When and where did the Russians fight the Spanish?

1. The Russo-Spanish War of 1799-1801

The Order of Malta was under the patronage of Russia, and Emperor Paul was its Grand Master. But Spain did not want to strengthen Russian influence in the Mediterranean and flatly refused to recognize its status.

The position of King Charles IV offended Paul, plus Spain at that time became closer to France, which was hostile to Russia. On August 6, 1799, the Russian Emperor declared war on the kingdom.

Due to geographical reasons, it was impossible to conduct military operations. Not a single battle took place between the powers. And on October 16, 1801, already under Alexander I, peace was concluded.

2. The Patriotic War of 1812

In 1808, Napoleon forced King Charles IV to abdicate and installed his brother Joseph in his place. A people's war against the French broke out in the country, which continued during the invasion of the ‘Grande Armée’ into Russia in 1812.

Formally, Spain continued to be considered an ally of France, and Joseph sent more than four thousand of his soldiers to Russia. Some of them were supporters of the French - ‘afrancesados’ (Frenchified), but most dreamed of deserting, returning to their homeland and fighting the aggressor.

The flight of the Spaniards began immediately after crossing the border river Neman, and the first executions of deserters took place then. From the latter, the Russians later formed a Spanish regiment named after, and in 1813 they sent it to fight on the Iberian Peninsula.

Those Spaniards who remained with the French went all the way until the inglorious death of Napoleon's army on the Berezina at the end of 1812. Only a few were able to escape from Russia.

3. The Spanish Civil War

In 1936, the USSR sent several thousand military specialists to Spain, which was engulfed in civil war. They not only trained the Republican forces, but also fought in battles against Franco's supporters, as well as the German and Italian troops who were helping him.

“You should have seen how dramatically the mood of the Spaniards at the front and in the rear changed when, in early November, Republican I-15 and I-16 fighter planes piloted by Soviet volunteers appeared in the skies over Madrid, launching the first air strikes against the rebels. The impunity of the fascist air pirates had come to an end,” recalled military adviser Pavel Batov. 

In 1938, it became clear to the USSR leadership that the collapse of the republic was just around the corner. It began to curtail military aid and return its military home. 189 of them died, 59 were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, including posthumously.

4. World War II

The German attack on the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941 caused an unprecedented stir in Francoist Spain. Many dreamed of getting even with the Russians for their support of the defeated Republic.

Up to 70,000 Spanish volunteers took part in the battles on the Eastern Front in the ranks of the 250th division of the Wehrmacht, known as the ‘Blue Division’. They took part in the siege of Leningrad.

The Soviet command treated the Spaniards with disdain, considering them a weak link in the enemy's defense and directing the main attacks against them. “A rabble, a snot-nosed wimp. They are infested with lice, get frostbite, and curse the day they ended up in Russia,” exclaimed Vladimir Sviridov, commander of the 55th Army, when planning ‘Operation Polar Star’ to unblock Leningrad.

In reality, the Spaniards were not so weak. In battles in February 1943, they were able to stop the superior Soviet troops near the village of Krasny Bor and hold out until reinforcements arrived. However, they suffered colossal losses — entire battalions were destroyed.

In the fall of 1943, the course of the war changed dramatically, and Franco brought his soldiers home. Some volunteers, however, remained, continued serving in the SS troops, and even defended Berlin.