| Blue Division Medal Erinnerungsmedaille für die spanischen Freiwilligen im Kampf gegen den Bolschewismus | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Campaign medal |
| Awarded for | Volunteer Service in WW2 |
| Description | Zinc/Bronze 32mm diameter |
| Presented by |  Nazi Germany |
| Eligibility | Spanish Forces |
| Clasps | None |
| Established | 3 January 1944 |
 Ribbon | |
TheSpanish Volunteer Medal formally known as theCommemorative Medal for Spanish Volunteers in the Struggle Against Bolshevism (German:Erinnerungsmedaille für die spanischen Freiwilligen im Kampf gegen den Bolschewismus), commissioned 3 January 1944, was awarded by the Third Reich to recognize the men of theBlue Division who served at the Russian front duringWorld War II.[1] This force, attached to the Heer of theWehrmacht, known as the 250th Infantry Division (span.), was in total composed of 47,000 men, sent byFrancisco Franco to aid the Third Reich, as a way to pay back Adolf Hitler's help during theSpanish Civil War.
Members of the Blue Division also received theMedalla de la Campaña de Rusia from the Spanish government.[2]
This medal was made by Deschler & Sohn in Munich, which marked the ring with the number "1" as their own medal maker mark. The ribbon is similar to theIron Cross Second Class but with a yellow stripe in the middle to represent the Spanish flag. The obverse has a German Army helmet above two shields which show the Wehrmacht eagle and theFalange symbol, the two shields in front of a sword, with a swastika flanked by laurel leaves below. On the reverse is the inscription "División Española de Voluntarios en Rusia" and at the bottom theIron Cross underneath laurel leaves.[3]
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