Spanish Legion. Spanish Foreign Legion

In the ground forces, special forces are part of the Spanish Foreign Legion (FIL), which is part of the Spanish Rapid Reaction Force, as well as in three special operations groups and two separate teams.

Spanish Foreign Legion

Spanish Foreign Legion(Tercio De Extraueros) was created in 1920. Unlike the French, which recruits mainly from citizens of other countries, the IIL can only formally be called foreign, since throughout its entire history it consisted mainly of Spanish citizens, and there were only about 20% of foreigners. Currently, almost all legion volunteers are recruited from Spain.

Getting to serve in the IIL is quite simple - just ask for help from any police officer, who will tell you the address of the recruiting station, where the newcomer will immediately be shown a film about the life of the legion and will be interviewed. After this, the candidate legionnaire decides for himself whether he really needs to serve in the Legion, and if he agrees, he signs a contract. The recruit is then sent to the Legion's training center in Ronda, where he undergoes a brutal selection process.

Its first part is “Long live death!” - is the battle cry of the Legion.

Today the Legion is an elite part of the armed forces, classified as a rapid reaction force, distinguished by high technical training and the highest fighting spirit of its legionnaires. He is in constant readiness to perform any combat missions. The Legion takes part in peacekeeping missions led by the UN and NATO. But first things first.

Birth of the Legion. Miljan Astray, to whom the Spanish Foreign Legion owes much of its creation, was born in La Coruña on July 5, 1879. The father wanted his son to become a lawyer, but Miljan entered the Infantry Academy in Toledo at the age of 15 and after a year and a half received the rank of junior lieutenant.

Astray, a 16-year-old second lieutenant, fought in the Philippine War, where he gained fame and popularity when, with thirty other soldiers, he held off a large number of rebels in the town of San Rafael. Astray himself lost an eye and a hand in one of the battles. This incident convinced him of the need to use professional soldiers in external wars and predetermined the creation of the Legion.

Previously, Astray decided to see how the French legionnaires lived. Still, by the time the Spanish Legion was formed, the French Legion was already 88 years old. Having studied methods of organization and training, Astray decided to create a slightly different model of the foreign legion.

In the French Legion, the doors were open to almost all foreigners. The legion was, as it were, a separate state, and the legionnaires swore allegiance, first of all, to their regiment. A Frenchman could not become a legionnaire.

Miljan Astray's future legionnaires were to mainly divide their feelings between Spain and Catholicism. Foreigners were accepted, but in limited numbers. Astray wanted a Spanish majority. In fact, the term "foreign" used to refer to the Spanish Legion is most likely based on a misinterpretation of the Spanish word extranjero, which means "foreign", "foreign". And the expression Legion Extranjera does not mean a legion of foreigners, but a legion performing tasks in foreign territories. After Miljan Astrai returned, he officially presented his project for the creation of the Legion.

It was based on the following principles:

1. The Legion will embody the virtues of our victorious infantry and our invincible army.

2. The Legion will serve as the base of the colonial army.

3. The Legion will save many Spanish lives, since the legionnaires will be ready to die for all Spaniards.

4. The Legion will consist of volunteers of all nationalities who will sign the contract with their real or fictitious name, relieving the state of any responsibility for this decision.

5.The spirit of competition created by the presence of recruits of different nationalities will lead to increased morale of the Legion.

6. Legionnaires will sign a contract for a period of 4 or 5 years, and by remaining in long-term service, they become real soldiers.

8. To those who have no shelter, to those who thirst for military glory, the Legion will give bread, shelter, family, homeland and a banner under which to die.

The most amazing thing is that the project was accepted and the necessary funds were allocated for the implementation of the project. And this despite the fact that at that time there was powerful anti-colonial propaganda in Spain.

Spanish Legion infantry fighting vehicle

In the army, which had compulsory military service, corruption, abuse and theft flourished. The rich exempted their children from military service, sending young men from poor families to serve in the army instead for a fee. Soldiers without sufficient training died in military conflicts by the thousands. The number of victims was so great that civil unrest began in Barcelona and other cities in Spain.

There was a need to create professional army units capable of resisting Moroccan troops and carrying out the most complex and risky operations. And these tasks were assigned to the legionnaires.

It is worth noting that from the very beginning, Miljan Astray made sure that the legionnaires' uniform was attractive and at the same time comfortable. The founder of the Legion focused on the uniform of the ground forces

Spain in the golden ages (XVII-XVIII) to highlight its warriors through uniforms and various additions. Therefore, in photographs and illustrations depicting Spanish legionnaires, we see hats with wide brims that fell onto the collar of a shirt, pants tucked into boots, special covers for boots, and gloves. Naturally, the specifics of the climate where the action was to be taken into account. And the legionnaire’s emblem depicted a pike, a crossbow and an arquebus.

Later, already in the 40s, regulations established that legionnaires must wear the same uniform as ground forces. However, the regulations were not taken into account, and the Legion continued to sparkle with its uniform, slowly accepting all kinds of changes. Legion officers' uniforms were always different from those of other troops.

Franco, Francisco

Miljan Astray and Francisco Franco. It should be noted that Astrai was not alone in the formation of the Legion. Few people know that Francisco Franco, who years later established a dictatorship in Spain and ruled the country until his death in 1975, was directly related to the Legion. He, along with Astray, stood at the origins of the creation of the organization. And when on January 28, 1920, Miljan Astray received the rank of lieutenant colonel and was appointed head of the newly formed Spanish Foreign Legion, he immediately offered his like-minded Major Franco the post of deputy commander. He went to Africa without looking back.

When Franco’s unfortunate recruits arrived in Ceuta, they were greeted by Miljan Astray, who immediately began to give instructions quite energetically: “You have escaped from the clutches of death and remember that you were already dead, your life was over. You came here to start a new life, which you must pay with death. You came here to die! Long live death! Then came a stern reminder: “From the moment you crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, you no longer have a mother, a girlfriend, or a family. From today, all of them will be replaced by the Legion.”

In 1941, the writer Arturo Barea, who served in the African Corps in the twenties, described how Legion commanders treated their men: “Miljan’s whole body was hysterical. His voice broke into screams and howls. He threw in the faces of these people all the dirt, filth and obscenity of their lives, their shame and crimes, and then, in a fanatical rage, awakened in them a sense of chivalry and nobility, calling on them to abandon every dream except for a heroic death that would wash away their shameful past".

And yet, it was the cool-headed Franco, and not the hot-tempered Miljan, who insisted on introducing the death penalty to maintain discipline among the staff. As the famous writer Gabriella Hodges writes in her book about Franco, “he once, without hesitation, ordered the execution on the spot of a legionnaire who threw a plate of inedible food in the face of an officer, and then ordered the killed comrades of the killed soldier to march after his body. Neither Miljan nor his deputy tried to somehow limit the atrocities of the legionnaires against the local population, even when they cut off the heads of prisoners and paraded them as trophies.”

Morocco. The eternal problem of Spain. The Spanish Foreign Legion was formed in April 1920, during the war in Morocco. According to international agreements concluded in 1906 in Algeciras, Morocco was divided into two zones, one of which was under the protectorate of Spain and the other of France.

Liberation movements periodically arose in Morocco, the goal of which was to expel foreigners from the country. The most famous rebel leaders were Muhammad Amezian, who captured the iron mines in the Rif, and Abd el-Karim, who united under his leadership the groups of Mark-Kans who had once fought among themselves. Abd el-Karim acted primarily in the Spanish zone. His goal was to create an independent European-style state in the north of Morocco.

It should be noted here that Spain has always had tense relations with the state bordering on the south, Morocco. Recently, they have been largely associated with the powerful flow of illegal immigration of Moroccans to Spain. In earlier times, as we see, it even came to armed conflicts. The Spanish Foreign Legion has repeatedly fought in Morocco. It is not surprising that after the formation of the Legion, it was immediately baptized by fire here.

In another, even more remote village, a garrison of Legion soldiers fought until their food, water and ammunition were exhausted. Shocked by this heroism, Abd el-Karim sent a proposal to the defenders in which he promised to spare their lives if they threw out the white banner. As for the commander of the garrison, the very young lieutenant replied that he and his men had sworn to defend their positions to the death and that they would not break the oath.

The war could continue like this for a very long time. Abdel-Karim received significant human reinforcements (mercenaries, Europeans, fighters against colonialism). But success and public attention turned the head of the Rif leader, and in 1925 he made the fatal mistake of attacking the French zone, where he advanced to the old capital of Fez. In 1926, Abdel-Karim had to fight against the combined Spanish army and the French expeditionary force with a total of 100,000 people under the leadership of Marshal Pétain.

Everything ended very quickly. On May 26, after a short but fierce campaign, Abd el-Karim surrendered to Colonel Andre Corapp. At the end of the war, 8 battalions were created. Only 9% of the “grooms of death” were foreigners. The legionnaires fully justified their motto: 2,000 were killed, of which 4 were battalion commanders, and 6,096 people were seriously wounded.

After the conclusion of peace, the rather battered battalions were put in order. There was talk of recruiting new units, but the coup that replaced the monarchy with a republic put an end to this.

Civil War. Russians on both sides of the barricades. The Civil War in Spain in the 30s, of course, also affected the legionnaires. This could not have happened without the participation of our compatriots. Moreover, they fought both on the side of Franco (as part of the Legion) and against him.

The fact that the Spanish Foreign Legion repeatedly won victories over the best communist units of the Republicans - international brigades and Soviet volunteers - speaks of the serious fighting qualities of this unit. In the words of Russian volunteers, “perhaps among all the current troops - all that exist in today’s world, the Spanish Legion is the most glorious and most famous army.”

Our compatriots had to fight not only against the Legion, but also as part of it. General Franco had great sympathy for the Russian legionnaires and insisted on their mandatory participation in the victory parade in Valencia on March 18, 1939.

According to the recollections of the participants in this event, everyone who took part in the parade was given new uniforms, and the officers were given white gloves. Tassels called shofres were attached to the scarlet berets; their color depended on the rank of the legionnaire. The Russian detachment, marching on the right flank of the combined battalion of the Spanish Foreign Legion with the national tricolor, attracted everyone's attention.

How respected the Russians were among the legionnaires is evidenced by the fact that, according to Spanish military tradition, an officer must carry the banner of the legion battalion. However, the legion officers insisted that the battalion banner be carried at the parade by Ali Gursky as the best legionnaire, although he did not have the rank of officer.

After the end of hostilities, Franco did not disband the Russian detachment, but left it entirely within the Spanish armed forces, as a sign of special gratitude, which was nonsense for Spain and its army. The Russians, almost all of whom became officers in the Spanish Legion, reached great heights here and continued to faithfully serve Franco.

Thus, the Russian volunteer Boltin rose to the rank of colonel and died in 1961. The fact that such a high honor was given to a Russian person - the introduction of a foreigner to such a high rank in the Spanish army, which was previously prohibited, testifies to the highest professional qualities of the Russian officers who ended up in Spain. Russian volunteers forever entered the history of the Spanish Foreign Legion and contributed to the creation of the high authority of the Russian name.

Subsequently, legionnaires had to participate in multiple campaigns and wars. Including in the Second World War (as part of the famous “blue division”), as well as in Western Sahara, where they carried out tasks to destroy the rebels, and subsequently partisans. There they remained until the territory lost its colony status in 1976. Numerous operations in which legionnaires took part often ended in their successful completion. The main reason for the victories can confidently be called the high morale of the legionnaires:

How was the fighting spirit of a legionnaire cultivated, without which there would be neither victories nor glory?

Viva la muerte (“Long live death!”) was the battle cry of the legionnaires. Legionnaires are still called “Los novios de la muerte” (Spanish) - “Wedded to Death”.

The three most famous songs of the legionnaires are "El novio de la muerte" ("The Bridegroom of Death"), "Tercios Heroicos" ("The Heroic Regiments") and "Cancion del legionario" ("The Legionnaire's Song"). The first of them was taken as the legionnaires’ own song (hymn).

Initially it had a higher rhythm, but it became famous when performed in a march rhythm.

The chorus of the song translates roughly as follows:

I am a man whom luck wounded with the paw of a wild beast; I am the bridegroom of death, And I will tie myself with strong ties With this faithful friend.

Astray himself, brought up in the spirit of “bushido” (the ancient ethical code of the samurai, which demanded absolute loyalty to the boss, self-restraint and self-control), created the so-called legionnaire’s creed. The cult of camaraderie, courage, friendship, unity, endurance, discipline, death and love for the battalion - these are the main points in the legionary creed. Without them, the Legion would simply be a community of people motivated by money. Needless to say, the Legion still does not deviate from traditions; today’s legionnaires adhere to the same values and sing the same hymns. This can be called another distinctive feature of the Spanish Legion.

The first volunteer to enroll in the Legion was a Spaniard from Ceuta. From the end of September 1920, 400 people came from all over Spain to volunteer; they gathered in Algeciras, then boarded a ship, where they awaited departure to Ceuta. In rags and tatters, this herd of volunteers were the scum of the cities. Among them, the majority were Spaniards, but there were also foreigners - three Chinese and one Japanese.

The transformation of this picturesque rabble into an elite corps is due primarily to the efforts of Astray and Franco. Interestingly, from the very beginning, participation in military operations was extremely successful, the legionnaires of Miljan Astray are universally recognized as extraordinary soldiers. In the future, they begin to count on foreign players seriously. And today the Legion is an elite unit in the Spanish army, serving in which is extremely prestigious.

However, recently many questions have arisen about the importance of the Legion's existence, even to the point of its disbandment. However, new international obligations bring back to life the reasons that served as the prerequisites for the creation of the Legion. Difficulties in finding employment for military personnel at their disposal lead to the creation of professional units made up of volunteers. There is an example of this: the operation in Alpha Bravo, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the Legion occupies a certain territory.

Over the more than 80-year history of the Legion, its losses amounted to more than 40 thousand people, and the last losses were in missions under the control of the UN in fulfilling the obligations given by Spain. Today, Spain's role in the international community is quite large. Close relations with Latin America, with which it is linked historically and culturally, open up new opportunities for the Legion's activities.

Spain's actions as a mediator in various world conflicts are changing the role of the Legion, which is more used in various peacekeeping missions conducted under the auspices of the UN. According to some estimates, the Legion now numbers about 4 thousand people, including many women, mostly Latinas.

Today, the legionnaire is the pride of the Spanish army: a highly qualified soldier, ready to carry out any mission. Its hallmarks are extreme dedication, devotion, loyalty and teamwork. Moreover, the missions can be completely different: military, humanitarian, and even civil protection. And he will always be ready to give everything for his country, his battalion and will always help others, risking his life. After all, he is the “wife of death.” His name is Spanish legionnaire!

Today's Legion is not for the weak. The training is very rough and the punishment is that the trainees are severely beaten by the instructors. The learning process is surprisingly short and takes only 3-4 months. Recruits sign a 3-year contract, which is as difficult to break as the contract of the French Foreign Legion. Brutal training and arduous marches are believed to make real soldiers. This combat course is one of the most difficult in the world. During its passage, recruits are constantly subjected to rough treatment, beatings and other punishments, and operate in the conditions of the use of military weapons, when they are shot at their feet and over their heads. If a recruit is not killed or injured during this course, he is said to be “very lucky.”

According to other sources, the IIL has approximately 7-8 thousand people, and only men serve in it. The legion consists of four regiments (Tercios), each consisting of four battalions (Banderas). One of these regiments (4Tercio Alejandro Famesio) is dedicated to special operations and is based in Ronda. This regiment includes two battalions: parachute and operational (BOEL), which at one time was abbreviated as OLEU.

BOEL Battalion

BOEL Battalion(Banderas de Operaciones Especiales) has 500 personnel and is divided into three operational commands (COE 1, 2 and 3).

The battalion's personnel are trained for operations at sea (including using light diving equipment), in the mountains and the Arctic, for carrying out sabotage and explosive operations, and are trained in parachute jumping (including from high altitudes with delayed parachute opening), and conducting deep reconnaissance , counter-terrorism operations, sniper business, search and rescue, use of light combat vehicles.

BOEL Battalion armed with basically the same weapons as the rest of the legion: 5.56 mm CETME rifles, 9 mm Star machine guns and pistols, 7.62 mm Ameli machine guns and 40 mm grenade launchers. Vehicles such as Land Rover, Hummer, BMR600, Nissan and other American and English-made vehicles are used as light combat vehicles.

IIL soldiers wear the same camouflage uniform as other forces of the Spanish Army, and only the red tassel on their headdress distinguishes them from other military personnel.

GOE Special Operations Groups

Spanish special forces in Afghanistan. 2005 year.

Special Operations Groups(GOE - Grupos de Operaciones Especiales) are based: GOE II - in Granada (consists of two teams - COE 21 and COE 22), GOE III - in Alicante (composed of COE 31 and COE 32), GOE IV - in Barcelona (in composition of COE 41 and COE 42). Two separate special operations teams are based: COE 81 in Santa Cruz de Tanarife, COE 82 in Las Palmas.

Naval Special Operations Forces

Naval Special Operations Forces are part of the Marine Corps (TEAR - Infanteria de Marina's Tescio de Armade) and are known as a special operations unit ( UOE - Unidad de Operaciones Especiales). The detachment is subordinated directly to the Spanish Admiralty. According to official documents, the UOE's primary mission is to "perform in-depth special reconnaissance and offensive direct combat operations against important strategic and heavily fortified installations."

Spanish Special Forces soldiers in Djibouti during the "Enduring Freedom" mission

Some of the many missions performed by UOE units are: long-range reconnaissance prior to the engagement of the main force, intelligence gathering, surveillance, targeting and forward artillery fire control, disruption of enemy communication lines, direct combat operations (strikes, raids, naval blockade operations and capture ships), rescue operations at sea, as well as search and rescue of aircraft crews shot down behind enemy lines.

The UOE was formed in 1952 as an all-volunteer amphibious assault company designed to launch surprise attacks in the first amphibious assault against any coastal targets.

The detachment specializes in conducting combat operations against heavily fortified objects of the coastal defense system and capturing territorially difficult targets.

After studying the nature of the use of similar units in NATO countries, the Spaniards came to the conclusion that it was necessary to expand the operational capabilities of the UOE and create a unit capable of performing a wide range of conventional and special warfare missions. In 1967, given the guidance of US Navy SEALs and the British SBS, the UOE team was given new missions that included underwater explosions, airborne landings, and direct sabotage strikes.

The detachment received its first operational baptism in 1969, when it led the evacuation of Spanish citizens from the former Spanish colony of Equatorial Guinea. In 1985, the unit was renamed the Commando Amphibious Special Force (COMANFES - Comando Anfibio Especial), but was reverted to its former name UOE in the 1990s.

The UOE unit was actively used against the terrorist organization ETA inside Spain, in the former Yugoslavia as part of the Spanish contingent of IFOR and SFOR, in carrying out tasks of both the Spanish and joint commands. The UOE detachment is based in San Fernando and has 169 personnel. The detachment commander has the rank of lieutenant colonel, and his deputy is major. The detachment includes a small headquarters section and four platoons (Stol): command and service, two special operations and combat swimmers. Platoon commanders have the rank of captain.

The command and maintenance platoon is responsible for daily operations, material and medical support, communications, etc., as well as for operational selection and training courses for newly assigned personnel to the detachment. A special operations platoon consists of 34 people and is divided into two divisions of 16 people each and a command element consisting of two people. Special Operations Divisions consist of teams of four dedicated to airborne landings, direct combat and reconnaissance. A platoon of combat swimmers specializes in the use of light diving equipment, small watercraft and performs reconnaissance missions in amphibious operations.

UOE detachment operator candidates are recruited from experienced Marine personnel who have served at least one year in a Marine operational detachment. Strict selection aims to weed out those who do not meet the required standards of the squad. Candidates are subjected to a series of tests to test their physical and mental abilities. During this selection, they are put under pressure to the limits of their physical capabilities.

Training for candidates for the UOE squad aims to evaluate how special forces perform tasks under fire, verbal abuse, intense physical activity, their endurance on long-distance marches with heavy backpacks, reaction to any events and introductions. The training conducted using fire weapons is aimed at identifying whether trainees are susceptible to panic or indecision at critical moments of the battle. During the most intensive phase of selection, candidates undergo three lengthy survival tests, during which the largest number of candidates are eliminated. If the selection is successfully completed, students move on to operational training.

First of all, they are sent to parachute school, where they receive basic knowledge of parachute operations, after which they return to the UOE detachment and make several parachute jumps on water, including in the open ocean.

Next is a study of basic commando skills. tactics of penetrating behind enemy lines by land and from the sea (swimming, on landing craft and from submarines), raids, ambushes, control of small boats and landing, hand-to-hand combat without weapons and using edged weapons, map reading and land navigation, water survival, combat medicine, landing from a helicopter, rapid descent and ascent on cables, etc. Those who successfully complete this phase acquire more specialized skills.

During this phase, parachuting from high altitudes with and without delayed parachute opening, jumping from low altitudes, combat underwater diving, sniper shooting are also carried out, and the use of explosives is practically practiced. Officers and NCOs, in addition to this training, also attend the Army Special Operations Command Course.

In addition to training and conducting exercises with other Marine Corps units, UOE personnel interact with counterterrorism and special forces units such as the National Police GEO, GAR and National Guard UEI, and is also subdivided into the Navy UEBC, Air Force EZAPAC and Army PRP. UOE Squad regularly conducts exercises with foreign units of special operations forces (US Navy SEAL, Portuguese DAE, Italian COMSUBIN, French Commandos Marine and Commando Hubert).

To support the activities of the UOE detachment, Spanish military surface ships, submarines and aircraft are widely involved. For the landing of reconnaissance and sabotage groups of the detachment, ultra-small submarines (Rosa, Tiburon), underwater vehicles (open type SLC series 2, Maialis) are used and closed type "Humeda" series MEDAS), underwater tugs, inflatable boats of the "Zodiak" type and double kayaks of the "Klepper" type.

VHF and HF radio stations are used for communication, and “Magellan” and “Slugger” GP satellite navigation receivers are used for navigation! For scuba diving there is standard light diving equipment with wet and dry suits. The detachment uses laser target designators to target Spanish Navy aircraft.

The UOE unit's weapons include both domestic and foreign weapons, including:

9 mm Liania 82B pistols with laser aiming and silencer

5.56 mm rifle CETME mod. 1 (which will soon be replaced by the 5.56-mmNK G-36)

9 mm Patchett/Sterling MK.5 submachine guns with suppressor, upgraded for laser guidance

7.62 mm Mauser SP66 sniper rifles

Locally produced light 5.56 mm Ameli machine guns

7.62 mm American M-60 GPMG machine guns.

In addition, the unit carries a variety of locally made Commando daggers.

Air Force Special Operations Forces - EZAPAC

Air Force Special Operations Forces are represented by a small but highly trained elite group known as the Parachute Engineering/Sapper Squadron (Eskadrilla de Zapadores Paracaidistas. Abbreviated as EZAPAC). The 300-man squadron is trained to perform the following tasks: selecting and designating airborne and airborne landing zones, conducting visual and electronic control from the ground of its aircraft, forward air control and guidance of fighter aircraft from the ground, collecting and transmitting intelligence data from the territory enemy, detection and destruction of enemy air navigation facilities, strengthening the EADA (Escadrilla de Apoya al Despliegue Aero) squadron, providing additional security for Air Force facilities, providing combat search for the rescue of crews shot down behind enemy lines, training Air Force and Navy pilots in survival and evasion skills.

Operating under the direct control of the Air Force Response Force, it is divided into several sections, each of which specializes in performing specific tasks. The unit is fully air transportable, all personnel are parachute trained, and many of its operators are capable of landing from low altitudes and from high altitudes with a delayed deployment of the parachute.

Was formed as 1st Airborne Airborne Battalion(Primera Bandera de Tropas de Aviacion del Ejercito del Aire) according to the type of German parachute battle groups that had great success during the Second World War. The battalion's units were trained at Four Winds and Culvert airfields, and the first parachute jump was made in September 1948 at Alcala de Henares. In 1952, the battalion was relocated to its base of operations at Alcala de Henares.

Beginning in 1957, the battalion participated in a number of conflicts and in 1958 arrived at its new base in Madrileniar. On September 9, 1965, the battalion was reorganized and received its current name Escadrilla de Zapadores Paracaidistas - EZAPAC, inheriting the tasks of the previous unit, its personnel, equipment and weapons. The squadron was subsequently reorganized and came under the operational control of Tactical Aviation Headquarters, and then relocated to Murcia. Between 1971 and 1974 the squadron was relocated to Cobut, but due to logistical problems it returned to Murcia.

In 1975, the squadron was used in the Canary Islands during the evacuation of the Spanish from the Spanish Sahara. In 1989, EZAPA operated in Namibia as part of the UN peacekeeping force in that country, providing security for a Spanish Air Force unit transporting humanitarian aid to refugees. Since August 1993, the squadron has supported NATO IFOR and SFOR operations in Bosnia. Along with other functions, the squadron commands in the Balkans ensured the operation of tactical aviation control posts.

Between September 1994 and April 1995, EZAPAC units were used during the bloody Rwandan civil war. The squadron personnel provided escort for cargo aircraft delivering humanitarian aid and food supplies.< местонахождения лагерей беженцев, разбросанных по окраинам страны.

The training of personnel new to the EZAPAC squadron lasts four years and begins at the parachute school. Students must learn a series of basic tasks such as survival, communications, first aid, stealth and others. In addition, they improve parachute training, learn advanced air guidance, air traffic control and other missions using guidance. After completing basic training, new operators are awarded the Spanish Special Operations Forces Green Beret and assigned to an operational command, where they continue specialized training to enhance their combat prowess.

The EZAPAC squadron regularly participates in exercises with similar NATO units, such as the US Special Tactics Teams, the French Commando de I Air and the Portuguese RESCOM CSAR.

Spanish paratrooper outfit

In Spain, there are several centrally subordinate anti-terror units: in the police and in the gendarmerie. Among them, experts highlight two, whose effectiveness has been repeatedly confirmed in practice. The first is the Special Intervention Unit of the Spanish Gendarmerie. The second is called GEO and is part of the National Police. GEO (Gruppos Especiale de Operaciones - special operations group) is one of the main tools of the Spanish authorities' fight against terrorism.

On March 11, 2004, the whole world learned about the terrible terrorist attack in Madrid, which killed more than 190 people. To the credit of the Spanish intelligence services, they quickly managed to identify the organizers and perpetrators. No one doubted that the seizure operation would be entrusted to the special unit of the national police GEO.

GEO (Gruppos Especiale de Operaciones - special operations group)

History of creation. The terrorist attack committed by Islamists was the first of its kind for Spain. But not the first in history. The idea of creating an anti-terrorist unit arose after a series of terrorist attacks in Europe in the mid-70s of the last century. Compared to most European countries, Spain was in a more difficult position, since it had to confront not only international terrorism, but also domestic one. After all, for several decades now the special services of this country have been waging war against the Basque organization ETA.

The idea of creating a special squad belongs to Captain Ernesto Romero and several other high-ranking police officers. In 1977, Romero submitted a report on the need to create such a unit. His opinion was listened to, and a special unit was created. Considering that by that time only France and Germany had experience in anti-terrorist operations in Europe, the Spaniards took units such as the German GSG9 and the French GIGN as models. In the same 1977, recruitment for the group began. To achieve this, policy documents were sent to all police departments outlining the requirements for candidates. All interested police officers were invited to take part in the competition to join the new unit.

There were only 400 first candidates. As a result of detailed tests developed by captains Ernesto Garcia-Quijada and Jean Senso Galan, about 70 people were selected from the total number of applicants. After some time, their number was reduced to 50. Testing took place in Guadallar, in barracks belonging to the armed police forces.

Particular attention was paid to the applicants’ ability to handle weapons and their level of physical fitness. In addition, candidates had to have hand-to-hand combat skills, parachute training, be able to swim and know the basics of mine demolition.

The first course was completed on January 19, 1979, after which the subsequent stages of the training program immediately began. In the winter of 1979, demonstration exercises were held in the presence of the King of Spain. His Majesty was pleased with what he saw. In 1979, GEO began to be involved in operations to free hostages, storm hijacked aircraft, and suppress drug trafficking. From the very beginning, one of the main tasks of the unit was the fight against the Basque terrorist organization ETA. In addition to activities within the country, GEO units also performed tasks abroad. They provided security for Spanish diplomats and were sent as instructors to Guinea, Ecuador, Algeria, Mexico and Egypt.

Since then, about 400 officers have served in GEO, but still no more than 10% of the total number of candidates remain.

Selection. Selection for the squad occurs once a year. Only lyceum students who have served for several years are allowed to join him; these are mostly officers. This stage lasts several days. Candidates undergo traditional medical and psychological tests, then they are tested for physical readiness.

A former veteran of the unit said that experienced instructors carefully monitor how candidates behave under heavy loads, whether they maintain clarity of mind, and whether they do not succumb to provocations.

Each candidate is asked to lead a group. It is checked whether he has commanding skills and whether he can find a common language with other people. After all, candidates may have different ranks, but HI all have the ability to adapt normally to an extraordinary situation, for example, if a lieutenant begins to command a captain.

Those who pass the selection go to the training center, where they are divided into teams.

The basic course of study lasts seven months. The initial stage includes physical training, running, hand-to-hand combat, swimming, studying weapons and working with them, mine demolition. Further study becomes more complicated. In shooting training, flash shooting exercises are performed, both individually and in pairs or teams. This is what a veteran of the unit, who served in the group for more than five years, says: “Nobody drives the recruits, no one puts pressure on them.

Training GEO fighters requires a serious, step-by-step approach. First, you need to make sure that he can handle the main weapon well - a pistol, a machine gun, that he can quickly move from a calm state to a combat one, and does not lose concentration. Only after this the tasks become more complicated and instead of static shooting, moving targets appear - one, two, three. A fighter also does not stand still, he must be able to hit the target after running, from a car, in bad or clear weather, because no one can know in what place we will have to act next time.”

At the next stages, work in teams begins. A gradual approach is also practiced here. It all starts with a basic study of an ordinary room. The future fighter must explain how he would act if he had to carry out an operation in this building. The instructor then explains how he would act.

Penetration training begins with basic things. For example, a beginner must master opening a door using the so-called “dry” method, that is, without the use of special equipment. Then the fighter’s movement indoors is practiced. After this, the same thing happens within the group. Then - training in methods of penetration using special means. Again gradually. First, the entrance from one side is practiced, for example, through doors. Next comes a group working, for example, on the window side. Having brought these actions to automaticity, cadets practice simultaneous penetration into doors, windows and from the roof, using explosives or shotguns, special ropes and other means of penetration. GEO practices the release of hostages on trains and water transport, in vehicles and on airplanes.

Many trainings take place in conditions close to real ones, that is, with “live” fire. As a veteran of the squad explained, this allows the fighters to quickly get used to the situation and learn to manage their emotions.

In addition to anti-terrorist training, fighters also undergo army training. For example, they study methods of action in the mountainous part of the country, which requires a high level of physical ability, the ability to move and shoot in the mountains. The terrain of Spain is such that many places can only be reached by helicopter or boat, which also requires special skills. To do this, all fighters undergo skiing, light diving, and airborne courses. Having completed the main stage, police officers are assigned to combat teams, where they continue training, receiving additional specialties.

In total, no more than 10% of the total number of applicants for admission to the group are selected. According to the French specialized website, out of 130 candidates, 7-9 people are selected. After completing training, each fighter signs a three-year contract. Most extend it.

Dislocation, structure and tasks. The group's base is located in Guazallar, which is approximately 50 kilometers from Madrid.

GEO is responsible for the following tasks:

preparation and conduct of anti-terrorist operations;
providing force cover for police operations;
seizure of criminals and dangerous goods (drugs);
protection of high-ranking officials.

The group is divided into two sections: operational and support.

The operational section includes operational groups. Three of them are task forces commanded by inspectors.

The task forces are in turn divided into three sub-teams, commanded by sub-inspectors. Sub-teams are also divided into two commando units. Each commando unit consists of five people: two snipers, a demolitionist, a diver and a special systems expert.

The next task force is a special task force. O consists of ten people. This unit is responsible for developing special courses for GEO candidates, conducting tests and training with them, and conducting instructor sessions with foreign partners. In addition, this group organizes and conducts constant training with personnel of operational action groups.

Another operational group is the experimental and technical operational group. It also consists of ten people and is responsible for studying and testing new materials, developing new technology and operational procedures, and preparing reports to management on possible objectives of operations. In addition, the group studies the experience of foreign colleagues, analyzes the reasons for unsuccessful actions and, on this basis, prepares reports and recommendations.

The personnel of the support section are responsible for the serviceability of weapons and vehicles, communications, medical services, security issues, warehouses and headquarters. The group is also involved in logistics supplies, and provides administrative and technical support.

Operations. The detachment carried out several serious operations, including the release of hostages in banks (1981) and apartments, and participated in the neutralization of prisoners who rebelled in one of the prisons. In 1981, GEO passed a serious test during the storming of the Central Bank in Barcelona, captured by 24 far-right groups. Despite the fact that heavily armed terrorists held 200 hostages, only one person died during the operation. It was GEO fighters who took part in the detention of the main suspects in organizing the March terrorist attacks.

But the main operations, of course, are related to the capture of ET militants

Unfortunately, there are no details of these operations, which is understandable, so all that remains is to list their dates and places of action. 1982 - neutralization of the armed element of the ETA, which planned and carried out a number of terrorist attacks. GEO fighters quickly prepared and carried out the arrest, achieving the main goal - capturing the militants alive.

In 1987 GEO carried out a number of operations together with French special forces, in which the top ETA was arrested. Similar operations took place in 1992 and 1995. In 2004, the group carried out a complex joint operation with the French, as a result of which the leaders of ETA militant cells were arrested and a huge amount of weapons and ammunition was captured.

Of course, ETA are not Islamic suicidal fanatics, but almost all the operations entrusted to the unit involve the capture of well-armed and experienced terrorists who are not easily caught by surprise. Surprise is one of the main components of success in such captures. As a result of studying the details of some operations, which we cannot talk about in the open press, we can conclude that all of them were planned and carried out at the highest professional level.

It was only in March 2004 that the group suffered its first loss.

Having surrounded the house where the terrorists who organized the “Madrid terrorist attack” were holed up, the fighters then entered it, but at that time an explosion occurred. A soldier was killed and 11 people were wounded. Later, veterans of the detachment criticized the leaders of the operation. In their opinion, if GEO had been allowed to work immediately, and not ordered to surround the house and begin negotiations with the terrorists about surrender, the death of the fighter could have been avoided.

Cooperation. Like all European special forces, GEO has established serious cooperation with colleagues from Germany, Italy, France, and England. The British SAS made a significant contribution to the development of GEO after its formation was completed.

This is what a GEO veteran says about the need for international cooperation: “We have the opportunity to improve our skills, take something new from our colleagues, because the same French GIGN or RAID have extensive experience and carry out dozens of operations every year.” But the squad veteran did not say that GEO conducts not only joint training, but also operations. With the same GIGN or RAID. In addition, close cooperation has been established with other special forces of Spain itself - UZARPAC, UAE. This allows us to significantly enrich the training of fighters and increase their versatility.

In turn, GEO provides assistance to anti-terrorism units in countries such as Mexico, Ecuador, Honduras, Guinea, Algeria and Egypt.

Weapons and equipment. GEO fighters wear special black overalls with knee and elbow pads. Their equipment includes devices for carrying ammunition, special helmets with a protective mask.

GEO is armed with SIG Sauer P226 pistols, N&K MP5 submachine guns (SD5, A4) with silent and flameless firing devices, target designators and illumination, BHHTOBKI SSG-2000, SSG-3000, H&K PSG-1 sniper guns, Mossber and Remington shotguns, with night vision drills, stun guns, gas grenades, plastic explosives. Each fighter is equipped with a Motorola MX-2000 radio.

The group has various vehicles in its fleet: minivans, motorcycles, buses, Zodiac inflatable boats and even a helicopter.

GAR (Grupos Antiterroristas Rurales)

GAR (Grupos Antiterroristas Rurales)- The Grupos Antiterroristas Rurale (GAR) are units of the Civil Guard and operate exclusively in the north of the country against Basque separatists.

UEI (Unidad Especial de Intervencion) is also a unit of the Civil Guard, its tasks are the release of hostages in the event of capture

Military UEI is not as well known as civilian GEO, which is more similar to police SWAT units. The UEI was also created in 1978, when there was a sharp increase in the escalation of terrorism in Spain. The training of this detachment is distinguished by multifaceted requirements for cadets. These are the tactics of conducting combat operations as part of a unit, methods of waging guerrilla warfare, explosives, fire training, mountaineering, scuba diving, physical training - from cross-country to various types of martial arts.

The six-month training ends with the fact that, in accordance with his inclinations, each graduate becomes a narrow specialist in one of the many disciplines, but, in addition, can do work, replacing any other employee of the detachment;

The cadets go through a training cycle that would be the envy of students of theater universities and screenwriting departments. Together with the teacher, future special forces soldiers conduct role-playing exercises in various scenarios for the development of events in a combat situation. Among the future members of the detachment, a special group is being prepared that has the ability to conduct lengthy and complicated negotiations with terrorists.

In the future, this group improves their abilities with psychologists and psychiatrists, learning to influence the consciousness and psyche of various categories of criminals: terrorists, criminals, drug addicts. In the event of an unsuccessful outcome of the negotiations, these same employees are obliged to create the most favorable conditions for a surprise assault and interact with the capture group during the assault.

The physical training of Spanish special forces personnel is based on mastery of oriental martial arts. Moreover, during training, blows are delivered at full force, and therefore, although special protective equipment is used, cases of injuries are not uncommon. All employees of the unit have a “black belt” in karate.

The following details are known about the weapons and technical equipment of the special intervention unit. All employees have standard Mauser-Eb-Sp rifles with optical sights, Cetmes 5.65 mm light alloy revolvers, American-made shotguns with high destructive power, as well as firearms adopted by the Civil Guard.

The Special Intervention Unit was created to conduct operations to localize and suppress terrorist attacks in urban areas. Moreover, the main coverage area is Madrid.

In February 1965, an airborne brigade known as Brigada Paracaidista (BRIPAC) was created.

This brigade has its own special forces group called the Unidad de Patrulias de Reconocimientoen Profundidad (UPRP). Being directly subordinate to the control company, these special forces are intended primarily to conduct in-depth reconnaissance and collect the necessary data in the interests of the brigade.

If necessary, military personnel of this unit can operate behind enemy lines. To achieve success, special forces are divided into several detachments or teams called PRP (Patrulias de Reconocimiento en Profundidad), the type of which can vary depending on the tasks performed (engineering, communications, artillery, etc.) A standard special forces group consists of of five military personnel who are professional military personnel who have served for at least five years in tactical-level units in brigades.

The main purpose of special purpose groups (UPRP) is to conduct in-depth reconnaissance and collect the necessary information. Each standard five-man squad can simultaneously deploy two two-man observation posts on the ground. In this case, the radio stations are located in the rear of both posts, at a safe distance, but within visibility.

Special forces combat groups operate exclusively as tactical units, and their duration of operations rarely exceeds 7-10 days. The area of operation is approximately 150-200 km, which corresponds to the brigade's area of responsibility. The PRP's operational area is noticeably reduced due to the lack of helicopters designed to conduct special operations deep in enemy defenses.

In addition to conducting reconnaissance in the interests of the brigade, soldiers of special forces groups are also capable of conducting two types of operations: direct action against important targets and the evacuation of civilians during peacekeeping operations. These are the main areas of activity of the special forces of the Spanish army. It should be noted that the presence of special forces groups allows the brigade to constantly have in readiness a unit consisting of high-level professionals who can perform a wide range of tasks without the involvement of additional ground forces.

See also on Spetsnaz.org:

The Spanish Foreign Legion owes its creation to José Milian Astray, the legendary general who showed miracles of courage on the battlefield and lost an arm and an eye in battle. It was he, the hero of the war in Morocco, who invariably fought in the front ranks and personally raised the fighters to attack, who wrote the phrase “Long live death, and let reason perish!” that went down in history! (“Viva la muerte, y muera la inteligencia!”) Its first part is “Long live death!” - was the battle cry of the Legion.
Today the Legion is an elite part of the armed forces, classified as a rapid reaction force, distinguished by high technical training and the highest fighting spirit of its legionnaires. He is in constant readiness to perform any combat missions. The Legion takes part in peacekeeping missions led by the UN and NATO. But first things first.

Birth of the Legion
MILIAN Astray, to whom the Spanish Foreign Legion owes much of its creation, was born in La Coruña on July 5, 1879. The father wanted his son to become a lawyer, but Miljan entered the Infantry Academy in Toledo at the age of 15 and after a year and a half received the rank of junior lieutenant.
Astray, a 16-year-old second lieutenant, fought in the Philippine War, where he gained fame and popularity when, with thirty other soldiers, he held off a large number of rebels in the town of San Rafael. Astray himself lost an eye and a hand in one of the battles. This incident convinced him of the need to use professional soldiers in external wars and predetermined the creation of the Legion.

In 1919, Miljan Astray came up with the idea of organizing a corps intended for service in Morocco and consisting of civilian soldiers. His task was to pacify the territories acquired by Spain and restore order there.
Previously, Astray decided to see how the French legionnaires lived. Still, by the time the Spanish Legion was formed, the French Legion was already 88 years old. Having studied methods of organization and training, Astray decided to create a slightly different model of the Foreign Legion.
In the French Legion, the doors were open to almost all foreigners. The legion was, as it were, a separate state, and the legionnaires swore allegiance primarily to their regiment. A Frenchman could not become a legionnaire.
Miljan Astray's future legionnaires were to mainly divide their feelings between Spain and Catholicism. Foreigners were accepted, but in limited numbers. Astray wanted a Spanish majority. In fact, the term "foreign" used to refer to the Spanish Legion is most likely based on a misinterpretation of the Spanish word extranjero which means "foreign", "foreign". And the expression Legion Extranjera does not mean a legion of foreigners, but a legion performing tasks in foreign territories.
After Miljan Astrai returned, he officially presented his project for the creation of the Legion. It was based on the following principles:
1. The Legion will embody the virtues of our victorious infantry and our invincible army.
2. The legion will serve as the base of the colonial army.
3. The legion will save many Spanish lives, since the legionnaires will be ready to die for all Spaniards.
4. The Legion will consist of volunteers of all nationalities who will sign the contract with their real or fictitious name, relieving the state of any responsibility for this decision.
5. The spirit of competition created by the presence of recruits of different nationalities will lead to increased morale of the Legion.
6. Legionnaires will sign a contract for a period of 4 or 5 years, and by remaining in extended service, they become real soldiers.
7. Vagrants, delinquents and criminals expelled from their countries are not allowed into the Legion (we note here that these restrictions did not apply to residents of Spain).
8. To those who have no shelter, to those who thirst for military glory, the Legion will give bread, shelter, family, homeland and a banner under which to die.
The most amazing thing is that the project was accepted and the necessary funds were allocated for the implementation of the project. And this despite the fact that at that time there was powerful anti-colonial propaganda in Spain.
In the army, which had compulsory military service, corruption, abuse and theft flourished. The rich exempted their children from military service, sending young men from poor families to serve in the army instead for a fee. Without sufficient training, soldiers died in military conflicts by the thousands. The number of victims was so great that civil unrest began in Barcelona and other cities in Spain.
There was a need to create professional army units capable of resisting Moroccan troops and carrying out the most complex and risky operations. And these tasks were assigned to the legionnaires.
It is worth noting that from the very beginning, Miljan Astray made sure that the legionnaires' uniform was attractive and at the same time comfortable. The founder of the Legion focused on the uniform of the Spanish ground forces in the golden ages (XVII-XVIII) to highlight his warriors through uniforms and various additions. Therefore, in photographs and illustrations depicting Spanish legionnaires, we see hats with wide brims that fell onto the collar of a shirt, pants tucked into boots, special covers for boots, and gloves. Naturally, the specifics of the climate where the action was to be taken into account. And the legionnaire’s emblem depicted a pike, a crossbow and an arquebus.
Later, already in the 40s, regulations established that legionnaires must wear the same uniform as ground forces. However, the regulations were not taken into account, and the Legion continued to sparkle with its uniform, slowly accepting all kinds of changes. The officers of the Legion always had uniforms that were different from those of other troops.

Miljan Astray and Francisco Franco
NOTE that Astrai was not alone in the formation of the Legion. Few people know that Francisco Franco, who years later established a dictatorship in Spain and ruled the country until his death in 1975, was directly related to the Legion. He, along with Astray, stood at the origins of the creation of the organization. And when on January 28, 1920, Miljan Astray received the rank of lieutenant colonel and was appointed head of the newly formed Spanish Foreign Legion, he immediately offered his like-minded Major Franco the post of deputy commander. He went to Africa without looking back.

As commander of the first battalion of the Legion, the young Major Franco had to create a combat-ready unit from the common criminals, dregs of society, misfits and outcasts he brought with him from Spain. When Franco's unfortunate recruits arrived in Ceuta, they were greeted by Miljan Astray, who immediately began to give instructions quite energetically: “You have escaped from the clutches of death and remember that you were already dead, your life was over. You came here to start a new life , which you must pay with death. You came here to die! Long live death! Then came a stern reminder: “From the moment you crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, you no longer have a mother, a girlfriend, or a family. From today on, the Legion will replace them all.”
In 1941, the writer Arturo Barea, who served in the Afrika Korps in the twenties, described how Legion commanders treated their men: “Miljan’s whole body was hysterical. His voice broke into screams and howls. He threw all the dirt in the faces of these people, the abomination and obscenity of their lives, their shame and crimes, and then, in a fanatical rage, awakened in them a sense of chivalry and nobility, urging them to abandon all dreams except of a heroic death that would wash away their shameful past."
And yet, it was the cool-headed Franco, and not the hot-tempered Miljan, who insisted on introducing the death penalty to maintain discipline among the staff. As the famous writer Gabriella Hodges writes in her book about Franco, “he once, without hesitation, ordered the execution on the spot of a legionnaire who threw a plate of inedible food in the face of an officer, and then ordered the killed comrades of the killed soldier to march after his body. Neither Miljan nor his deputy did not try to somehow limit the atrocities of the legionnaires against the local population, even when they cut off the heads of prisoners and paraded them as trophies."

Morocco. Eternal problem. Spain
The SPANISH Foreign Legion was formed in April 1920, during the war in Morocco. According to international agreements concluded in 1906 in Algeciras, Morocco was divided into two zones, one of which was under the protectorate of Spain and the other of France. Liberation movements periodically arose in Morocco, the goal of which was to expel foreigners from the country. The most famous rebel leaders were Mohammed Amezian, who captured the iron mines in the Rif, and Abd el-Krim, who united groups of Moroccans who had once fought among themselves under his leadership. Abd el-Krim operated primarily in the Spanish zone. His goal was to create an independent European-style state in the north of Morocco.
It should be noted here that Spain has always had tense relations with the state bordering on the south, Morocco. Recently, they have been largely associated with the powerful flow of illegal immigration of Moroccans to Spain. In earlier times, as we see, it even came to armed conflicts. The Spanish Foreign Legion repeatedly fought in Morocco. It is not surprising that after the formation of the Legion, it was immediately baptized by fire here.

Although the Legion was at the formation stage and was poorly equipped, the first and second battalions were thrown into battle, which recaptured a number of small settlements. Most of the recaptured settlements were soon surrounded again, without any hope of salvation. One day, when an avalanche of reefs launched an assault on the Spanish positions, the commander of the encircled Spaniards, a young lieutenant, sent one last message by heliograph: “I have 12 cartridges. When you hear the last one, direct your fire at us, so that at least the Spaniards and Moors will die together.” ".
In another, even more remote village, a garrison of Legion soldiers fought until food, water and ammunition were completely exhausted. Shocked by this heroism, Abd el-Krim sent a proposal to the defenders in which he promised to spare their lives if they threw out the white banner. As for the commander of the garrison, the very young lieutenant replied that he and his men had sworn to defend their positions to the death and that they would not break the oath.
The war could continue like this for a very long time. Abd el-Krim received significant human reinforcements (mercenaries, Europeans, fighters against colonialism). But success and public attention turned the head of the Rif leader, and in 1925 he made the fatal mistake of attacking the French zone, where he advanced to the old capital of Fez. And in 1926, Abd el-Krim had to fight against the combined Spanish army and the French expeditionary force with a total of 100,000 people under the leadership of Marshal Pétain.
Everything ended very quickly. On May 26, after a short but fierce campaign, Abd el-Krim surrendered to Colonel Andre Corapp. At the end of the war, 8 battalions were created. Only 9 percent of the “grooms of death” were foreigners. The legionnaires fully justified their motto: 2,000 were killed, of which 4 were battalion commanders, and 6,096 were seriously wounded.
After the conclusion of peace, the rather battered battalions were put in order. There was talk of recruiting new units, but the coup that replaced the monarchy with a republic put an end to this.

Civil War. Russians on both sides of the barricades
The CIVIL war in Spain in the 30s, of course, also affected the legionnaires. This could not have happened without the participation of our compatriots. Moreover, they fought both on the side of Franco (as part of the Legion) and against him.
The fact that the Spanish Foreign Legion repeatedly won victories over the best communist units of the Republicans - international brigades and Soviet volunteers - speaks of the serious fighting qualities of this unit. In the words of Russian volunteers, “perhaps among all the current troops - all that exist in today’s world, the Spanish Legion is the most glorious and most famous army.”

In the end, Franco's forces managed to cut off a significant part of the Republicans from the French border and sharply limit Soviet aid to them by sea. This was one of the main reasons for the Republican defeat. In March 1939, the Republican government of Spain fell. Franco's victorious troops, including the Spanish Foreign Legion, entered Madrid, which they tried unsuccessfully to take for two and a half years. Russian volunteers paid a heavy price for this victory: out of 72 volunteers, 34 died in battle, that is, almost half.
Our compatriots had to fight not only against the Legion, but also as part of it. General Franco personally had great sympathy for the Russian legionnaires and insisted on their mandatory participation in the victory parade in Valencia on March 18, 1939. According to the recollections of the participants in this event, everyone who took part in the parade was given new uniforms, and the officers were given white gloves. Tassels called shofres were attached to the scarlet berets; their color depended on the rank of the legionnaire. The Russian detachment, marching on the right flank of the combined battalion of the Spanish Foreign Legion with the national tricolor, attracted everyone's attention. How respected the Russians were among the legionnaires is evidenced by the fact that, according to Spanish military tradition, an officer must carry the banner of the legion battalion. However, the legion officers insisted that the battalion banner be carried at the parade by Ali Gursky as the best legionnaire, although he did not have the rank of officer.
After the end of hostilities, Franco did not demobilize the Russian detachment, but left it entirely as a sign of special gratitude as part of the Spanish armed forces, which was nonsense for Spain and its army. The Russians, almost all of whom became officers in the Spanish Legion, reached great heights here and continued to faithfully serve Franco. Thus, the Russian volunteer Boltin rose to the rank of colonel and died in 1961. The fact that such a high honor was given to a Russian person - the introduction of a foreigner to such a high rank in the Spanish army, which was previously prohibited, testifies to the highest professional qualities of the Russian officers who ended up in Spain. Russian volunteers forever entered the history of the Spanish Foreign Legion and contributed to the creation of the high authority of the Russian name.
Subsequently, legionnaires had to participate in multiple campaigns and wars. Including in the Second World War (as part of the famous “blue division”). And also in Western Sahara, where they carried out tasks to destroy the rebels, and subsequently the partisans. There they remained until the territory lost its colony status in 1976. Numerous operations in which legionnaires took part often ended in their successful completion. And one of the main reasons can confidently be called the high fighting spirit of the legionnaire.

Los novios de la muerte
"Married to Death" (Spanish)
HOW was the fighting spirit of a legionnaire cultivated, without which there would be neither victories nor glory?
Viva la muerte (“Long live death!”) was the battle cry of the legionnaires. It was invented by Miljan Astray, and legionnaires are still called Los novios de la muerte ("wedded to death").

As we have already said, special importance was attached to strengthening the morale of the legionnaire. When creating the Legion, Miljan Astray wanted the soldiers to have their own hymns and songs that would, as he said, “shorten kilometers and reduce fatigue. All the time, until sunset, these songs should be sung solemnly and always, always the Legion will honor the dead ". The three most famous songs of the legionnaires are El novio de la muerte ("The Bridegroom of Death"), Tercios Heroicos ("The Heroic Regiments") and Cancion del legionario ("The Legionnaire's Song"). The first of them was taken as the legionnaires' own song. Initially it had a higher rhythm, but it became famous when performed in a march rhythm. The chorus of the song translates roughly as follows:

I am a man whose luck
She wounded a wild animal with her paw;
I am the bridegroom of death,
And I will tie myself with strong bonds
With this faithful friend.

Astray himself, brought up in the spirit of bushido (the ancient ethical code of the samurai, which required absolute loyalty to the boss, self-restraint and self-control), created the so-called legionnaire's creed. The cult of camaraderie, courage, friendship, unity, endurance, discipline, death and love for the battalion - these are the main points in the legionary creed. Without them, the Legion would simply be a community of people motivated by money. Needless to say, the Legion still does not deviate from traditions; today’s legionnaires adhere to the same values and sing the same hymns. This can be called another distinctive feature of the Spanish Legion.
The first to enroll in the Legion was a Spaniard from Ceuta. From the end of September 1920, 400 people came from all over Spain to volunteer; they gathered in Algeciras, then boarded a ship, where they awaited departure to Ceuta. A herd in rags and rags, they were the scum of the cities. Among them, the majority were Spaniards, but there were foreigners, among whom were three Chinese and one Japanese.
The transformation of this picturesque rabble into an elite corps is due primarily to the efforts of Astray and Franco. Interestingly, from the very beginning, participation in military operations was extremely successful, the legionnaires of Miljan Astray are universally recognized as extraordinary soldiers. In the future, they begin to count on foreign players seriously. And today the Legion is an elite unit in the Spanish army, in which it is extremely prestigious to serve.
However, recently many questions have arisen about the importance of the existence of this organization, right up to the dissolution of the Legion. However, new international obligations bring back to life the reasons that served as the prerequisites for the creation of the Legion. Difficulties in finding employment for military personnel at their disposal lead to the creation of professional units made up of volunteers. There is an example of this: the operation in Alpha Bravo, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the Legion occupies a certain territory.
Over the more than 80 years of the Legion's existence, the losses amounted to more than 40 thousand people, the last losses were in missions under the control of the UN in fulfilling the obligations given by Spain. Today, Spain's role in the international community is quite large. Close relations with Latin America, with which it is linked historically and culturally, open up new opportunities for the Legion's activities. Spain's actions as a mediator in various world conflicts are changing the role of the Legion, which is more used in various peacekeeping missions conducted under the auspices of the UN. According to some estimates, the Legion now numbers about 4 thousand people, including many women, mostly Latinas.
Today, the legionnaire is the pride of the Spanish army: a highly qualified soldier, ready to carry out any mission. Its hallmarks are extreme dedication, devotion, loyalty and teamwork. Moreover, the missions can be completely different: military, humanitarian, and even civil protection. And he will always be ready to give everything for his country, his battalion and will always help others, risking his life. After all, he is the “groom of death.” His name is Spanish legionnaire!

Mikhail SMYSHLYAEV
Illustrations from the author's archive

On September 4, 1920, the King of Spain ordered the formation of a new unit of three battalions - the Foreign Regiment (Tercio de Extranjeros). Particular credit for this belongs to General Millan Astray, who petitioned for the creation of such a unit since the conclusion of an agreement with France in 1912, according to which Spain’s colonial possession of Morocco acquired the status of a protectorate. The Spanish officers, led by General Astraeus, clearly realized that even an entire army of reservists and conscripts, who found themselves in a war against their will, could not cope with the frantic Moroccan partisans. Therefore, in 1919, the general went to Algeria to take a closer look at the organization of the world-famous French volunteer corps, the legendary Foreign Legion.
On October 31, 1920, the new battalions marched before King Alfonso HPT and took the oath of allegiance. Each battalion consisted of a headquarters, two rifle companies and one support company armed with six heavy machine guns. Unlike their French colleagues, the new unit was 90% staffed by Spanish citizens.
Immediately after this, the Legion took part in the Moroccan campaign and remained on the African continent until 1927. The battalions took part in 850 battles, fighting in all sectors - from Ceuta in the west to Melilla in the east (1921-1923) and from Xayen in the southwest to Alhucemas on the Mediterranean (1924-1927).
During the civil war of 1936-1939, the Legion found itself at the head of African units, which tipped the scales in favor of the Francoists. By that time, it already consisted of 12 battalions (reinforced by companies of armored vehicles). Legionnaires proved themselves in the battles for Madrid, Teruel and Catalonia. Constantly used as assault units, by the time the war ended (April 1, 1939), Legion units had lost 7,645 people killed.
After the civil war, 12 of the 18 battalions were disbanded, and the remnants of the Legion again went to North Africa, where they met in April 1956, when Morocco gained independence. Spain was left with only enclaves in Ceuta and Melilla and a huge southern region known as Western Sahara. It was there, in November 1957, that the Legion fought its most decisive battle on African soil, putting to flight a detachment of 2,500 well-armed fighters supported by the newly minted Moroccan government. A year later, thanks to joint action with French troops from Algeria, the uprising was completely suppressed.
On February 28, 1976, Western Sahara ceased to exist as a colonial possession, and the Legion left the endless sands where it had earned its military glory.
Currently, the Legion numbers about 7,000 people and is divided into the 1st Regiment "Grand Captain" (the first regiment of the Legion, including the 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions, located in Melilla), the 2nd Regiment "Duke of Alba" (4th, 5th and 6th battalions, stationed in Ceuta), 3rd Regiment "Don Juan of Austria" (7th and 8th battalions, 1st Light Cavalry Squadron - Fuerteventura, Canary Islands) and the 4th regiment "Alejandro de Farnesio" (Ronda, Southern Spain).
The Royal Decree of March 1986, which prohibited the recruitment of foreign nationals into the Legion, turned the brightest page in Spanish military history (although allowing previously recruited foreigners to serve out the term of their contract).
The Legion, which is staffed mainly by volunteers, can also enroll conscripts who agree to serve for 18 months. Each battalion has 600-700 legionnaires. The 1st and 2nd regiments consist of motorized rifle battalions. The Legion also has three special forces companies stationed in Ronda, the current home of the corps, and one anti-terrorist unit (Unidad de las Operaciones Especiales; UOE), formed in 1981 within the 4th Regiment.

“I read with interest in one of the issues of “Professional” about the French Foreign Legion. But I recently learned about the existence of a little-known Spanish Legion. What kind of military formation is this?”

Sergeant
contract service
Roman KHRUSTALEV.

Contempt for death

The prototype of the Spanish army regiment founded in 1920 by General José M. Astray was the Foreign Legion of neighboring France, which even then had an impeccable military reputation. By the way, the legendary general himself (at that time a lieutenant colonel) showed miracles of courage on the battlefield, losing an arm and an eye in battle. It was he, the hero of the war in Morocco, who invariably fought in the front ranks and personally raised the fighters to attack, who wrote the phrase “Long live death, and long live reason!” that went down in history! (“Viva la muerte, y muera la inteligencia!”) Its first part is “Long live death!” - was the battle cry of the legion.
Having previously studied this military machine, perfect for those times, General Astrey formed the first three battalions of a new regiment, called “Foreign”. Having sworn allegiance to King Alfonso XIII on October 31, 1920 (the Foreign Legion brigade now bears his name), the regiment was immediately transferred to Morocco, where for seven years it participated in almost continuous fighting. Legionnaires could be distinguished from other soldiers not only by their military uniform, but also by the long, chin-length, thick sideburns that they grew. Traditionally, such sideburns were considered a symbol of contempt for death.
Taking Bushido, the code of honor of the Japanese samurai, as a basis, M. Astrey developed the 12 commandments of the legionnaire. They included commandments about courage, discipline, camaraderie, friendship, unity and mutual assistance, fortitude, etc. The most important commandment of the legion was considered the “death creed”: “To die in battle is the highest honor. They only die once. There is no pain in death, and dying is not as scary as it seems. There is nothing worse than living as a coward."
Why did the Spanish Legion begin its military history in Morocco? According to international agreements concluded in 1906 in Algeciras, this African country was divided into two zones, one of which was under the protectorate of Spain, and the other of France. Liberation movements periodically arose in Morocco, the goal of which was to expel foreigners from the country. The most famous rebel leaders were Mohammed Amezian - "El Mizzian", who captured the iron mines in the Rif, and Abd el Krim, who united groups of Moroccans who had once fought among themselves under his leadership. Abd el Krim operated primarily in the Spanish zone. His goal was to create an independent European-style state in the north of Morocco.
At that time, compulsory military service existed in Spain. Corruption, abuse and theft flourished in the army. The rich exempted their children from military service, sending young men from poor families to serve in the army instead for a fee. Without sufficient training, soldiers died in the thousands. The number of victims was so great that civil unrest began in Barcelona and other cities in Spain.
There was a need to create professional army units capable of resisting Moroccan troops, carrying out the most complex and risky operations, “fighting and dying with a smile on their lips and without a single complaint.”
The war in Morocco ended in May 1926, when Abd el Krim surrendered to the French. The last pockets of resistance were suppressed by 1927.
They were commanded by the Generalissimo
Legionnaires, including Russian emigrants, left a noticeable mark on the history of Spain during the Civil War. They marched in the forefront of the most ardent supporters of the overthrow of the Popular Front government - the troops of “socialists and communists” who tried to resist the putschists in the Canary Islands were crushed by legionnaires. Yes, it probably couldn’t have been otherwise - Francisco Franco Bahamonde himself, the future generalissimo, dictator and sole ruler of Spain until 1973, was none other than the former commander of the Spanish Foreign Legion.
After the Francoists came to power, in accordance with the decision of the command of the national army, the number of legionnaires was reduced threefold. The six battalions that survived the reform again occupied their usual locations in Spanish Morocco (in Ceuta and Melilla) and in the Canaries. A small part of the former legionnaires subsequently took part in the Second World War on the side of Nazi Germany, fighting as part of the so-called “Blue Division”, although for a short time. But this group of volunteer fanatics managed to distinguish themselves by their particular ruthlessness and contempt for death. Their sophisticated cruelty inspired horror not only among their compatriots, but also among their German allies. Despite the fact that the legionnaires continually violated the rules established by the Germans, not a single German officer dared to reprimand them.
Legionnaires always fought on the front line in the most dangerous areas. They looked terrifying when, with huge flowing sideburns and long knives clenched in their teeth, they burst into Russian trenches. Drunk from the sight of blood, they cut the throats of the wounded and cut off the hands of captured partisans so that they could never take up arms again. They brought the severed fingers of their opponents to the camp as souvenirs. The Blue Division soldiers, who overwhelmingly avoided cruelty to prisoners and civilians, were horrified by the behavior of the “Africans,” as they called the legionnaires, and shunned them.
11 years after the end of World War II, “fun” times came again for the Spanish legionnaires - Western Sahara turned into an arena of battles with rebels who were supported by the government of Morocco, which gained independence, formed in 1956. Having won one of its most significant victories over a 2,500-strong group of African extremists in November 1957, the legion fought incessant “local battles” with partisans for a year, confidently holding the enclaves remaining in Spain. In Western Sahara, units of the legion carried out military service until 1976, leaving this part of the African continent only after it lost its status as a Spanish colony.
Second life sideburn
Now the Spanish Legion, once called the Foreign Legion, is part of the rapid deployment forces of the armed forces of Spain, an active member of NATO. Its population, according to some sources, exceeds 7,000 people. Currently, the legion is represented by the following main units: the 1st separate regiment "Grand Captain", located in Melilla; 2nd separate regiment "Duke of Alba", stationed in Ceuta; Brigade "King Alfonso XIII". The main structural components of the brigade are: the 3rd Regiment "Don Juan of Austria", stationed on the island of Fuertoventura, and the 4th Regiment "Alejandro Farnesio", located in Ronda, province of Malaga.
In the legion, a special role is assigned to the 4th regiment “Alejandro Farnesio”. It, unlike other parts of the legion, has distinct special forces functions. In addition to two banderas (battalions) and one parachute unit, the regiment also has an operational battalion. It is he who is usually classified as a special forces unit of the Spanish Legion. The strength of this battalion is approximately 500 military personnel. All of them underwent special training and were trained in combat operations during naval operations, including their use as combat submariners; combat operations in the Arctic and mountain desert areas; organizing sabotage and sabotage; parachute landing (including landing on water); conducting long-term reconnaissance raids; conducting counter-terrorism operations; use of a wide variety of vehicles (the battalion still uses Land Rovers, BMR600S, Nissan trucks and other US and UK-made vehicles); the art of sniping.
The main weapons used by the battalion's special forces are practically no different from the weapons of other units of the legion and include: a CETME rifle (5.56 caliber), an Ameli assault rifle (7.62 caliber), a 9-mm machine gun and a Star model pistol, 40- mm grenade launcher. In terms of equipment, the Spanish Legion uses the same field uniforms as the Spanish Armed Forces. There is only one specific difference - red tassels on the headdresses.
The times when the procedure for joining the Spanish Legion was quite simple, like the process of joining the ranks of its French brother, are gone forever. In Spain, a foreign applicant for service in the legion could simply contact any police officer; abroad, they could go directly to the Spanish embassy. In both cases, he immediately received the opportunity to meet with representatives of the legion, who were ready to talk about the conditions of service and even show a demonstration film.
Formally, the legion was staffed by foreigners who had passed the preliminary selection, but the vast majority of it were fighters with Spanish citizenship. The trend towards “Hispanization” found its final expression in the decree of the King of Spain, which in 1986 eliminated the possibility of recruiting parts of the legion with foreign nationals.
Is the tongue also a weapon?
Nevertheless, the Spanish defense department does not plan to completely abandon the opportunity to fill the ranks of the legion with foreign citizens who are ready, among other things, to serve outside Spain. The difference is that now only emigrants from Latin American countries whose native language is Spanish can claim the title of legionnaire. A special form of oath is provided for them, but the basic requirements for recruits remain unchanged.
What does Spain intend to offer to volunteers from abroad? First of all, Spanish citizenship, which automatically guarantees natives of Latin America a higher standard of living (citizenship is provided only upon completion of service in the legion). Of course, the newly minted legionnaires will be provided with a fairly high salary and a whole package of a wide variety of benefits that are not so attractive to the native Spaniards.
Conscripts can also serve in the legion, but their service is limited to 18 months. The service life for volunteer contract soldiers is usually 3 years. Moreover, in accordance with the terms of the contract, leaving the legion of your own free will is even more difficult than in the French Foreign Legion.
The course of training, usually not exceeding 3-4 months, is usually completed by newly converted legionnaires in Ronda. The training program, which includes disciplines the study of which is also practiced in the French Foreign Legion, is very severe, to say the least. The hallmark of this training is the hardest forced marches, with the help of which “natural selection” is carried out. The training program of the Spanish Legion is recognized as one of the most stringent and difficult in the world practice of training ground units. It is common practice to use live ammunition and physical impact on legionnaires during training. The media has repeatedly leaked information about the facts of punishment of legion recruits, involving cruel assault. Moreover, this is far from being done by amateurs - the training course also includes training in “active” interrogation methods.
The Spanish Legion is not for the weak in body and spirit. It cannot be otherwise, the legionnaires themselves believe: in addition to participating in NATO peacekeeping operations abroad (Bosnia, Croatia, Angola, Nicaragua, Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala), Spain’s “headache” is relations with Morocco, which is increasingly demanding withdrawal parts of the legion from Western Sahara, which was once part of the so-called Spanish Morocco. In 2002, things almost came to an armed conflict, and therefore the Spanish Legion is in constant combat readiness.
...The legionnaires who went through bloody battles left this world or turned into feeble old men, and the horrors of wars passed into the realm of legends. Just as the warlike Vikings transformed into calm, peace-loving Scandinavians, today's legionnaires have become the same smiling and friendly Spaniards whom we see around every day, although some of them still wear long sideburns, remember the legionnaire's commandments by heart and remain confident that that the toughest macho men in the world serve in the Foreign Legion. As for the Spaniards themselves, they still call the legionnaires “wedded to death.”
Over the more than 80 years of the Legion's existence, the losses amounted to more than 40 thousand people, the last losses were in missions under the control of the UN in fulfilling the obligations given by Spain. Today, Spain's role in the international community is quite large. Close relations with Latin America, with which it is linked historically and culturally, open up new opportunities for the Legion's activities. Spain's actions as a mediator in various world conflicts are changing the role of the legion, which is more used in various peacekeeping missions conducted under the auspices of the UN.
Today, the legionnaire is the pride of the Spanish army: a highly qualified soldier, ready to carry out any mission. Its hallmarks are extreme dedication, devotion, loyalty and teamwork. Moreover, the missions can be completely different: military, humanitarian, and even civil protection. And he will always be ready to give everything for his country, his battalion, and will always help others, risking his life. After all, he is the “groom of death.” His name is Spanish legionnaire!

One of the most celebrated units of the Spanish army is the Spanish Legion, commonly referred to simply as La Legión. During its existence, the unit took part in all the major conflicts in which Spain participated in the 20th century.century. On the threshold of the unit's centenary, we recall the brightest pages of its history.

At the walls of Badajoz

The summer of 1936 was hot in Spain. A column of the Army of Africa marched towards Madrid. The “African” officers commanding it, led by Lieutenant Colonel Juan Yagüe Blanco, were in a hurry: there was still a chance to quickly take Madrid and prevent the country from plunging into the bloody chaos of the Civil War. Their path was blocked by the ancient fortress of Badajoz, which was defended by 8,000 soldiers and militia of the Popular Front. On the morning of August 14, 3,000 soldiers of the African Army stormed the city. The 4th Bandera of the Legion under the command of Major José Vierna Trapaga had the most difficult section - the assault on the Trinidad gate and the nearby breach in the fortress wall, protected by a barricade with machine guns installed on it.

At the very beginning of the battle, the Republicans managed to disable the armored car assigned to the legionnaires. Three times unusual bearded soldiers, singing the hymns of the Legion, rose into a bayonet attack on the Republican machine guns. On the third attempt, they were able to overcome the barricade in the “Gap of Death” and fight their way to the main square of the city - Plaza de España. Having taken up a perimeter defense on it, Captain Perez Caballero, who commanded the remaining legionnaires, reported to headquarters: “Passed. There are 14 people left. I don't need reinforcements.". The legendary military unit came to the land of Spain.

Father of the Legion

At the origins of the Legion is one of the outstanding Spanish military figures of the first half of the twentieth century - José Milian Astray. He was born in 1879 in the family of a lawyer and an official and since childhood he dreamed of a military career, so at the age of 14 he entered the infantry academy in Toledo. Having graduated with the best grades, the young man received an appointment that was a dream for any Spanish officer - to the elite 1st Royal Infantry Regiment. However, just a few months later, José Millan Astray left him, volunteering to fight against the rebels in the Philippines. There he commanded a Cazador company, took part in many operations against the partisans and received his first military awards.

Like many young Spaniards, the “catastrophe of 1898” - the Spanish-American War, as a result of which Spain lost Puerto Rico, the Philippine Islands and other colonies - became a personal tragedy for Milian Astray, and the revival of the glorious name of the Spanish army was the goal of life . He became interested in military history and taught at the infantry academy in Toledo, where many students were greatly impressed by his inspired stories of the exploits of the famous Spanish tercios in Flanders Fields. In 1911, the colonial war began in Morocco, and Major Milian Astray left his teaching job and went to fight. Commanding various native units, he not only distinguished himself in battles with the rebel Moors, but also actively participated in understanding the experience of the colonial war, drawing up tactical manuals.

In 1919, Lieutenant Colonel Miljan Astray received a very unusual order from the Minister of War: to visit units of the French Foreign Legion in Algeria.

Legion for Spain

The colonial war in Morocco was not very popular in Spain itself. This seriously affected the combat effectiveness of the infantry units staffed by ordinary conscripts sent to the Spanish protectorate of Morocco. Ordinary soldiers did not want to fight and looked for any way to avoid hostilities. In such a situation, the Spanish command had to increasingly rely on regular units recruited from local residents. The Moroccans were wonderful warriors, but there was one problem.

Unlike Britain or France, who could send their native soldiers to fight on the other side of vast colonial empires, Spain's Moroccan soldiers had to fight on their own soil. Their loyalty depended heavily on the very intricate relationships of various clans and tribes. It was not uncommon for hundreds of soldiers to leave a unit before an operation against a rebel tribe with which their native tribe had strong ties, only to return a few weeks later to bravely fight against another tribe with which they were separated by centuries of bloody enmity.

Beginning in 1917, the Spanish military increasingly spoke out about the need to form shock units similar to regulars, but staffed by professional soldiers from Spain. Nevertheless, the project to create such units caused a lot of criticism from politicians: the left feared the transformation of such professional units into an instrument of terror against the labor movement, and the right feared that these units would become a refuge for numerous revolutionaries and anarchists.

One of the first recruitment posters of the Foreign Tertia, 1921

As a compromise, a project was put forward to create a Spanish analogue of the French Foreign Legion, since in Europe, which had just experienced the Great War, there was no shortage of experienced veterans who had not lost the desire to fight. It was to study the situation on the ground that Lieutenant Colonel Milyan Astray went to Algeria.

What struck Miljan Astray most during his trip was that up to a quarter of the French legionnaires he met were Spaniards. Many of them regretted that there was no such unit in their home country. So gradually the understanding came to Miljan Astray that the unit being created should be “super-Spanish”, reviving the glorious traditions of the tercios of the golden age of the Spanish Empire. But for the general public they continued to tell stories about "Spanish Foreign Legion", and the word "foreign" for political reasons it was included in the first name of the military unit.

Birth of the Legion

On January 28, 1920, King Alfonso XIII signed a decree creating a Foreign Tertia within the Spanish army ( Tercio de Extranjeros), intended for operations in the Moroccan protectorate. Its first commander was Lieutenant Colonel Miljan Astray. Together with a group of young officers - like him, “Africans”, that is, veterans of the war in Morocco: majors Francisco Franco, Adolfo Vara de Rey, captains Justo Pardo, Camilo Alonso Vega - Miljan Astray created from scratch a new unit that was supposed to revive "the spirit of superiority that distinguished the Spanish soldiers in Flanders Fields". The drums for the new unit were modeled after the drums of the old tercios kept in the army museum in Madrid, and the flags of its units copied the banners of the Spanish units from the times of the Duke of Alba and Don Juan of Austria. In contrast to the bright and impractical uniforms characteristic of the Spanish army of that era, a simple and comfortable uniform was created for the new third, whose distinctive feature was the characteristic cap - "gorilla", or "chapiri", with red hanging tassels and piping.

Legionnaire 1920s

In September 1920, the recruitment of the first legionnaires began. The new unit recruited men between the ages of 18 and 40; they were paid 4 pesetas 10 centavos per day, which was much higher than the average Spanish salary of that time, with a one-time bonus of 350 pesetas. “No document is required, no proof is needed, except the doctor’s verdict of “fit.” Name, condition, past? Any - real or fictitious... The Legion calls and welcomes men without asking who they are or where they come from.”, wrote Miljan Astray.

On October 16, 1920, the first 200 legionnaires arrived at the Dar Riffen military camp, which became the cradle of the unit, 6 km from Ceuta, on the road to the capital of the Spanish protectorate of Tetuan.

Major Franco with a group of the first legionnaires, 1921

The foreign tertia was formed as part of three banderas - the equivalent of infantry battalions. Each bandera consisted of two rifle companies, one machine gun company and one training and headquarters company. The first commander of the 1st Bandera was Major Francisco Franco.

Miljan Astrai paid a lot of attention to creating a special spirit of the Legion. He wrote the legionnaire's creed and several manuals, including table manners: “The bread lies to the left of the plate; it is torn off with your hands, never with a knife.”. Miljan Astray also came up with the most famous slogan of the Legion: "Long live Death!". Because of this, the nickname was assigned to the legionnaires "Betrothed of Death".

Official ceremony at Dar Riffen camp, 1927

True, it’s not so simple here either. The Legion still tells the story of its founder and a young lieutenant who wanted to join the ranks of the unit. Milyan Astray asked the romantic young man why he wanted to join the Legion.

Yes, my colonel, to die!

Who told you this? He deceived you!

My Colonel, I...

No. They come here to work day and night, dig trenches, sweat in the summer and freeze in the winter, fight tirelessly, drag wounded and fallen comrades, and only after all this, if necessary, die!

Rif War

The baptism of fire for the Foreign Tertia was the Rif War of 1921–1927 in Northern Morocco. In March 1921, the 8th Company of the 3rd Bandera, under the command of Captain Ortiz de Zarate, entered battle for the first time. In May, the 1st and 3rd Banderas of the Legion became part of the column of General Sanjurjo, which set off to storm the main stronghold of the rebel leader Raisouni in western Morocco. The offensive was interrupted by the Anval disaster, when in July 1921 the Rif rebels defeated the main forces of the Spanish army in eastern Morocco and threatened to capture the remaining defenseless Melilla, the oldest Spanish colony in Africa.

Two Banderas under the command of Milyan Astray quickly covered 96 km to Ceuta, from where they were transferred by sea to Melilla. When the legionnaires landed in the city, panic reigned there, the population was ready to flee. But Miljan Astray was able to encourage the crowd. His fighters took up positions in the immediate vicinity of the city and held them for 15 days until the first reinforcements arrived from Spain.

The rescue of Melilla made the legionnaires real heroes of Spain and caused a large influx of volunteers. By 1926, eight Banderas had already been formed.

The foreign tercio quickly became the main striking force of the Spanish army in Morocco. In the local mountains, the specific tactics of the legionnaires were born: under the cover of artillery and machine gun fire, and later tanks, they got as close as possible to enemy positions and then launched a bayonet attack. Legion officers not only dined with their subordinates at the same table, but also personally led them into the attack.

Legionnaires in Morocco with the FT-17 tank, 1920s

Miljan Astray was wounded four times and lost an arm and an eye. Lieutenant Colonel Rafael de Valenzuela y Urasais, who replaced him as commander of the Foreign Tertia, died in battle on June 5, 1923. The third commander of the Legion was Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Franco: it was he who commanded its units in the main operation of the Rif War - the landing in Alhucemas in September 1925.

Lieutenant Colonel Franco at the legionnaire position in Ouad Lau, 1925

Under him, on February 16, 1925, the Foreign Tertia was renamed the Moroccan Tertia. Despite the presence of some colorful foreigners like the German Sergeant Fricke, the powerful New York Negro Williams or a certain Russian Count, the unit was exclusively Spanish in character.

The Rif War ended in 1927. During this time, legionnaires took part in 505 battles, 1,987 legionnaires were killed, 6,094 were wounded, 18 earned Spain's highest military award - the Cross Laureada of San Fernando.

On the fields of the Civil

After the end of the Rif War, legionnaires continued to perform garrison service in Morocco. New challenges awaited the Legion after the fall of the monarchy in April 1931. The unit's relations with the new authorities did not work out from the very beginning. On March 7, 1932, in Ceuta, under circumstances that have not been fully clarified, the commander of the Tertia, Colonel Juan Mateo y Perez de Alejo, was killed, who was in conflict with Manuel Azaña, the Prime Minister, who also served as Minister of War. Republican authorities reduced the Legion to six banderas numbering 1,500 men, dividing it into two separate units stationed in Ceuta and Melilla.

In October 1934, when the left attempted to organize a revolution in Spain, on the initiative of General Francisco Franco, who led the operations against the revolutionaries, legionnaires from Morocco were brought in as the most reliable and trained units of the army. The mere arrival of the 2nd and 3rd Banderas in Barcelona and their march through the city was enough to put an end to the separatist uprising in Catalonia. Then they went to Asturias, where in battles against the revolutionary miners they were joined by two more Banderas of the Legion - the 5th and 6th. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Juan Yagüe Blanco, they played a major role in defeating the workers' uprising in Oviedo.

Legionnaires of the 3rd Bandera with banners on the streets of Barcelona, October 1934

The bloody events in Asturias in the fall of 1934 became the prologue to the Civil War. In an atmosphere of deep division in Spanish society, the legionnaires and the “African” officers who led them decisively sided with the nationalists. On the morning of July 17, 1936, Lieutenant Colonel Yagüe gathered legionnaires on the parade ground of the Dar Riffen military camp and made a short speech:

"Knights of the Legion! Spain, our Spain, has risen against its worst enemies! The hour has come when we must show the whole world that we are capable of regaining our Motherland! Forward to the sacred land of Castile!”.

It was the legionnaires who became the decisive force in the nationalist uprising in Morocco, ensuring their quick victory. And then we went to Spain.

Airlifting legionnaires to Spain, 1936

During the Civil War, legionnaires became the main striking force of the nationalist army, participating in all decisive battles, being invariably at the forefront of the main attack. Even during the war, on May 8, 1937, the Legion finally acquired its modern name: it was renamed from the Moroccan Tertia to the Spanish Legion.

Legionnaires go on the attack on the Madrid front, 1937

Formally, General Yague remained the commander of the Legion during the Civil War, but the Banderas usually acted separately as part of various nationalist divisions and brigades. The legion expanded rapidly, the number of banderas grew from six to nineteen. Each Bandera now numbered 750 legionnaires, had four rifle and one machine gun companies, as well as a mortar section. The bravest and most dedicated fighters to the nationalist cause served here. It was within the Legion that the foreign volunteers who came to help Franco served, mainly Russian white emigrants, Irish and French.

Legionnaire in winter uniform on the Teruel front, 1938

In February 1938, all nationalist armored units were consolidated into a separate armored bandera within the Legion, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Pujales Carrasco. By the end of the war, thanks to captured Soviet T-26s, it had grown to the size of a full-fledged tank brigade.

The legion took part in 3,042 combat operations, 7,645 legionnaires were killed in battle, including the commanders of six Banderas, 28,973 soldiers were wounded and 776 were missing. Ten legionnaires earned the Cross Laureada of San Fernando, including one Italian - Lieutenant Giuseppe Borghese.

World War and the Blue Division

After the end of the Civil War, the Legion was reduced and reorganized. The armored units were withdrawn from the Legion: they became the basis of four armored regiments of the Spanish army. The number of banderas was reduced to eleven. They were divided into three tercios (regiments), based at Ceuta (Dar Riffen camp), Melilla (Tauima camp) and Larache (Krimda camp). Most of the Legion's units returned to Morocco by the end of 1939.

Legionnaires of the 3rd tert "Don Juan of Austria" at the parade in Tetouan, 1951

Two Banderas remained in Spain. The 1st Bandera continued to participate in operations against Republican partisans in the Pyrenean regions of Galicia and Leon. The 3rd Bandera, just in case, was stationed in a camp near the British colony of Gibraltar. Towards the end of World War II, in February 1945, the 3rd Bandera was also transferred to northern Spain. Together with the 1st Bandera, it formed the Iberian Mobile Reserve group under the command of Colonel Mans. The group was stationed in Lleida and was intended to support the operations of the Civil Guard units against the Republican guerrillas. By the end of 1947, the guerrilla war in northern Spain had subsided, and both Banderas returned to Morocco.

Legionnaires on patrol in northern Spain, 1940s

Legionnaires also took part in the battles of World War II as part of the Blue Division. True, the widespread opinion that they formed its basis is far from the truth. The Spanish command did not welcome the weakening of the most combat-ready parts of its army, so the first composition of the “Blue Division” included only nine officers of the Legion, including two lieutenants of Russian origin - Goncharenko and Krivoshey, who joined the unit during the Civil War. "Hero of Badajoz" Colonel Holse Vierna Trapaga, commander of the 2nd tertius of the Legion, became the first commander of the 262nd regiment of the Blue Division.

Nevertheless, in the future, due to the reduction in the number of volunteers, more and more legionnaires went to fight in Russia. As a result, they made up 16.4% of the Blue Division personnel. One of these legionnaires, Captain Jesus Andujar, distinguished himself on February 10, 1943 in the battles for Krasny Bor and was awarded the Lauread Cross. Several legionnaires, including the holder of the Civil War Laureate Cross, Captain Juan José Orozco Massiu, earned Iron Crosses in Russia.

End of the colonial empire

After the end of World War II, the Legion continued to play the role of the Spanish colonial army. In 1950, a new reorganization of the unit followed, increasing the number of banderas to twelve. Now the Legion consisted of four tercios, bearing the names of the great Spanish commanders of the past: the Great Captain, the Duke of Alba, Don Juan of Austria and Alessandro Farnese. Each third included three banderas. In the 1960s, the Banderas of the Legion also acquired their own names - for example, the 1st received the name “Generalissimo Franco”.

The 6th Bandera was now stationed in the Spanish Sahara. In 1956, a new, 13th Bandera was formed in another Spanish enclave in Morocco, Ifni.

In 1956, Morocco gained independence. Spain left the north of the country. But the refusal to give up the enclave of Ifni and the Sahara led in 1957 to an armed conflict, which in Spain is usually called the “Last Colonial War”. Legionnaires also actively participated in the fighting. The 6th Bandera operated in the Ifni area, the 4th, 9th and 13th - in the Spanish Sahara. It was the 13th Bandera that took part in the bloodiest battle of that war, which took place on January 13, 1958 near Edchera. 48 legionnaires were killed in it, and Brigadier Sergeant Francisco Fadrik Castramonte and Private Juan Maderal Oleaga were posthumously awarded the Cross of the Laureada of San Fernando. To date, this remains the last presentation of this award in Spanish military history. During the Ifnian War, the 11th company of the 9th Bandera was commanded by Captain Nicomedes Bajo, who had three decades of service in the Legion and participation in all combat campaigns of the Legion: the Rif War, Asturias, the Civil War and in World War II in the ranks of the Blue Division "

Feat of legionnaires in the battle of Edcher. Modern painting

After the end of the war, the legionnaires left Morocco. In 1961, the Legion’s home base, the Dar Riffen camp, was also abandoned. The number of Legion banderas was reduced to eight, divided into four thirds. Each tertia included two banderas, a group of light cavalry and a battery of field artillery. The 1st and 2nd terts were located in Spanish enclaves in the north of Morocco - Melilla and Ceuta, and the 3rd and 4th terts were relocated to the Spanish Sahara. It was they who had to participate in the turbulent events in Western Sahara in 1974–1975, which ended the history of the Spanish colonial empire.

Since the 1990s, legionnaires have represented Spain in various peacekeeping missions, for example in the Balkans and the Congo. In the 21st century, legionnaires formed the basis of the Spanish contingents in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Queen Sofia of Spain presents the new flag of the 2nd Terce "Duke of Alba", 1982

Legion on the threshold of its centenary

In the 1990s, the Legion underwent reform aimed at unifying it with the rest of the Spanish army. The system of sergeant ranks specific to the Legion was eliminated, but ordinary legionnaires are still called “knights” (caballeros). The annual colorful processions of legionnaires on Maundy Thursday in Malaga always attract many spectators.

Procession of Legionnaires on Maundy Thursday

Currently, the Legion has 2,875 military personnel. The 1st Terce "Great Captain Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba" and the 2nd Terce "Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba" represent the garrisons of the Spanish enclaves in Morocco - Melilla and Ceuta. Each tertia has one light infantry bandera (1st, which since 2017 is no longer officially called “Major Franco”, and 4th “Cristo de Lepanto”) with support units.

Spanish legionnaires, today

The remaining legionnaires are consolidated into the 2nd Legionary Brigade “King Alfonso XIII”, located in the town of Viator in the province of Almeria. It represents part of the rapid response of the modern Spanish army. The team includes:

headquarters bandera;
lightly armored cavalry group "Catholic Kings";
3rd tertsia “Don Juan of Austria” as part of the 7th bandera “Valenzuela” and 8th bandera “Colon”;
4th Tertia "Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma" as part of the 10th Bandera "Milian Astrai", field artillery, engineers and logistics groups.

Basic training lasts four months and takes place at army training centers in Caceres and Cadiz. Then a two- or three-year contract is signed. After the training course, the recruit joins one of the units and there undergoes additional training, including the traditions of the Legion.

Girls in the most famous units of the Spanish army - legionnaires (left) and regulars

Women now also serve in the Legion. The first appeared in 1990, and since 2000 women have been accepted into combat units. One of them, artillery sergeant Puri Ehposito, was once asked by a journalist:

Are you the bride of death?

Yes. This is the meaning of the Legion: to go where it is necessary, no matter what.

Literature:

Wayne, H. B. A military history of modern Spain: from the Napoleonic era to the international war on terror / H. Bowen Wayne, Jose´ E. Alvarez. - Praeger Security International, Westport, CT, 2007.
Jose Vicente Herrero Perez. The Spanish Military and Warfare from 1899 to the Civil War / José Vicente Herrero Pérez. - Palgrave Macmillan, 2017.
La Legion Espanola: 75 Anos de Historia (1920–1995). - Tomo 1–III. - Viator, Brigada de Infanteria Rey Alfonso XIII de la Legion, 2001.
José Luis Rodríguez Jiménez. A mí La Legion! De Millán Astray a las misiones de paz / José Luis Rodríguez Jiménez. - Planeta, Madrid, 2005.
Luis Eugenio Togores. Historia de La Legion Española. La infanteria legendaria. De África a Afganistán / Luis Eugenio Togores. - La Esfera de los Libros, Madrid, 2016.
Luis Eugenio Togores. Millán Astray, legionario / Luis Eugenio Togores. - La Esfera de los Libros, Madrid, 2003.

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