Agustín Muñoz Grandes (27 January 1896 – 11 July 1970) was a Spanish general, and
politician
A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...
, vice-president of the Spanish Government and minister with
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco Bahamonde (born Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco Bahamonde; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general and dictator who led the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalist forces i ...
several times; also known as the commander of the
Blue Division between 1941 and 1942.
Biography
Born in
Carabanchel Bajo on 27 January 1896, Muñoz Grandes enrolled at the
Toledo Infantry Academy while in his teens. Upon graduating, he was deployed to
Morocco
Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...
in 1915 and in 1925 took part in the decisive
Battle of Alhucemas. Muñoz Grandes fought for the
Nationalists during the
Spanish Civil War and was promoted to
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
, taking command in the
Army of Africa. He led the
Spanish Legionnaries in the conquest
of Málaga by the Nationalists 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
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...
on the
Eastern Front, against the
Soviet Union
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
. Muñoz Grandes was well acquainted with the
Nazi German military establishment, and attended several interviews with
Wilhelm Canaris and
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his suicide in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the lea ...
.
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
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...
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 the Army in 1951 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. In this capacity he advised Franco to enter the
Vietnam War in order to gain better relations with the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
; however, Franco was reluctant to publicly support the war or the United States, and ultimately only several teams of medical personnel were sent, covertly.
Muñoz Grandes died in 1970.
His wife Maria died in 1989.
Awards
*
Order of Cisneros (1956, 1970)
*
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (12 March 1942)
**
Oak Leaves (12 December 1942)
*
Iron Cross (1939)
** 2nd Class (8 September 1941)
[Thomas 1998, p. 112.]
** 1st Class (19 January 1942)
References
Bibliography
*
*
*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Munoz Grandes, Agustin
1896 births
1970 deaths
Politicians from Madrid
Spanish captain generals
Spanish generals
Spanish military personnel of the Spanish Civil War (National faction)
Spanish military personnel of the Rif War
Blue Division personnel
Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Foreign recipients of the Legion of Merit
Deputy prime ministers of Spain
Spanish anti-communists
Ministers of defence of Spain
FET y de las JONS politicians
Government ministers during the Francoist dictatorship
People of the Vietnam War