History Teacher Paco Asenjo Presents Blue Division WWII Graphic Novels

Paco Asenjo, a 58-year-old history teacher from Almería, recently appeared at the La Massana Comic Fair to present his biographical graphic novel series *Inferno Azul* and *Frente de Leningrado*. The works draw directly from the memoirs of Blue Division volunteers who fought on the Eastern Front during World War II.

*Inferno Azul*, spanning two volumes and 460 pages, follows an 18-year-old from Almería who enlists in the Blue Division—a Spanish volunteer unit formed under Franco's regime—to test himself amid expectations of a swift German victory over the Soviet Union. Asenjo describes the recruit's mindset as typical youthful naivety, shaped by a worldview dividing people into clear "good guys and bad guys." He notes that most people remain susceptible to dominant narratives today, estimating that 80% could be easily swayed.

The story captures the psychological toll of war, emphasizing fear, suffering, and brutality rather than heroism. The third volume, *Frente de Leningrado*, includes *Golpe de mano*, based on a medic's account in an engineers' unit. Asenjo aimed for fidelity to the original memoirs, avoiding simplistic anti-war messaging. Instead, he adopts the protagonists' perspectives to reflect their historical context authentically.

The Blue Division emerged at the end of the Spanish Civil War in an anticommunist atmosphere. Franco's government sympathized with the Axis but avoided official involvement in World War II, sending this hardened unit of volunteers—including Civil War veterans—to the front lines.

Asenjo acknowledges the topic's controversy: once hailed as heroes, Blue Division members are now often vilified. He urges understanding the era's prevailing mindset without reductive judgments, warning that oversimplifying history into heroes and villains is a comfortable but flawed approach.

From these tales, Asenjo draws a stark lesson: war is an inferno that dehumanizes participants, benefiting only those seeking arms and power while ordinary people suffer. In today's tense global climate, he cautions against narratives justifying conflict for noble causes, insisting no one truly wins.