C72-05 CONDOR LEGION PANZERGRUPPE

In the course of the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939, fascist Italy and Nazi Germany supported the nationalist forces led by General Francisco Franco on a large scale. The German side sent to Spain a special air unit called the Legion "Condor", but also a land unit that was formally subordinate to the Legion "Condor" called the Group "Imker", commanded by Colonel von Thoma. The latter included training armored companies (in total at the beginning of the conflict - about 40 PzKpfw I Ausf. A tanks) and support units (eg an anti-tank unit). The armored element of the "Imker" Group was called Panzergruppe "Drohne". The unit started operating in Spain at the end of 1936, and its main goal was to conduct armor and anti-tank combat training for soldiers of General Franco's army, after which the Spanish side took over the tanks manufactured in Germany. It is worth noting that the Panzergruppe "Drohne" served volunteers recruited mainly from the soldiers of the German 3rd Panzer Division. It is worth adding that many members of the Panzergruppe "Drohne", especially Col. von Thoma, very often visited Spanish units and observed the use of German tanks in combat. In 1939, Panzergruppe "Drohne" returned to the Third Reich, where it was formally dissolved.