Agustín Muñoz Grandes

Agustín Muñoz Grandes (27 January 1896 – 11 July 1970) 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 1942.

Agustín Muñoz Grandes
General Muñoz Grandes as an officer of the Wehrmacht, 1941–43
Deputy Prime Minister of Spain
In office
1962–1967
LeaderFrancisco Franco
Preceded byNone, Office Created
Succeeded byLuis Carrero Blanco
Ministry of Defence (Spain)
In office
19 July 1951 – 25 February 1957
Preceded byEduardo González-Gallarza
Succeeded bySalvador Moreno Fernández
Personal details
Born(1896-01-27)27 January 1896
Carabanchel Bajo, Spain
Died11 July 1970(1970-07-11) (aged 74)
Madrid, Spain
Political partyFET y de las JONS (Falange)
Military service
Allegiance Kingdom of Spain
(1915–1932)
 Spanish Republic
(1932–1936)
 Nationalist Spain
(1936–1941, 1942–1950)
 Nazi Germany
(1941–1942)
Branch/serviceArmy
Wehrmacht
Years of service1915–41, 1942–50 (Spain)
1941–42 (Germany)
RankGeneral
CommandsBlue Division
Battles/warsRif War

Spanish Civil War

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Medalla Militar

Biography

Born in Carabanchel Bajo on 27 January 1896,[1] 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 Nacionales during the Spanish Civil War and was promoted to General, taking command in the Army of Africa. He led the Spanish Legionnaries in the attack of Málaga for the Nacionales 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, Minister of Defence in 1950 and Chief of the Defence High Command (chief of staff of the Spanish Armed Forces) in 1958. He served as Deputy Prime Minister of Spain from 1962 to 1967.

Muñoz Grandes died in 1970.

Awards

References
  1. Huerta Barajas, Justo Alberto (2016). Gobierno y Administración Militar en la II República española: (14 de abril de 1931/18 de julio de 1936). Madrid: Boletín Oficial del Estado. p. 393. ISBN 978-84-340-2303-1.
  2. Thomas 1998, p. 112.

Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Kleinfeld, Gerald A. (1979). Hitler's Spanish Legion: The Blue Division in Russia. Southern Illinois University Press. ISBN 0-8093-0865-7.
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
Government offices
Preceded by
General Fidel Dávila Arrondo		 Ministro del Ejército
Spanish Minister of Defense
19 July 1951 – 25 February 1957		 Succeeded by
General Antonio Barroso y Sánchez-Guerra


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