Summary of Major Campaigns and Offensives
Advance of the Army of Africa: August 5-October 23, 1936. With clandestine
Italian and German help, General Franco was able to circumvent the Republican
fleet's blockade and bring his elite Army of Africa from Morocco to Andalucia
in southern Spain. There, under General Yagüe, the army began to subdue
the region, capturing cities and towns, securing a supply line and ultimately
linking the two main Nationalist regions with the bloody capture of Badajoz
on the Portuguese border. Driving toward Madrid, the Nationalists turned
aside only to relieve the besieged garrison of the Alcázar. At no
time were the Republican militias able to halt the drive, though taking
thousands of casualties in the attempt.
Siege of the Alcázar: A small Nationalist garrison under Colonel
Moscardó had withdrawn into the Fortress of the Alcázar accompanied
by their famillies and some Republican hostages. Immeditately the Republican
government sought to reduce this Nationalist enclave so close to Madrid
but despite shelling, bombings and explosive mines, the defenders were able
to hold out until relieved by a Nationalist force diverted from the drive
on Madrid. Franco was criticized for his decision to turn aside, but the
decision to rescue the brave defenders, who had endured 69 days of siege
and starvation, galvanized the Nationalist cause. The ruins of the ancient
fortress had become a Nationalist symbol.
Battle of Cape Espartel: September 29, 1936. Attempting to end the Republican
blockade of Spanish Morocco, a Nationalist naval squadron sailed from El
Ferrol, comprising two cruisers, the Almirante Cervera and the Canarias
under Captain Francisco Moreno. The cruisers surprised a number of Republican
destroyers and sank one, the Almirante Ferrándiz, and damaged
the Gravina. Nationalists took over the Strait of Gibralter and began
ferrying men from Morocco to Spain. This Nationalist supply route was maintined
until the end of the war, despite the numerical superiority of the Republican
navy.
The Battle of Madrid: October 29 - November 23, 1936. Nationalist offensive
designed to take the capital and end the war. Led by their best troops,
severely outnumbered Nationalist forces entered the Casa de Campo park and
from the start faced fanatical resistence from their poorly trained and
poorly armed foes. Casualties were heavy on both sides as the Nationalists
siezed the park and tried to force their way across the Manzanares river
into the city. Captured plans found on a dead Nationalist officer in a destroyed
Italian tankette gave the Republican Head of Armed Forces, General Miaja,
the knowledge that the main drive would be through the Casa de Campo and
into the University City and that other drives would be feints. He repositioned
his forces and the Nationalists attackers found themselves facing hastily
prepared positions and the best militia units the Republic had to offer.
Still, determined Moroccan soldiers were able to break through at times.
At one point, the communist orator, Dolores Ibarruri, known as "La
Pasionara", arrived at a breakthrough and rallied the fleeing troops.
At another time, General Miaja arrived at another breakthrough and exhorted
the fleeing militia, "Cowards! Die in your trenches! Die with your
General Miaja!" In both instances, the militia rallied and drove back
the attackers, saving Madrid. Translated to Spanish, the cry of the French
at Verdun, ¡ No Pasarán!(They shall not pass!) became
the rallying cry of the city. The arrival of the first and best International
Brigades bolstered the Republican line just at the time when the Nationalists
had achieved a major breakthrough at the University City. Fighting within
the medical clinic and lecture halls and classrooms of the complex, the
Internationals and Spanish fought the Army of Africa to a bloody standstill.
The battle was a stalemate and though house to house fighting would continue
in the slum district of the Carabanchel, Madrid stayed in Republican hands
until the end of the war.
The Battle of Villarreal: November 30 - December 5, 1936. The only Basque
offensive of the war was designed to recapture Vitoria, capital of their
southern province, ´Alava. The Basques attacked at Villarreal de ´Alava
and surrounded the town but, spotted by Nationalist planes, the Nationalists
were forewarned enough to prepare their own counteroffensive which drove
the Basques off, aided by superior artillery and air support. The Basques
retreated with heavy losses.
The Battle of the Coruña Road: December 14, 1936 - January 15, 1937.
Frustrated in their attempt to directly take Madrid, the Nationalists launched
the first of their major flanking offensives that would culminate in the
Battle of Guadalahara. The Nationalist attack, designed to cut Madrid off
from the Sierra Guadarrama and surround it from the north began with heavy
bombardments and fierce infantry advances backed by light tanks. The Nationalist
managed to sieze about ten miles of highway, and the towns of Villanueva
de la Cañada, Boadilla, Majadahonda, and Pozuelo. International Brigades
were rushed to the front as shock troops and helped stem the advance until
Spanish units could also be brought up. Republican counterattack was confused
and though causing great casualties had no effect. Republicans lost about
15,000 men. Nationalist lost about the same and gained a small amount of
territory. This battle was another frustrating stalemate for the Nationalists.
Battle of Málaga: January 17 - February 7, 1937. A combined Spanish
and Italian offensive that reduced the Republican bulge into Nationalist
lines along the Andalucian coast by taking the city of Málaga. Repulican
forces consisted of untrained militia as army reforms had not yet affected
this backwater of the war and these proved incapable and unwilling to stand
up to the tanks and aggressive troops of the Nationalists and their Italian
allies. Nationalist forces were easilly able to capture the city, whereupon
executions of suspected Republican sympathizers began that would run into
the thousands. Nationalist and Italian casualties were light, while the
Republic lost thousands, only a small portion of which were in battle. A
clear and humilitating defeat for the Republic which had many political
repercussions in their government.
Battle of the Jarama: February 6-28, 1937. In another Nationalist bid to
cut off Madrid, Nationalists attacked south of the city in the Jarama river
valley, siezed crossing points across the river and attempted to break through
to Arganda. Stubborn resistence by the International Brigades and pure luck
helped stall the offensive. Republican counteroffensive was largely inoffective
and as costly an action as attacking was for the Nationalists. The best
units of both sides, the Nationalist Army of Africa and the Repubican International
Brigades were attritioned very heavily. The result was a stalemate with
the Nationalists capturing more territory at high cost while the Republicans
prevented the severing of the Madrid-Valencia road, a vital lifeline to
the city. Republicans lost 25,000 while the Nationalists lost 20,000. Two
subsequent attacks on the 23rd of Februay and March 1st by the Nationalists
to renew the Jarama offensive were inoffective and cost the Nationalists
another 6000 casualties.
The Battle of Guadalahara: March 8-18, 1937. Italian offensive designed
to cut off Madrid from the Northeast by capturing the provincial capital
of Guadalahara. Supported by one Spanish Infantry Division, Italian units
launched a moterized offensive that smashed Republican lines. Failure to
aggressively exploit the breakthrough and bad weather, which confined attacking
force to roads, allowed Republicans to build up and stop the drive. Republican
counterattack recaptured some territory and routed the bulk of the Italian
forces while Republican aircraft, flying from fields unhampered by bad weather,
hammered the fleeing Italians from the air. Republican losses were about
2000 killed, and 4000 wounded. Italians lost 2000 killed, 4000 wounded and
400 captured. They also lost large amounts of equipment, trucks, artillery
and tanks, some of which was captured by the Republic. Though technically
a draw, based on the poor performance of the Italians and the sucessful
Republican counterattack, Guadalahara was seen as a clear Republican victory.
The Basque Campaign: March 31 - June 19, 1937. Nationalist offensive of
the Army of the North to conquer and sieze Basque territories and industry.
Supported by Italian troops, Italian Expeditionary Force and German Condor
Legion aircraft, tanks, and an abundance of artillery, Navarrese Carlists
of the Army of the North attacked poorly equipped Basques. Bad weather delayed
offensive after initial gains but despite stubborn resistence, Basques were
beaten and their capital, Bilbao, was taken. Nationalists captured their
first industrial region when Basques refused to follow scorched earth policy
that would leave their people destitute. Terror bombings of Guernica and
Durango occured during this campain. Basques and allies suffered more than
30,000 casualties of which about a third were fatalities. Nationalists suffered
about the same with approximately 4000 being killed.
Segovia Offensive: May 30 - June 3, 1937. Divirsionary attack to relieve
pressure on Basque front, Republican forces broke through Nationalist lines
at San Ildefonso, reaching as far as La Granja before Nationalist counterthrust
retook all of lost territory. Offensive delayed conquest of Basque provinces
by only two weeks as Nationalists were forced to divert aircraft for counterattack.
Republicans lost 1460 men (inc 360 Franco-Belgians from Commune de Paris
Battalion). Nationalists lost 1100 men.
Huesca Offensive: June 13-18, 1937. Second offensive designed to divert
Nationalist forces from Basque front, International and anarchist troops
lauched attack in Aragon, supported by armour deployed piecemeal. Attack
was torn up by artillery and Republicans retired with 10,000 casualties
and nothing to show for it. The Basque capital fell the next day.
The Battle of Brunette: July 6-25, 1937. Republican offensive designed to
cut off units threatening Madrid through an offensive in the Estremadura
region aimed at capturing the town of Brunette. Though well planned, command
and supply problems manifested themselves at once and Republican insistence
on reducing stubborn pockets of resistence rather than bypassing them allowed
Nationalists to bring up reserves and counterattack. After counterattack,
Republic retained conquests of Quijorna, Villanueva de la Cañada,
Villanueva del Pardillo, and fifty square kilometers of territory. Republican
losses amounted to 25,000 casualties, over a hundred tanks (80% of the armoured
force), about 100 planes and a tremendous number of artillery and equipment.
The Nationalists lost 10,000 men and 23 planes. Other losses are unspecified.
Though Republicans claimed Brunette as a victory, the high losses of men
and materiel for insignificant gains marked it as a clear setback for the
Republic.
Santander Campaign: August 14-27, 1937. Continuing with their northern drive,
Nationalists fought their way into the Northern Castillian region of Santander,
defeating the Santandaristas and their disillusioned Basque allies, now
homeless. Italian groundtroop participation, which had been minimal against
the Basques, was more pronounced and helped secure a quick Nationalist victory.
60,000 Republican prisoners were captured along with their materiel. A good
number of these went on to join the Nationalist army.
Republican Aragón Offensive: August 24-September 27, 1937. Intended
as another Republican showpiece, Republicans launched a full scale attack
with some their best units designed to finally capture the main rail junction
of Saragossa and secure all of Aragón for the Republic. Again, stubborn
heroic Nationalist stands at places like Belchite preoccupied Republican
attentions, allowing the Nationalists to build up countermeasures. Disastrous
attack by Republican armour at Fuentes del Ebro again cost the Republic
many precious tanks, including many new BT-5's. Stubborn and capable in
defence, the Republic had still not managed to undertake a succesful offensive.
Asturias Campaign: September 1-October 21, 1937. Final phase of Nationalist
campaigns designed at the conquest of the Northern Republican territory
that had begun with the reduction of the Basques. Though initially able
to resist the Nationalists and Italians in bitter mountain contests, the
Asturians, and their Santandarista and Basque allies were ultimatley overwhelmed
and the Republican forces were routed. Though the bulk of Nationalist forces
were now freed for use elsewhere, large guerilla bands continued to plague
Nationalists and necessitate placing troops in this region for some months
afterward. Guerilla activity continued even after the war in some places.
Battle of Teruel: December 15, 1937-February 20, 1938. Republican offensive
designed to forstall Nationalist offensive against Madrid by reducing the
Nationalist Teruel salient which had penetrated Republican lines since the
beginning of the war. Largely fought in miserable weather and bitter freezing
cold where the climate was as much an enemy to both sides as they were to
each other. Overwhelming Republican attack against a spirited and stubborn
Nationalist defense goaded Franco into forstalling his planned Madrid offensive
and retaking Teruel after it was lost to Republicans. Bitter defense of
the Republicans failed to prevent advance of Nationalists and a Nationalist
flanking attack at Alfambra with a spectacular cavalry charge helped turn
the tide and trap the Republicans themselves in Teruel. Republicans were
able to break out only after heavy losses. Initially designed as a showcase
of Spanish endeavour, the Republicans had withheld the International Brigades
from this battle but as the situation became more critical, the Internationals
were deployed, however performing no better than other Republican troops.
Insignificant in terms of territory, this battle again resulted in devestating
manpower and materiel losses for the Republic, whose Aragón armies
were so weakened as to be unable with withstand the following Nationalist
counteroffensive into Aragón. Losses Nat - 50,000, a third due to
cold, many aircraft to crashes and cold. Republicans - 60,000
Battle of Cape Palos: March 6, 1938. Inconclusive battle when two forces
acidentally met in the Mediteranean, near Cape Palos. Nationalist cruisers
Balares, Canarias and Almirante Cervera were escorting a convoy
when happened upon by Republican cruisers, Libertad and Méndez
Núñez and five destroyers. Republican torpedoes sank the
Balares with nearly all hands, including Rear Admiral Manuel de Vierna.
The two forces then seperated and no further result was derived.
Nationalist Aragón Offensive and March to the Sea: March 9-July 19,
1938. Capitalizing on the weak state of the Republican Aragón armies
after Teruel, the Nationalists and Italians launched a motarized offensive
backed heavilly by German and Italian air and well supported by Italian
artillery. The depleted Republican forces were utterly routed and the Nationalists
were able to march to the sea, cutting the Republican territory in two,
crushing anything in their path. Widening the breach, Italians and Spanish
Navarrese troops attempting to take Valencia ran up into well prepared,
albeit untried, divisions unaffected by the Aragón collapse. In this
defensive battle, the Nationalists lost 20,000 men and were halted short
of Valencia, partly because of the Republican defense and partly because
of the new Republican offensive across the Ebro. Other than for the defense
of the territory before Valencia, this campaign marked a clear Republican
disaster and, unless France intervened, heralded the beginning of the end
for the Republic.
Battle of the Ebro: July 24-November 16, 1938. Growing impatience with German
and Italian violation of non-intervention agreements convinced France to
reopen her border with Republican Spain for a brief time. Until forced by
the British, who were afraid of starting a new European war in Spain, to
reclose the border, masses of waiting arms shipped by the Soviet Union,
France and other nations were allowed to pour across. This enabled the Republicans
to resupply the army devestated by the failure at Teruel. Instead of adopting
a defensive position, the Republic planned a new offensive designed at relinking
the two sundered Republican areas and prolonging the war until a general
European conflict should force France and England to come to the Republic's
aid. Accordingly, Republican commandos swam across the Ebro river at midnight
and secured bridgeheads across to which were built several pontoon bridges
during the night. Other than a failed assault by French Internationals in
the south, the maneuver was successful and Republican troops crossed to
engage the surprised Moroccans of the 50th Division. The 50th disintegrated,
4000 of its men captured and the rest dead or reeling backwards in confusion.
Nationalist General Yagüe, who had nearly been captured, ordered the
13th Division to make a desperate forced march to meet the Republican tide
at the town of Gandesa. Concentrating most of their armour and artillery,
the Republicans failed to shake the hold of the 13th. Rather, forced by
the Nationalist reaction, the Republicans determined to hold on by sheer
determination, more for propoganda than tactical reasons. Nationalists,
having the advantage of air and artillery superiority hammered away at Republican
positions, forcing their way back to the Ebro at an incredibly slow pace.
The Republicans adopted a stand and die attitude, ordering sergeants to
shoot any officers who ordered retreat. By such sacrifices, it took the
Nationalists well over three months to reconquer what the Republicans had
taken in two days. But the cost to the Republic had been devestating. The
Republicans lost 70,000 men, 200 aircraft and most of their materiel. Nationalists
casualties amounted to 23,000 men.
Catalonian Campaign: December 23, 1938-February 9,.1939. Final major Nationalist
offensive of the war, Nationalists armies overwhelmed tired Republican units
who only made a few meaningful stands. Hordes of refugees poured into France.
Nationalists captured Barcelona, then all of Catalonia, sealing the French
frontier.
Casado Coup: March 4-12, 1939. The last major fighting of the war occured
soley between units of the Republican army when General Casado, commanding
units in Madrid, attempted to oust the communists, who wanted to prolong
the war until the bitter end. Casado, who wrongly believed the Nationalist
command would give better terms of surrender to a fellow army officer, arrested
or outsted several communist leaders. When Casado made his move to take
over Madrid, Communist divisions left their lines and began to fight their
way back into the city. The coup appeared failed when the anarchists of
General Mera's 4th Army Corps came to the rescue, engaging the communist
troops in street battles and forcing them back out of Madrid. The communists,
by now highly unpopular in the army, were ousted from the Republican political
scene and their influence was ended. Casado failed to secure any terms better
than unconditional surrender, but did manage to bring the war to a close
by April, stopping any further slaughter on the battlefield, though the
pogroms of retribution would still go on.