A Spanish Blue Division Document Group; Wounded At Leningrad

A collection of three award certificates, measuring 139x199mm, all fine condition with folding creases, minor tears, scuffing, and age-related discolouration; one with rusted staple. A division emblem made from cardboard, measuring 26x45mm, near mint condition. A certificate for the Blue Division Medal (Commemorative Medal for Spanish Volunteers in the Struggle Against Bolshevism). The certificate is in German, whereas the filled in words are in Spanish. The recipient is NCO Jose Ruiz Lopez of the Grenadier Regiment 262. It is dated to November 15, 1943 and carries a facsimile of Colonel General and Supreme Commander of the 18th Army, Georg Lindemann (1884–1963), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves.

A certificate for the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords for Lance Corporal Jose Ruiz Lopez of the Grenadier Regiment 262. It is dated to September 1, 1943 and is signed in black ink by Cavalry General and Commanding General of the L. (50th) Army Corps, Philipp Kleffel (1887–1964), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross.

A certificate for the Wound Badge in Black to Lance Corporal Jose Ruiz Lopez of the 1st Battalion of Infantry Regiment 262 for being wounded on February 10, 1943 during the siege of Leningrad (Battle of Krasny Bor). The document is dated to Hof/Saale (northern Bavaria) on March 2, 1943 and is signed by a military doctor whose name is indecipherable.

A Blue Division cardboard emblem, part of a propaganda series. The reverse states: “Russia is guilty!” in Spanish.

Footnote: The so called Blue Division (250th Infantry Division) was made up of Spanish volunteers fighting for the German Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front between 1941 and 1944. During the siege of Leningrad the Blue Division was involved in a major attempt by the Soviet army to disperse the enemy: the Battle of Krasny Bor (February 10 to 13). The combined Spanish and SS forces were able to hold the position against a tank supported force seven times as numerous as they were, but had to pay with great loss of life. February 10, the day that Jose Ruiz Lopez was wounded, became known as “Black Wednesday” in Spain. Over 70% of the men involved in this battle died. A.H. himself described the Division as “equal to the best German ones”.