As appreciation for the german support in the Spanish civil war - which helped the Spanish Nationalists to gain the victory - General Franco sent an infantery division to Germany, to support the German Wehrmacht in itīs fight against the Soviet Union. It consisted volunteers and was called "250īst Infantry Division", but was far better known as "Blaue Division".
With this ground unit also 88 pilots were sent to the eastern front. These pilots all
were veterans, who saw combat with german pilots of "Legion Condor" during
the Spanish civil war.
The "Blue Squadrons" were equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighterplanes, during
the longest period of its service. Later they were also equipped with
Focke-Wulf Fw 190.