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The Condor Legion ((ドイツ語:Legion Condor)) was a unit composed of volunteers from the German Air Force (''Luftwaffe'') and from the German Army (''Wehrmacht Heer'') which served with the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War of July 1936 to March 1939. The Condor Legion developed methods of terror bombing which were used widely in the Second World War shortly afterwards. The bombing of Guernica was the most infamous operation carried out by the Condor Legion. Hugo Sperrle commanded the unit's aircraft formations and Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma commanded the ground element. == History of military aid to Spain == (詳細はSpanish Second Republic turned to the Soviet Union and France for support, and the nationalists requested the support of Hitler's Germany and fascist Italy.〔Westwell (2004). p. 10.〕 The first request for German aircraft was made on 22 July, with an order for 10 transport aircraft. Hitler decided to support the nationalists on 25 or 26 July, but was wary of provoking a Europe-wide war.〔Westwell (2004). p. 12.〕〔Thomas (1961). pp. 231–232.〕 The Reich Air Travel Ministry concluded that nationalist forces would need at least 20 Ju 52s, flown by Luft Hansa pilots, to carry the Army of Africa from Spanish Morocco to Spain.〔 This mission became known as Operation Magic Fire ((ドイツ語:Feuerzauber)).〔〔Thomas (1961). p. 230.〕 The joint Spanish-German "Spanish-Moroccan Transport Company" ((スペイン語:Companía Hispano-Marroquí de Transporte), HISMA) and an entirely German company, the Raw Materials and Good Purchasing Company ((ドイツ語:Rohstoffe-und-Waren-Einkaufsgesellschaft), ROWAK) were established.〔 This involvement was kept covert, hidden from both foreign and economic ministries, and funded with three million Reichmarks.〔〔 The organisation and recruitment of German volunteers was also kept secret.〔Westwell (2004). p. 13.〕 The first contingent of 86 men left on 1 August, unaware of where they were going. They were accompanied with six biplane fighters, anti-aircraft guns and about 100 tons of other supplies.〔 They were placed at Tablada airfield near Seville, and accompanied by German Air transport began the airlift of Franco's troops to Spain. Germany's involvement grew in September to encompass the Wehrmacht's other branches; Operation Magic Fire was renamed ''Operation Guido'' in November.〔 A wide belief was that the soldiers would train Spanish nationalists, and not engage.〔Westwell (2004). p. 14.〕 The head of the Kriegsmarine provided submarines from 24 October. The German navy also provided various surface ships and coordinated movement of German supplies to Spain.〔Westwell (2004). p. 15.〕 German U-Boats were dispatched to Spanish waters under the codename ''Ursula''.〔 In the two weeks following 27 July, German transport moved nearly 2,500 troops of the Army of Africa to Spain.〔Westwell (2004). p. 16.〕 By 11 October, the mission's official end, 13,500 troops, 127 machine guns and 36 field guns had been carried into Spain from Morocco.〔Westwell (2004). p. 18.〕 Over this period there was a movement from training and supply missions of overt combat. The operation leader, Alexander von Scheele, was replaced by Walter Warlimont.〔Westwell (2004). p. 19.〕 In September, 86 tons of bombs, 40 Panzer PzKpfw I tanks and 122 personnel had been landed in Spain; they were accompanied with 108 aircraft in the July–October period, split between aircraft for the Nationalist faction itself and planes for German volunteers in Spain.〔 German air crews supported the Nationalist advance on Madrid,〔 and the successful relief of the Siege of the Alcázar.〔Westwell (2004). p. 21.〕 Ultimately, this phase of the Siege of Madrid would be unsuccessful.〔 Soviet air support for the Republican was growing, particularly through the supply of Polikarpov aircraft.〔Westwell (2004). pp. 21–22.〕 Warlimont appealed to Nazi Germany to step up support. Following German recognition of Franco's government on 30 September, German efforts in Spain were reorganised and expanded.〔Westwell (2004). pp. 22–23.〕 The existing command structure was replaced with the Winterübung Rügen, and the military units already in Spain were formed into a new legion, which was briefly called the Iron Rations ((ドイツ語:Eiserne Rationen)) and the Iron Legion ((ドイツ語:Eiserne Legion)) before Göring renamed it the Condor Legion ((ドイツ語:Legion Condor)).〔Westwell (2004). p. 23.〕 The first German chargé d'affaires to Franco's government, General Wilhelm von Faupel,〔See also: :de:Wilhelm Faupel 〕 arrived in November, but was told not to interfere in military matters.〔Thomas (1961). p. 333.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Condor Legion」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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