Infantes
Emilio Esteban Infantes y Martín was a Spanish soldier and staff officer who served during the Spanish Civil War, and later in World War II as commander of the Wehrmacht's Blue Division , or 250. Infanterie-Division of the German Army integrated by Spanish falangist volunteers...
.
Muñoz Grandes was appointed Captain-General of I Military District
Military district
Military districts are formations of a state's armed forces which are responsible for a certain area of territory. They are often more responsible for administrative than operational matters, and in countries with conscript forces, often handle parts of the conscription cycle.Navies have also used...
in 1945 and Minister of Defence in 1950. He served as First Vice President of Spain from 1962 to 1967. Нe also was decorated by U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
after World War II ended and by Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,...
, First Chancellor (Bundeskanzler) of West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
after the war.
Muñoz Grandes died in 1970.