A
SIMPLE GUIDE TO (MOST OF) THE BATTLES OF THE SPANISH CIVL WAR 1936 - 1938
© Craig
Palfrey
Contents:
-
1936
1937
1938
THE
SIEGE OF THE ALCAZAR July-28th September 1936
During the fight for Toledo,2000 Nationalist troops under the command
of Col.Jose Moscardo along with civil guard, 600 civilians and Nationalist
sympathisers had fled into the Alcazar, the former Spanish army college.
The nationalists held out for 8 weeks against poorly armed Republican
militia units and an almost continuous artillery bombardment.
On 23rd July via a telephone link a Republican officer reached Muscardo,
he informed the colonel that they had captured his 17 year old son and
told him that if he did not surrender they would execute the boy, to prove
they had Moscardo’s son they let him speak, he told his father “surrender
or they’ll shoot me”, Moscardo replied “then commend
your soul to God, and with your last breath cry out long live Spain, long
live Christ the king!”, days later his son fell before a firing
squad. Franco had ordered that the Alcazar was to be saved at any cost
before they moved on to Madrid.
The anxious Republicans asked the Asturian miners to destroy the Alcazar
by planting tons of explosives underneath it in preparation of a final
assault which would be observed by Francisco Largo Caballero (future prime
minister of the Republic), the terrific explosion destroyed one of the
towers but did not destroy the Alcazar. The assault was a failure and
the Alcazar remained impregnable. on 28th September the nationalist army
of Africa lifted the siege, and threatened with containment the Republicans
retreated.
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THE
REPUBLICAN INVASION OF MAJORCA 16th August 1936
Republican expeditionary force consisting of Catalan and Valencian troops
commanded by air force captain Alberto Bayo and Guardia Civil captain
Manuel Uribarri won the easy victory on the island of Ibiza, seven days
later the Catalans led by captain Bayo landed on the island of Majorca
expecting a quick and easy victory but met stronger resistance than on
Ibiza, the garrison on Majorca was much bigger and with the aid of Italian
aircraft prevented any further Republican advance. On 3rd September nationalists
launched a counter-attack on the Republican bridgehead which forced the
Catalans to retreat.
THE
BATTLE FOR MADRID 7th-23rd November 1936
The nationalists realised that to end the war they would have to take
Madrid, the immediate forces at their disposal were of those under the
command of Gen. Emilio Mola and the majority of this force were experienced
Moroccan units of the Army of Africa. The first assault came from the
direction of the north west with troops under the command of Col. Varela,
by the 16th Varela’s troops had gained a bridge head over the river
Manzarnares, as a result of the fighting that ensued three-quarters of
the university city was lost to the nationalists. The brave, but poorly
armed militia units under Gen. Miaja, supported by soviet tanks and aircraft
were able to hold back the nationalist advance. Further assistance came
from the newly formed International Brigades, particularly the 11th Brigade
which comprised of German, Polish and French volunteers. By 23rd the nationalist
troops were exhausted and had suffered high casualties especially the
Moorish Brigades who were not used to urban combat. The nationalist command
had realised that a direct assault on Madrid would be costly and unlikely
to succeed.
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THE BATTLE FOR THE CORUNNA ROAD 13th December 1936-15th
January 1937
Rather than launch a direct assault on Madrid the Nationalist command
decided to besiege Madrid, this would mean taking the direct area surrounding
Madrid. Col.varela launched an attack on the Corunna road which runs to
the north of Madrid. His troops held a seven mile section of the road
against fierce Republican attacks. As casualties mounted on both sides
it became apparent that a stalemate had developed.
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THE
BATTLE FOR MALAGA 17th January-6th February 1937
With tens of thousands of Italian troops arriving in Spain, the Nationalists
felt strong enough to launch attacks into southern Spain. On the 17th
January the nationalists launched a three pronged attack on Malaga, from
the north, north-east and west.
The Republicans had large numbers of men available to defend the city
but poor organisation hampered their efforts. On the third of February
after fierce fighting the nationalists were on the outskirts of the town
and three days later the Republicans abandoned the city.
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THE
BATTLE OF JARAMA 6th-24th February 1937
It was at Jarama valley where the nationalists renewed their attempt to
cut off Madrid. The object of the nationalist plan was to cut the Valencia
road to the south-east of the city at jarama. At first the nationalists
had success in pushing back the Republican defenders under Gen. Sebastian
Pozas across the river Jarama. After this minor defeat Gen. Pozas was
replaced by Gen. Miaja (who had gained valuable experiences in defending
Madrid) on 15th February. Although the nationalists had created a salient
in the Republican lines they had failed to complete their objectives.
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BATTLE
OF GUADALAJARA 15th-18th March 1937
In a further attempt to cut off Madrid from the rest of the Republic,
the Nationalists launched a two pronged attack toward Guadalajara. The
forces attacking from the west under Gen. Jose Moscardo met little resistance,
and what forces they did encounter were poorly trained and equipped. The
forces attacking from the east under Gen. Mario Roatta consisted of mainly
Italian troops who successfully took the town of Brihuega on the 10th
March only to experience greater resistance as they advanced onward. On
the 15th of March after almost constant fighting, Gen. Roatta halted his
forces to regroup. A few days later on the 18th to Republican divisions
led by Col. Enrique Jurado launched a counter-attack against the Italian
forces assisted with tanks and aircraft. The attack surprised the Italians
who struggled to hold the Republicans back, were then ordered to retreated
but the retreat soon turned into an all out rout. Moscardo’s forces
were then forced to retreat when they became outflanked by the Republicans
who retook Brihuega after the Italian collapse.
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THE
BATTLE FOR BILBAO 31st March-18th June 1937
Gen. Mola with his forces in the north began an offensive Basque country
with intent to take the stronghold of Bilbao. The poorly armed Basque
forces under Gen. Encomienda were unable to hold back the Nationalist
forces. The towns of Guernica and Durango were surrendered 28th April
after heavy fighting and bombing raids. However on the 3rd of June Gen.
Mola was killed in an plane crash and so was replaced by Gen. Davila.
On the 11th of June the Basque forces had withdrawn to Bilbao of which
was heavily defended with a ring of fortifications described as “a
ring of iron”. the ring of iron collapsed after an assault when
fascist infantry supported by heavy artillery made a breech in the line,
and all coherent defence dissolved. On the 18th June the defenders abandoned
the city evacuating most of the population.
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THE
BATTLE OF SEGOVIA 31st May
Three Republican divisions under Gen. Domingo Moriones launched an offensive
to recapture the town of Segovia. They broke through the Nationalist lines
at San Ildefonso and went on to capture La Granja. The Nationalists detached
a large force from the Madrid front to counter-attack the Republican forces.
After much fighting the Republican advance ground to a halt, and the Nationalist
forces were unable to regain the lost ground.
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THE
BATTLE OF BRUNETE 6th July-26th July
After the victory at Guadalajara the Republicans went on to the offensive.
Gen. Miaja ordered two division toward El Escorial to the south of Madrid
to take the town of Brunete. In a swift and decisive attack the Republicans
took Brunette and cut off the Nationalist forces besieging Madrid from
their forces in the west. The Republican attack had also created a salient
in the Nationalists line 5miles deep. The Nationalist Gen. Varela launched
a counter attack toward Brunete. The Republican soldiers lacked the energy
and sufficient supplies to put up effective resistance and were forced
to retreat back to their original positions.
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THE
BATTLE OF SANTANDER 14th-25th August 1937
Nationalist forces who had recently captured Bilbao turned their attention
to the west. Gen. Davila launched an offensive toward Santander which
through the Cantabrian Mountains. Republican Gen. Mariano had large numbers
of men at his disposal, but lacked weapons and ammunition, as a result
the Republican forced were unable to maintain an effective defence. On
the 23rd of August the Republican Basque forces surrendered and the Nationalists
entered Santander meeting little resistance.
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THE
BATTLE FOR SARAGOSSA 24th August-late September 1937
Republican Gen. Pozaz launched an offensive into Aragon at the head of
the Republican army of the east. They successfully forced Gen. Ponte’s
Nationalist forces back but were unable to break their line and take Saragossa
and Huesca and by the end of September the offensive ground to a halt
and developed into a stalemate.
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THE
BATTLE FOR GIJON 1st September-21st October 1937
The rest of the Basque country had fallen except for the last Republican
stronghold in the North which was Gijon and the surrounding area. Nationalist
forces lead by Gen. Aranda moved through the mountains of Leon to the
east to capture Gijon. However the Nationalist forces were prevented from
advancing through the mountain pass by a force of Austurians until Nationalist
forces outflanked them and forced the Austurians to retreat. On the 21st
of October Gijon surrendered.
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THE
BATTLE OF TERUEL 15th December 1937-20th February 1938
Forces of the Republican army led by Gen.Sarabia advanced on Teruel and
by the 15th had surrounded the town under the cover of nightfall. After
fierce fighting the Nationalist defenders in the south of the town had
surrendered due to a lack of ammunition and training. On the 29th December
Gen.Varela launched a counter attack, but were hampered by bad weather.
Before Gen.Varela could reach Teruel the fighting was all but over and
the town was in the hands of the Republicans. However the Republicans
found themselves under siege and on the 7th February the Nationalists
launched an attack led by the cavalry. On the 20th February the Nationalists
had almost surrounded the town, outflanked by Moroccan troops the Republicans
were forced to retreat leaving Teruel to the Nationalists.
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THE
BATTLE OF THE EBRO 24th July-18th November 1938
In order to relieve pressure on Madrid the Republic ordered an offensive
to divert Nationalist troops. Gen.Modesto with the newly formed army of
the Ebro launched an attack toward Valencia. Republican troops crossed
the river Ebro and in some areas Republican troops were able to advance
as far as 25miles into Nationalist territory. The attack eventually came
to a stop as troops began to dig in and await the Nationalist counter
attack and supplies. The Republican troops found themselves under constant
aerial bombardment and on the 30th October the Nationalists launched a
massive attack. By the 18th November the Republican had been forced back
across the Ebro.
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By Craig Palfrey
Select Bibliography
- Ken Bradley, The International
Brigades in Spain, 1936-39, Osprey, 1994.
- Chris Henry, The Ebro
1938: The Death Knell of the Republic, Oxford: Osprey, 1999.
- Patrick Turnball, The
Spanish Civil War, 1936-39, Osprey, 1990
- Anthony Beevor, The
Spanish Civil War 1936-39, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2006
- Frank Graham, The Battles
of brunette and the aragon, Frank Graham, 1999
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