A Spanish machine gunner from the Blue Division holding a MG-34 machine gun, in the outskirts of Leningrad, Spring 1943. The Blue Division was a unit formed by Spanish (and 159 Portuguese) volunteers and conscripts who served in the Wehrmacht, mainly on the Eastern Front. After their training in Germany, the division was deployed on the Volkhov River front, on the outskirts of Novgorod. In August 1942, the unit was transferred to Leningrad. After the collapse of the German Army following the Battle of Stalingrad, the division faced a major Soviet attempt to break the siege of Leningrad in February 1943, when the 55th Soviet Army, attacked their positions during the Battle of Krasny Bor. Despite very heavy casualties, the Spaniards were able to hold their positions against a Soviet force seven times larger and supported by tanks. The assault was contained and the siege of Leningrad was maintained for a further year.

1943