Originally Posted By: L. Brown
Well Greg, I don't know how much better the Spanish troops performed, 20 years after the Rif War in Morocco--when they got their butts kicked severely by a bunch of mountain tribesmen. (Much like the Russkies in Afghanistan, except the Rifis didn't have the CIA shipping them modern weapons. Most of what they used, they captured from the Spanish.) Those Spanish soldiers were so poorly paid and poorly led--apparently their officers ripped off their pay--that they sold bullets to get by. Bad choice for them, because the Rifis were happy to acquire more bullets to use in the Spanish Mausers they captured.


Hey Col, in fact they fought very well. Most were vets of the Civil War and also volunteers, they had a hatred of the soviets that made them excellent fighters. They fought quite well, but the Germans complained about their lack of discipline behind the line or when things were "slow", but they admired them in both the offense and defense. The first Commander Gen Agustín Muñoz Grandes, was awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves (a very high decoration) for the actions of the men in the Blue Division. The soviets also respected them as fine fighters.

Best,

Greg

Gregory J. Westberg
MSG, USA
Ret