page_title: Condor Legion
section_title: Technical advances
hierarchical_section_title: Condor Legion / Military advantages gained / Technical advances
caption_attribution_description: Bf 109 C-1, Jagdgruppe 88, Legion Condor
context_page_description: The Condor Legion was a unit composed of military personnel from the air force and army of Nazi Germany, which served with the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War of July 1936 to March 1939. The Condor Legion developed methods of strategic bombing which were used widely in the Second World War shortly afterwards. The bombing of Guernica was the most infamous operation carried out by the Condor Legion. Hugo Sperrle commanded the unit's aircraft formations and Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma commanded the ground element.
context_section_description: One important factor in World War II which is thought to have directly resulted from the conflict is the technical development of the Messerschmitt Bf 109. The V3 – V6 types entered service in Spain directly from operational trials around January 1937. In the spring of 1938 these were joined by type C aircraft with type Es being first fielded in December 1938.
caption: Bf 109 C-1, Jagdgruppe 88, Legion Condor
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