This silver commemorative plate represents a remarkable artifact documenting German military involvement in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). It was crafted as a memento for officers of the 1st Squadron of Combat Group 88 (1./K 88) of the Legion Condor and documents a specific deployment period from July 21, 1938, to February 24, 1939.
The Legion Condor was the designation for the German expeditionary corps that fought on the side of the Nationalist forces under General Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939. Officially presented as a “volunteer” unit, it was in reality a military formation dispatched and controlled by the German Reich. The Legion comprised approximately 19,000 men who were deployed to Spain in rotating assignments, with about 5,000 to 6,000 German soldiers present at any given time.
Combat Group 88 (K/88) formed the bomber component of the Legion Condor and was one of the most important units within this formation. It primarily operated Heinkel He 111 and Dornier Do 17 bombers and played a crucial role in the development of German air warfare tactics. The Spanish Civil War served the German Luftwaffe as a testing ground for new aircraft, weapons, and operational concepts that were later applied during World War II.
The facsimile signatures of officers engraved on the plate, including Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän Schulz as well as other officers such as Hoffmann, Langguth, Sass, Brandt, Hirschberg, Stein, and Staarke, document the camaraderie and esprit de corps within this military unit. Such commemorative items were widespread in German military tradition and served to honor shared deployments and the bond among officers.
The Spanish manufacture of the plate is typical for such mementos of the Legion Condor. German soldiers and officers frequently commissioned local silversmiths in Spain to create souvenirs, as Spanish silversmithing enjoyed an excellent reputation. The silver hallmark “Alvarez” on the reverse with the fineness 916/000 (corresponding to 916 parts silver per 1000 parts alloy) confirms the high-quality Spanish craftsmanship and conforms to the Spanish silver standards of the period.
The indicated period from July 1938 to February 1939 falls within the final phase of the Spanish Civil War. During this period, the Legion Condor conducted intensive air operations in support of the Francoist offensive that ultimately led to the Nationalist victory. The Battle of the Ebro (July to November 1938) and the Catalonia Offensive (December 1938 to February 1939) were the last major military operations in which Combat Group 88 participated.
Such commemorative plates were typically produced at the end of a deployment period or during personnel rotation. They were presented to participating officers as personal mementos and document not only military affiliation but also the social culture within the officer corps of the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe of that era.
The historical significance of such objects lies in their function as primary sources. They provide insights into personnel names, organizational structures, time periods, and the material culture of the Legion Condor. For military historical research, they are valuable documents that help reconstruct and understand German involvement in the Spanish Civil War.
It is important to emphasize that the Legion Condor is also associated with controversial military actions, particularly the bombing of Guernica on April 26, 1937, which provoked worldwide outrage and was symbolized by Pablo Picasso's famous painting. The experiences in Spain significantly influenced the development of the German Blitzkrieg doctrine and aerial warfare in World War II.
