The Spanish Volunteer Division, also known as the Blue Division, was a military unit formed during World War II. It consisted of Spanish volunteers who fought alongside the Nazi German forces on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union. The division was officially established in 1941 and was primarily composed of soldiers who supported the regime of Francisco Franco in Spain. The Blue Division participated in several battles, including the Siege of Leningrad, and was involved in intense combat. In 1943, as the war turned against the Axis powers, the division was withdrawn, and many of its members returned to Spain. The division remains a controversial topic in Spanish history due to its association with fascism and the broader implications of Spain's neutrality during the war.