Steven’s Blue Division Battalion

The Spanish Blue Division is what got me into WW2. Officially the 250th Infantry Division of the Wehrmacht and comprising Spanish Volunteers, this unit was also know as the Spanish Volunteer Division, Division Azul, or the Blue Division. They are Spanish, of course, but I use them as Germans when needed.

Battalion Code = “G” for Grenadier, plausibly for German, and most picturesquely for “Guripas”. The men of the Blue Division were known as “Guripas”, which I understand means little devils or soldiers in Spanish, like Grunt, GI, or Tommy in English. The “G” is, of course, part of the Unit ID on my Crossfire stands.

Figures

The majority of the figures are Battle Front although I’ve filled in some gaps in the figures with Peter Pig and Essex. Roland Davis painted most of the figures. I painted the fourth company. We both use the Black Undercoat Method. I received them from Roland 15 November 2001.

Order of Battle

The Crossfire TO&E for German battalions look pretty appropriate for the Blue Division, although the Spanish infantry battalions lack integral anti-tank companies, and in fact, all heavy weapons would be assigned from the regimental or divisional levels. See Blue Division TO&E.

Ski and Engineer company organisations can also be derived from those of the Infantry, although an Engineer Company would be 13.5 points more than an Infantry Company.

I’m still researching the organisation of the cavalry style Reconnaissance unit.

The only infantry anti-tank weapons available were anti-tank rifles as the Blue Division was decommissioned before Panzerfausts and Panzershrecks became available. The Blue Legion would have access to the more potent weapons.

1941-1942 Infantry Battalion

Pretty standard organisation, although I believe the anti-tank guns were centralised.

Blue Division troops warrant being Veteran because most were veteran of the Spanish Civil War, they were volunteers and devoted anti-communists, and they were considered better than their Axis peers.

1943 Grenadier Battalion

Still pretty standard order of battle for the period. The number of automatic weapons has been reduced. The morale of the troops declined as the veterans and fanatic anti-communists were killed or rotated home.

By 1943 the original volunteers were being replaced by fresh drafts including conscripts, so they may have been less enthusiastic.

Assault Reserve Platoon

Each Regiment had an assault platoon used for special attack and demolition work.

The Assault Reserve squads get +1 in close combat for being Veteran and an additional +1 for being SMG equipped and having a high complement of demolitions gear. Both modifiers apply to both infantry and vehicle opponents.

Combat Engineers

The standard German TO&E gave each Regiment had a company of combat Engineers, i.e. Assault Engineers. These were in addition to the sapper battalion at Divisional level.

Allied Forces

Mixed operations also occurred. As an example, on one occasion a Blue Division Captain took out a combined patrol of Spanish (from the Ski Company) and Latvians. On another occasion a Spanish Lieutenant lead a squad of his men and two German platoons (and a Pz IV).

• Green or Regular squads/platoons/companies/battalions

Anti-tank guns

The Blue Division had 3.7cm Pak36 anti-tank guns. I’ve got four of them. I’ve also got four 5.0cm Pak38 and four 7.5cm Paks for when I use the figures for other formations.

Reconnaissance

I wanted some motorcycles so decided I’d get a Reconnaissance platoon. Despite the technology I treat these guys are a normal rifle platoon.

Note: I play a House Rule that Recon Squads RBF successfully on 5+.

Artillery

The Blue Division had integral artillery and were often supported by their neighbours of other nationalities, usually German artillery. The integral components were:

• 75 mm IG
• 105mm Howitzers
• 150 mm Howitzers

German Armour

Supporting German armour also appeared. On two occasions that I know of Blue Division troops were accompanied by Panzer IVs, and on another by Tigers (the first Tiger’s to appear in the war).

I think all my German armour are from Battle Front. Roland Davis painted most of the vehicles, although the Tiger I, Panther and StuG III Gs were done by Grubby Tanks.