d soldiers, known as the Blue Division, and an air squadron to help the Nazis in the war. He additionally provided the smaller Legion Azul, or Blue Legion, otherwise known as the Spanish Legion of Volunteers. The Allied Forces protested this neutrality violation, and as the tide of the war began to turn against Hitler, Franco caved in to Allied pressure and agreed to end further aid to Germany in 1944 (Bowen). This official withdrawal, however, did not end Spanish involvement in World War II. From late in 1943 until the end of the war, hundreds of Spaniards were still allowed to enlist in the Waffen-SS, (militarized units of the SS) and the German army, leaving their homes and families to serve loyally Nazi Germany. Franco allowing this continued support of HitlerÆs efforts would eventually result in his regime being branded a collaborationist state and politically isolated the country until the mid-1950Æs (Bowen).
Franco also supported Hitler in other ways during the war. He allowed German tankers to use his harbors to refuel U-boats.
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