Agustín Muñoz Grandes

Agustín Muñoz Grandes
Agustín Muñoz Grandes
Deputy Prime Minister of Spain
In office 1962–1967
Leader	Francisco Franco
Preceded by	None, Office Created
Succeeded by	Luis Carrero Blanco
Ministry of Defence (Spain)
In office 19 July 1951 – 25 February 1957
Preceded by	Eduardo González-Gallarza
Succeeded by	Salvador Moreno Fernández
Personal details
Born	27 January 1896 Madrid, Spain
Died	11 July 1970 (aged 74) Madrid, Spain
Political party	FET y de las JONS (Falange)
Military service
Allegiance	Kingdom of Spain (1915–32)  Spanish Republic (1932–36)  Nationalist Spain (1936–41, 1943–50)  Nazi Germany (1941–42)
Service/branch	Army Wehrmacht
Years of service	1915–41, 1943–50 (Spain) 1941–43 (Germany)
Rank	General
Commands	Blue Division
Battles/wars	Rif War Spanish Civil War Battle of Málaga World War II Eastern Front
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Medalla Militar

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 1943.

Biography

Born to a humble family in Madrid, 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 Legionnaires in the attack of Málaga for the Nationales 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.

Muñoz Grandes died in 1970.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (8 September 1941)^[1]
  • 1st Class (19 January 1942)^[1]

References

1. 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.