Miguel Ezquerra
Encyclopedia
Miguel Ezquerra Sanchez was a Spanish
Falangist, soldier and volunteer member of the Waffen-SS
. He fought in the Spanish Civil War
and in the Second World War, in a battalion of the Blue Division
or 250. Infanterie-Division as it was known in the German
Army.
Ezquerra was a Falangist and enthusiastically signed up for military service on the Nationalist side after the military coup of 18th July 1936. He fought on the fronts of Aragón, Madrid, Extremadura and Teruel, in the 7th "Bandera de Falange". After the end of the war he was demobilised, and worked as a teacher.
On hearing the news of the outbreak of the Second World War, he immediately visited the German embassy in Madrid, offering to enlist on the German side. His enthusiastic offer was noted, but tactfully declined. Later when Spain decided to send volunteers to assist German efforts on the Eastern front, he enrolled in the Blue Division. The Blue Division was ordered to the siege of Leningrad
where it would eventually participate in the Battle of Krasny Bor
.
Later, after the Blue Division had been repatriated to Spain on April 2, 1944, he was determined to continue to fight. He secretly crossed the French border in April 1944 to enlist in the Wehrmacht
, and he was eventually transferred into the Waffen-SS
.
As part of the 11th SS Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland", and with the rank of Hauptsturmführer
, Miguel Ezquerra helped defend Berlin
against Soviet troops, commanding a unit formed by Spanish Fascists, who were among the last defenders of the bunker of Adolf Hitler
.
Miguel Ezquerra was author of the book "Berlin, a vida o muerte" ("Berlin, to life or death"). Little is known about his later life. It is generally agreed that he was one of the most notable Spanish combatants in the Second World War. He received several decorations and awards, including the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
and had German nationality granted to him personally by Hitler. (Cfr. Interview Review N. 339, Madrid, November 1982).
Some historians, such as Kenneth W. Estes, question the assertions made by Ezquerra himself, as no evidence has ever been found to corroborate his claims about the role he played. While no one denies he was present in Germany, his real rank and participation in some events can be questioned.
Since 1995, the remains of Ezquerra have rested next to those of his comrades in the Vault of the Blue Division, in cemetery of the Almudena (3rd Plateau, area A ) at Madrid.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Falangist, soldier and volunteer member of the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
. He fought in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and in the Second World War, in a battalion of the Blue Division
Blue Division
The Blue Division officially designated as División Española de Voluntarios by the Spanish Army and 250. Infanterie-Division in the German Army, was a unit of Spanish volunteers that served in the German Army on the Eastern Front of the Second World War.-Origins:Although Spanish leader Field...
or 250. Infanterie-Division as it was known in the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
Army.
Ezquerra was a Falangist and enthusiastically signed up for military service on the Nationalist side after the military coup of 18th July 1936. He fought on the fronts of Aragón, Madrid, Extremadura and Teruel, in the 7th "Bandera de Falange". After the end of the war he was demobilised, and worked as a teacher.
On hearing the news of the outbreak of the Second World War, he immediately visited the German embassy in Madrid, offering to enlist on the German side. His enthusiastic offer was noted, but tactfully declined. Later when Spain decided to send volunteers to assist German efforts on the Eastern front, he enrolled in the Blue Division. The Blue Division was ordered to the siege of Leningrad
Siege of Leningrad
The Siege of Leningrad, also known as the Leningrad Blockade was a prolonged military operation resulting from the failure of the German Army Group North to capture Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, in the Eastern Front theatre of World War II. It started on 8 September 1941, when the last...
where it would eventually participate in the Battle of Krasny Bor
Battle of Krasny Bor
The Battle of Krasny Bor was part of the Soviet offensive Operation Polyarnaya Zvezda. The Soviet offensive called for a pincer attack near Leningrad, to build up on the success of Operation Iskra and completely lift the Siege of Leningrad, encircling a substantial part of the German 18th Army. ...
.
Later, after the Blue Division had been repatriated to Spain on April 2, 1944, he was determined to continue to fight. He secretly crossed the French border in April 1944 to enlist in the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, and he was eventually transferred into the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
.
As part of the 11th SS Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland", and with the rank of Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
, Miguel Ezquerra helped defend Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
against Soviet troops, commanding a unit formed by Spanish Fascists, who were among the last defenders of the bunker of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
.
Miguel Ezquerra was author of the book "Berlin, a vida o muerte" ("Berlin, to life or death"). Little is known about his later life. It is generally agreed that he was one of the most notable Spanish combatants in the Second World War. He received several decorations and awards, including the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
and had German nationality granted to him personally by Hitler. (Cfr. Interview Review N. 339, Madrid, November 1982).
Some historians, such as Kenneth W. Estes, question the assertions made by Ezquerra himself, as no evidence has ever been found to corroborate his claims about the role he played. While no one denies he was present in Germany, his real rank and participation in some events can be questioned.
Ezquerra, for example, claims to have been promoted from Lieutenant to Lieutenant-Colonel, orally, between his 1944 arrival in Stablack and final combat in Berlin. During this time, he allegedly served in the Army's special operations unit, the "Brandenburgers," first fighting Maquis in and out of Paris, and then with his Spanish commando unit, fighting behind the American (!) lines in the Battle of the Bulge. He claimed to have had personal contact with Hitler, who orally (of course) awarded him the Knight's Cross; Himmler, Goebbels, and Berger; and to have seen Martin Bormann and Axmann. In the last days of the war, his "Ezquerra Unit" — now absorbed into the Waffen-SS, (although all his oral promotions had come from Army officers) consisted of three companies of Spaniards, some "Doriot Milice" [sic] and more Spaniards from the Walloon Division.
Since 1995, the remains of Ezquerra have rested next to those of his comrades in the Vault of the Blue Division, in cemetery of the Almudena (3rd Plateau, area A ) at Madrid.
Sources (in Spanish)
- Ezquerra, Miguel, Berlín, a vida o muerte. Ed. García Hipan. Granada, 1999.
- Nart, Javier, El jefe español de las SS en Interviu Review, 10-16 de Noviembre de 1982.
- Recio Cardona, Ricardo, Españoles en la Segunda Guerra Mundial (El frente del este). Ed. Vandalia. Madrid, 1999.