 The Condor Legion, German creation and help to the Nationalist Spain Above all, I would like to underline that the Condor Legion was a German unit that took part in the Spanish Civil War in favour of the Nationalists. The name of Condor Legion was given to the Body of Volunteers from the Luftwaffe. This unit of the German Air Forces was given number 88. Before the Condor Legion came to Spain, there were some facts prior to its formation. A new character appears in the history of the Spanish war, whose acts were very positively in favour of the interests of the nationalists: Admiral Canaris, head of the Adwerh (German secret service). The admiral took part in the meetings of Bayreuth. Undoubtedly, from the first moments of the German help to Spain, Canaris was one of Hitler’s pawns intervening most actively in the development of the events. Although there are no news of any type about a relationship between the admiral and general Franco, there was a relationship with some of the people involved; this was the reason that made the Führer entrust him with the task of outlining to the leader the convenience of accepting, also with military help, the intervention in the Spanish war of a German Air Unit, to ensure the final victory and counteract the number of foreign combatants who have swelled the ranks of the Marxist Army. In the last days of October 1936, admiral Canaris went from Berlin to Salamanca for a first interview with General Franco, already Chief of the new Spanish State, and also holding the title of “Generalísimo de los Ejércitos Nacionales”. Once he was alone with Franco, Canaris, who spoke perfect Spanish, informed him about everything he knew about the help of France and the U.S.S.R to the republicans. It was a detailed information about the amount of men, material, food, etc..., which have reached the enemy zone. These data had been obtained from agents of the ABWEHR (Espionage Service of the German forces), of which he was the leader, and from the services of the German Embassy in Madrid. The German Ambassador in the times of the Republican Government, who continued in his place in spite of the approach of Germany to the “rebels”, informed in Berlin about the events that took place in the enemy zone. He informed about the first exchanges of conversations with Russia in the first days of the civil war, and about the arrival to Madrid, on the 24th August, of the first Soviet ambassador, Marcelo Rosemberg. In Moscow, from the first of September, technical dispositions were adopted for a complete help. The first Russian officers came with Rosemberg, and the first aeroplanes came shortly afterwards. With this material, a greater number of officers came, who played a role that was more important than that of the republican military Rojos, Miaja , Pozas , etc; among them was Goriev, who directed the General Staff; Paulov, who sent the armour-plated units, and Douglas, the man in charge of the aeroplanes, piloted by about 160 Russian pilots. He completely annulled Hidalgo de Cisneros, who said in his “Memories” that “the republican aviation was mostly represented by Soviet aeroplanes”. The admiral also communicated that the government of Largo Caballero had exported in those times most of the gold from the Spanish reserves, as a prior condition imposed in the Russian-Spanish negotiations of the months of August and September, for compensating their helps in men, material and food. Canaris insisted on the effects of this help, and he tried to convince Franco to request more protection from Rome and Berlin. Franco, in spite of being aware of the situation created by these helps that the enemy received, was completely sure that with the recruitments made in the zone he occupied, the need of personnel would be sufficiently increased. He understood that he would have to equip this new army, for which he did not have enough material; he would only be able to get it from Italy and Germany, regardless of the fact that his agents in England could get it there or in other countries, by means of the credits that have been given to them, operating in London. He knew that, as in the republican zone, where foreigners took part in the war, he would be able to get the help from armed units proposed by Germany and Italy, but knowing the Spanish people, conscientious of their independence, he found this solution repugnant. Canaris stated that he was authorised by Hitler to guarantee him that apart from some economic contributions, they did not demand from him anything that could impact the Spanish independence and its territorial integrity. The interview went on with complete comprehension by both parties. The admiral outlined Germany’s view of the development of the war, after the tactic followed until that moment. Franco said that his methodical tactic of not exterminating the enemy and not destroying their cities, the countryside, the industry and the production, was based on patriotism, with the view of an effective internal peace on the day of the final victory. He also said that he had formed the real concept of the Spanish war, incomparable with the idea of modern wars. According to the classical style, it made no sense to avoid the massive destruction of a city to achieve an important objective; but in this case, there is no intention to destroy a population, as should be done strategically. The operations for the massive destruction of military objectives and urban nuclei should be restricted because of the fact that the enemy territory and its inhabitants were considered as a part of the same territory that had to be rescued with its people in the best possible state. Canaris understood and shared this point of view, to the extent that, during all the war, he helped him not only against the National Socialist leaders, also against the Italians, when both of them threatened to abandon him if he did not subject to their demands, that is, to the quick total war, with its large-scale destructive consequences. The requirements were exposed by Canaris, bearer of the German conditions for a more positive help in everything related to aviation and to Goering’s intention of sending regular air units to Spain. The general conditions of the German government, added Canaris, were the following: 1. That the German formations coming to Spain would be under the service of a German leader that would treat directly with General Franco, the only one from whom he could receive orders and to whom he would account for his actions. With regard to other countries, they would keep up appearances with the designation of a Spanish service. 2. That the German personnel already intervening, belonging to former expeditions, would be integrated with their material to the new unit. 3. That the protection of the German air bases by the Spanish Army would be guaranteed. 4. That the combined earth and air operations should be more effective with the objective of getting rid of the war quickly; they would be mostly directed to the most important ports, to cut the continued arrivals of reinforcements for the enemy. 5. The signature, with no reserve, of these conditions by Spain would mean the necessary increase of the promised help. Besides, Canaris explained that this air body would be called CONDOR LEGION. That the official acknowledgement of the National Government by Germany and Italy would take place when occupying Madrid, and that the German representative before the government would be General Wilhelm von Faupel (in that moment, lieutenant colonel Warlimont would close as a delegate, as his main role was to be a liaison between the German forces and the Spanish and German governments). Franco insisted tenaciously in his first statements in the fact that he wanted to avoid destructions, and that he did not completely agree with the conditions imposed by Germany. As a consequence of the interview, on the 30th October the formation of the CONDOR LEGION and its urgent preparation for the transfer to Spain were authorised in Berlin. 
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