Agustín Muñoz Grandes | |
|---|---|
.jpg) General Muñoz Grandes as an officer of theWehrmacht, 1941–43 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Spain | |
| In office 11 July 1962 – 22 July 1967 | |
| Prime Minister | Francisco Franco |
| Preceded by | Francisco Gómez-Jordana Sousa(1938–39) |
| Succeeded by | Luis Carrero Blanco |
| Minister of the Army | |
| In office 19 July 1951 – 25 February 1957 | |
| Preceded by | Fidel Dávila Arrondo |
| Succeeded by | Antonio Barroso Sánchez-Guerra |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1896-01-27)27 January 1896 Carabanchel Bajo, Spain |
| Died | 11 July 1970(1970-07-11) (aged 74) Madrid, Spain |
| Political party | FET y de las JONS |
| Children | Agustín Muñoz-Grandes Galilea [es] |
| Education | Toledo Infantry Academy |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Spain (1915–1931) Spanish Republic (1931–1936) Nationalist Spain (1936–1941, 1942–1950)[citation needed] Nazi Germany (1941–1942) |
| Branch/service | Spanish Army German Army (Wehrmacht) |
| Years of service | 1915–41, 1942–50[citation needed] (Spain) 1941–42 (Germany) |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | Blue Division |
| Battles/wars | Rif War |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Military Medal |
Agustín Muñoz Grandes (27 January 1896 – 11 July 1970) was a Spanish general, andpolitician, vice-president of the Spanish Government and minister withFrancisco Franco several times; also known as the commander of theBlue Division between 1941 and 1942.
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Born inCarabanchel Bajo on 27 January 1896,[1] Muñoz Grandes enrolled at theToledo Infantry Academy while in his teens. Upon graduating, he was deployed toMorocco in 1915 and in 1925 took part in the decisiveBattle of Alhucemas. Muñoz Grandes fought for theNationalists during theSpanish Civil War and was promoted toGeneral, taking command in theArmy of Africa. He led theSpanish Legionnaries in the conquestof Málaga by the Nationalists in February 1937.In 1941, Muñoz Grandes was given command of theDivisión Azul, Generalísimo Franco's volunteer unit created for service under theWehrmacht on theEastern Front, against theSoviet Union.[2] Muñoz Grandes was well acquainted with theNazi German military establishment, and attended several interviews withWilhelm Canaris andAdolf Hitler.
During his command Muñoz Grandes was decorated with theKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross, withOak Leaves personally added by Hitler. He was recalled to Spain in December 1942. A promotion toLieutenant General awaited him at home, and his post on the Eastern Front was taken up byEmilio Esteban Infantes.
Muñoz Grandes was appointedCaptain General of IMilitary District in 1945,Minister of the Army in 1951 and Chief of theDefence High Command (chief ofstaff of theSpanish Armed Forces) in 1958. He served asDeputy Prime Minister of Spain from 1962 to 1967. In this capacity he advised Franco to enter theVietnam War in order to gain better relations with theUnited States; however, Franco was reluctant to publicly support the war or the United States, and ultimately only several teams of medical personnel were sent, covertly.[3]
Muñoz Grandes died in 1970.[4] His wife Maria died in 1989.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister–Secretary General of FET y de las JONS 9 August 1939 – 16 March 1940 | Vacant Title next held by José Luis de Arrese |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister of the Army 19 July 1951 – 25 February 1957 | Succeeded by |
| Vacant Title last held by Francisco Gómez-Jordana Sousa | Deputy Prime Minister of Spain 11 July 1962 – 22 July 1967 | Succeeded by |
| Military offices | ||
| New title | Commander of theBlue Division 20 July 1941 – 13 December 1942 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief of theDefence High Command 6 June 1958 – 11 July 1970 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
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