SCW1 Dawn's Arising


Larache, Spanish Morocco, July 18, 1936. Army officers deciding to rebel against the liberal government in Madrid rose at 2:00 a.m. However, not all officers chose to join the insurrection and bitter fighting soon ensued between the rebel garrison and asaltos, aided by the trade union members, who turned out to support the goverment.

Aftermath: By dawn, the rebels had won and all their opponents had been either shot or arrested - a pattern that would be repeated throughout Spanish Morocco, and soon, throughout Spain.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Tercio de Extranjeros (Spanish Foreign Legion), El Ejército de Africa (Army of Africa) garrison at Larache (and perhaps of the Regulares de Larache). (4-5-8's +suppt. weapons, French MMG and LMG, good leaders)

Republican: Asaltos and Milicianos de Larache. (4-5-7's & 3-3-7's, few leaders)

Terrain:

SSR:
1. Militia is fanatic.
2. No TPBF for Militia.

Victory Conditions: Nationalists are attackers. Must clear board of Republicans. Anything else is a phyrric Republican victory.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 184.
2. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 75.

This confilict represents many of the uprisings that occured in Spanish Morocco and Spain. It is remarkable only in that the Republican supporters were able to put up much of a fight, principally because the assault guards decided to, in this case, support the government.

SCW2 ¡Visca la República!

Barcelona, Catalonia, July 19, 1936. Supporting the rebellion, General Fernández Burriel ordered troops out of their scattered barracks to converge in columns on the Plaça de Catalunya. However, anarchist supporters ambushed some of the columns and the Assault Guards declared their loyalty to the goverment. A depleted rebel force assembled in the plaza, only to be met by repeated attacks by assault guards and armed civilians firing behind barricades.

Aftermath: After a day's fighting, bodies of men and horses littered the plaza. The fighting seemed a stalemate when a large troop of Civil Guards arrived. The Guardia Civil were considered the traditional enemies of the common man and the direction this force chose could decide the battle. The green uniformed Guardia in their tricornered hats raised clenched fists in the Republican salute. They had declared for the Republic and proceeded to help clear the square of rebel troops.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the 4. a División (Barcelona) (mix of 4-5-7's & 3-4-7's, good quality leaders, French machine guns (HMG?), horse drawn artillary), French 75's

Republican: Asaltos de Barcelona. P.O.U.M. Milicianos and armed civilians. (4-5-7's & 3-3-7's, a fair quantity of leaders, barricades, a hero, partisans to represent armed civilians)
Reinforcements: 19. o Tercio de Guardia Civil (4-5-7's).

Terrain: Urban city

SSR's:
1. Civilians are fanatic.
2. Nationalist troops are lax.

Victory Conditions: Republicans are attackers.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp.197-200.
2. Blood of Spain, Ronald Fraser, pp. 62-64, 65-69.
3. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 186.

Both in Barcelona and Madrid, the successful attempts by the population in aquireing arms, often in spite of the goverment's attempts to keep arms under key, not trusting the radical trade unions, kept these cities out of the hands of the Nationalists. Had the government been succesful, Barcelona might have gone to the rebels. One ironic point is that had the government been less reluctant to arm the civilians right away, the rebellion would have probably been stopped in many places before it had time to gather impetus.
The troops of the 4th Division had not been told of the uprising, since their officers rightly did not trust their sympathies (eg. Most NCO's favored the government). They were told that they were being marched out to celebrate the Popular Olympics, being held in Barcelona to protest the current Olympics taking place in facist Germany. Understandably, they were unenthusiastic fighters.
The hero represents an unnamed civilian who threw himself on a firing machine gun barrel, absorbing the firepower with his body, thus allowing the civilian mob to overwhelm the machine gun and crew.
I have used Catalan words when possible, instead of Spanish since Barcelona is in Catalonia.
One of the insurgent units was the Santiago Cavalry regiment, destroyed by the loyalists.

SCW3 Arriba España!

Corunna, Spain, July 20, 1936. Though General Salcedo, commanding the 8th Division decided to remain loyal, he was arrested and supplanted by the chief rebel conspirator, Colonel Martin Alonso. Alonso then ordered the troops out to clear the streets of left wing militia who had themselves arisen to support the government. The rebel troops cleared the town center in a few hours, but as they entered the working class district, they found things an entirely different matter.

Aftermath: The battle raged for two days, the milita being reinforced by a column of miners from Lousame. In the end however, the better equipped soldiers won the day, though the loyalists were able to withdraw in good order to Gijón.


Suggestions of Forces:

Nationalists: Elements of the (? 5. a Brigada?), 8. a División (Corunna) (3-5-7's, 4-5-7's, good officers, French machine guns , French 75mm artillery)

Republicans: Milicianos de Corunna (militia, few leaders, dinaminteros, 1 hero), French LMG

Terrain:

SSR:
1. Republican starting forces are fanatic.

Victory Conditions: Nationalists are attackers.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 213-214.
2. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 517.

The trade union militia forces are considered fanatic, as per militia rules, since they are defending their homes. The miners and dinaminteros, arriving as reinforcements,would not be as stalwart in the face of the regular army troops.
The hero represents a leader of the miners, named Jiménez, who was known as a tireless fighter. He could be represented instead, by a superiour leader counter, but I was not sure if the actual Jiménez had enough tactical ability beyond fire and charisma to justify this.
General Salcedo and the other loyalists were later shot for "rebellion", a rather ironic charge that was usually used against captured fellow military personel who chose to remain loyal.

SCW4 Anarchist Fist

Guadalajara, Spain, July 22, 1936. After taking rebel held Alcalá de Henares, a Republican convoy consisting of Anarchist militia, Assault and Civil Guards deployed itself on a bridge over the Henares River leading into Guadalajara. As the troops approached the bridge, a Nationalist machine gun opened up and cut many down. More later died when a Republican plane attacked the militia forces, mistaking them for rebels. Evenso, when the anarchists prepared themselves for another suicidal charge for the bridge, the army colonel in charge, having no authourity over militia, begged them to hold off until reinforcements came. While they were arguing the point, more troops arrived from Madrid.

Aftermath: Reinforced, a group of Republicans travelled downstream from the bridge and forded across, entering the town from an unguarded point. Darting from house to house, they found and silenced the machine gun, after which the rest of the troops rushed across the bridge, routing the rebel Nationalists in the street fighting that followed.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Requetés (4-4-7's), French heavy machine gun.

Republican: Elements of the Columna Rosal, POUM milicianos (3-3-7's), 9-0 leader, 9-1 or 2 leader (regular army, considered allied leader), trucks.

Terrain: bridge, river, town.

SSR:
1. Republican airstrike which may strike Republican troops as well.
Requetés are fanatic.

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. Miracle of November, Dan Kurzman, pp. 109-110.
2. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, p. 53.
3. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 22.

SCW5 On A Roll

Atienza, Spain, July 23, 1936. After taking Guadalajara and then crushing rebel troops and sympathizers in Sigüenza, an Anarchist column, hearing that rebels from Navarre had just taken Atienza headed for that town. With every stop a victory, they were on a roll and felt that they would easilly kill the rebels there too.

Aftermath: The milicianos assaulted the village, shooting and throwing grenades. The fighting amongst the buildings and alleys continued for hours. When the Anarchist leader, Hippolyte Etchebéhère, was gunned down, the militia withdrew, dragging their slain leader with them.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the 12. a Brigada Montaña (4-5-7's), Navarrese Requetés (4-4-7's), leader(s), field chaplin, (trucks?).

Republican: POUM militia (3-3-7's), (8-1) leader.

Terrain: village.

SSR:
1. If Republican leader is slain, all friendly units withing LOS must take MC.
Republican leader must remain within LOS of enemy units (expose himself to danger, lead men firstmost)

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. Miracle of November, Dan Kurzman, pp. 110-112.
2. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, p. 53.

Militia leaders had to show machismo to be able to lead their troops, exposing themselves to danger and taking the forefront place in battle. Obviously, many died.

SCW6 Hope Eternal

Caspe Spain, July 25, 1936.

This is the scenario featured in Walker File #2. Recommended changes from a historical perspective are as follows:

1. Relable sides - Durruti's Army of Aragon (Columna Durruti) was a Republican force composed of Anarchist militias. Captain Negrete the Guardia Civil commander had declared for the rebels (Nationalists).
2. As low as they are, counter values for the Army of Aragon should probably be lower. The early militias were a pretty poor lot.
3. Reference Thomas, pp. 271-272.

SCW7 Head `em off at the Pass

Guadarrama, Spain, July 23, 1936. At the beginning of the war, two columns set out to capture the strategic Alto de León Pass through the Guadarrama mountains. A Nationalist column from Valladolid consisting of falange militia and rebel troops siezed the pass while a Republican column from Madrid set out in trucks to take it back. As the Republican troops gathered in Guadarrama, below the mountains, a Nationalist artillery barrage wreaked havoc on the militia, whose men accused their regular army officers of leading them into a trap. Taking off in trucks, the milicianos raced for the pass, but when the first truck overturned, blocking the road, the militias and loyal troops disembarked and crawled their way up to the summit under heavy fire. Whoever controlled the pass would hold a gateway through the mountains to the capital, Madrid.

Aftermath: With little coordination between the unruly militias and loyal soldiers, progress was slow. The first troops on the Republican side to gain the summit were Civil Guards, but these turned around and fired on their former comrades, yelling "Arriba España," the rebel cry. In spite of these setbacks, the milicianos inched their way ahead and in the bitter contest, enemy prisoners and wounded were slaughtered by both sides. Even though Republican forces were far more numerous and had more air support, loyalist troops and officers found themselves hampered by the independent minded milicianos and the Republicans were forced to retreat, taking heavy casualties. Fighting raged on for several days with Madrid bringing in many reinforcements while the Nationalists doggedly held on, despite critical ammunition shortages and air attacks. Finally, the Nationalists routed the Republicans and the plains before Madrid lay open to them. But as supplies were short, they were halted only three more miles down the road. Here they would be held for almost two more years.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the 7. a División (7th Division Valladolid) (3-4-7's), 1. o Batallón, Regimiento de San Quintín and Bandera "Girón" de Falange Española de Valladolid (Falange) (3-4-7's), Guardia Civil (4-5-7's), possibility of scarce air support (strafing), 13. o Regimiento ligero de Artillería (battalion of field artillery, 75mm, maybe one 155mm, scarce ammunition.)

Republicans: Elements of the 1. o (Infantry) Regimiento, 1. a División (Madrid) (4-5-7's), (? Elements of 3. a División Valencia (3-5-7's)), Milicianos de Madrid (3-3-7's), more air support, artillery, inc a battery of 155mm, light French tanks, armoured cars, trucks.

Terrain: mountain pass, dense pines, overcast

SSR's:
1. Militia is fanatic
2. No quarter in effect for both sides.

Victory Conditions: Nationalists are attackers. They must clear the pass.

Notes:

1. Miracle of November, Dan Kurzman, pp. 106-109.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 264, 268-269.
3. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, pp. 47-48, 53-54.
4. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 518.
5. Historia Militar de la Guerra de España., Volume One, Manuel Aznar, pp. 144, 198-210.

This is considered the first actual battle in the civil war in the sense that Spain had been divided now into Insurrectionist and Loyalist zones, or what would eventually become known as Nationalist and Republican Spain. The Battle of Alto de León is the first battle between the two Spains, conflicts before being mostly rebellions and reactions to such.
The Republican commander, Colonel Castillo, a regular army officer and his son were later executed for suspected treason, though this was probably undeserved. Though a large number of troops still supported the Republic, army staff were not trusted on account of the rebellion and many units were later broken up and their troops distributed haphazerdly amongst militia units where their experience and training was extremely diluted. Republican Spain looked more and more to her popular militias to save the day, and more and more, they were unequal to the task.
The 1st Division is probably better known for having rebelled against the Republic at the Montaña barracks and having been overwhelmed and slaughtered by the populace of Madrid. However, that action only represented a portion of the 1st and other elements were induced or pleaded with to remain loyal. Even at the Montaña barracks, a number of the common soldiers and N.C.O.'s were loyal to the Republic but had no chance to join the Loyalists, being caught up in events that moved faster than they could. In the savagery of the takeover, these loyal troops were killed along with those of a truer rebellious mindframe.

SCW8 A Day on the Job

Guadarrama Mountains, Spain, July 25, 1936. The Somosierra Pass in the Sierra de Guadarrama had changed hands several times. Ferried on buses and trains by day to the battle with packed lunches, the survivors returning home to Madrid at night, the battle became a daily work routine of combat and stalemate for the loyalists. On July 21st, Republican troops had retaken the pass in a wild charge, throwing back a Nationalist counterattack with heavy losses. Frustrated in his attempt to capture Guadalajara, the Nationalist Colonel Garcia-Escámez was rerouted to the pass and ordered to lead his regular army troops, bolstered by Navareese Requetés and Falange volunteers to retake it from the Republic. If the pass could be taken, the stalemate at Alto de León would be broken and Madrid would fall.

Aftermath: Though Republican planes controlled the sky and straffed the rebels, Nationalist artillery shredded the ranks of the Madrilieños. As the Nationalists undertook suicidal frontal charges, one of their companies infiltrated to the rear and the Republicans found themselves surrounded. They were able to break out of the trap, taking heavy losses, but they had lost the pass for the last time. However, after having advanced only eight more miles, the Nationalists halted, their ammunition exhausted, and Garcia-Escámez was forced to stop fighting. By the time supplies could be brought up, the Republicans had restabilized their lines. Though the fighting would continue, the Nationalists would be held until the end of the war.

Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the 12. a Brigada Montaña (4-5-7's), Elements of the Regimiento de América (Carlist Requetés) (4-4-7's), Falangists (3-4-7's), two battalions of field artillery, field chaplin (9-0), some good leaders. (Elements of the 6. a División)

Republican: Elements of the "5. o Regimiento" (4-4-7's), Elements of the Batallón de Francisco Galán - Milicianos de Madrid (3-3-7's), few leaders, air support, artillery (23 pieces inc. 4 155mm Schneiders, 75mm, and 105mm), armoured cars.

Terrain: mountain pass, pines, gentle northern slope to pass, marked descent thereafter.

SSR's:
1. Militia is fanatic
2. Requetés are fanatic.
3. No quarter in effect for both sides.

Victory Conditions: Nationalist is attacker. Must clear pass.


Notes:

1. Miracle of November, Dan Kurzman, pp. 112-113.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp.268-269, 312-313.
3. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, pp. 53-54.
4. Historia Militar de la Guerra de España., Volume One, Manuel Aznar, pp. 192-197.
5. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 518.

Though the battle at Alto de Leon is considered the first battle, this Battle of Somasierra Pass was more sustained and seemed to be more important to either side. Most descriptions of action in the Guadarrama mountains refer to the Somasierra.
I have not used loyalist troops in this scenario outline because, even though they were probably present, no source I have lists them as being used in regular formations. Rather, many common soldiers were believed to have deserted the army and joined their neighborhood militias.
The 5th Regiment was a communist organized militia, that was admired for its organization and professionalism, unlike other militias. It was called the 5th regiment because there had been four regiments stationed in Madrid, and the 5th regiment was trying to link itself to a military structure. This militia did have commissars but they engaged in political indoctrination and did not as yet come to be used in the more ruthless sense of the A.S.L. game piece.

SCW9 Shining Lights

Saragossa, Spain, Early August, 1936. Because of Republican tardiness in reacting the rebellion, Saragossa, a major rail and industry center and a strongpoint for Republican sympathy fell instead to the Nationalists. Intending to recapture the city, Republican forces under the Anarchist, Buenaventura Durruti, advanced, ruducing all Nationalist towns and villages along the way. Senseing the danger, Nationalist General Mola sent General Carbanellas and units of Navarrese requetés to bolster the line. Split into two columns, the Republicans assaulted the city.

Aftermath: With a capable professional officer organizing the city's defenses, the disorganized milita were unable to make headway and were pushed back to the city's edge. There they would stay for eighteen more months, the lights of Saragossa beckoningly near.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Army of the North, requetés (4-4-7's), Elements of Regimiento número 18 (falange) (3-4-7), Guardia Civil (4-5-7), French Schneider 75mm artillery, renault tanks.

Republican: Elements of the Columna Durruti, Army of Aragón, milicanos (3-3-7), Loyal troops, Assault Guards and Civil Guards(3-4-7, & 4-5-7) (less of the good number), 75mm artillery.

Terrain:

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, pp. 49-50, 518-519.
2. Historia Militar de la Guerra de España., Volume One, Manuel Aznar, pp. 244-248.

The Nationalists numbered about 10,000 (inc. 2000 Carlists); the Republicans about 20,000 (inc about 2000 regular soldiers)

SCW10 Welcome Home

Mérida, Spain, August 11, 1936. The Army of Africa had taken the town the day before in a stiff fight centering on a bridge over the Guadiana river at Almendralejo. After executing Republican sympathizers, the Army hastilly headed off for Badajoz, leaving one bandera of the Spanish Foreign Legion, and one tabor of Moorish troops to act as a garrison. The next day, the garrison troops found themselves under attack by the remnants of the Mérida militia returning to retake the town, reinforced by 2000 reinforcements from Madrid.

Aftermath: Unlike the militia that they had bested the day before, the troops sent by Madrid were well trained assault guards and guardia civil. These and the militia stormed the town between the railroad and the river, only to be repulsed by machine guns and deadly fire from the cool garrison troops. Unable to retake Mérida, Badajoz was doomed.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of Columna Tella, Elements of the 1. a Bandera de Tercio de Extranjeros, Ejército de Africa (4-5-8's), and Regulares (4-5-8's), machine guns, field artillery (75mm ?).

Republican: Asaltos and Guardia Civil (4-5-7's), Milicianos de Mérida (3-3-7's), 105mm guns.

Terrain:

SSR
1. Militia is fanatic

Victory Conditions: Republican is attacker. Must establish foothold in town.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 318.
2. The Battle for Madrid, George Hills, p. 62.
3. The Spanish Foreign Legion, John Scurr, p. 22.
4. Italian Intervention in the Spanish Civil War, John Coverdale, p. 519.
5. Historia Militar de la Guerra de España., Volume One, Manuel Aznar, pp. 176-178.

Again, this scenario demonstrates the Republics inability to meet the elite Army of Africa in the field and stop it.
Militia Forces numbered 8000.

SCW11 Bridegrooms of Death

Badajoz, Spain, August 14, 1936. Badajoz was the last town under Republican control on the Portuguese frontier. To sieze it would link the northern and southern rebel territories, allowing supplies to be ferried to General Mola's ammunition short Army of the North. As an entire morning of artillery barages lifted on the old walled town, following an armoured car, a bandera of the Tercio stormed the Puerta de la Trinidad with fixed bayonets, singing their battle hymn, that death was their bride. The Republican machine guns guarding the gate immediately opened up.

Aftermath: Advancing 11 yards over a dried up river bed, the Legionaires suffered over a hundred killed outright in twenty seconds. The armoured car drew considerable grenade attacks, which created a smokescreen that aided in the advance of the surviving legionaires, while two machine guns of the 12th company were installed behind a barricade of corpses, giving the advancing 16th some covering fire. With grenades and bayonets, only sixteen men ultimately reached the gate, which they bravely assaulted, wiping out the post. Farther up, engineers dynamited another gate. As Tercio and Regulares poured through, fighting erupted in the streets and homes. By night, Badajoz was taken; 1800 Republican prisoners were executed in the bullring while thousands of others were dead in the streets.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: 16. a Compañia, 4. a Bandera de Tercio de Extranjeros, Ejército de Africa, armoured car, Legionaires. (4-5-8's), hero, good leaders
Reinforcements turn 2, two machine guns of the 12th Co. 4th Bandera.

Republican: Elements of the Ejército de Estremadura (3-3-7's, 4-5-7's). machine guns, mortars.

Terrain: gap of 11 yards, advance over dried up river bed, wall.

SSR
1. Both militia and Tercio are fanatic.

Victory Conditions: Nationalist attacker must have good order unit in possesion of the gate.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Foreign Legion, John Scurr, pp. 22-23.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp.318-319.
3. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, pp. 132-139.
4. A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War, Gabriel Jackson, p. 54
5. Historia Militar de la Guerra de España., Volume One, Manuel Aznar, pp. 178-179.
6. Italian Intervention in the Spanish Civil War, John Coverdale, p. 519.

Badajoz was called a city of corpses. The famous picture of corpses in the bullring and the frank accounts by Portuguese journalists supposedly sympathetic to the Nationalists shocked the world and helped galvanize Madrid. Ultimately, news of the aftermath of this defeat stiffened resistence in Madrid, where the populace feared a reprise of Badajoz.

SCW12 To the Last

Gijón, Spain, August 16, 1936. Colonel Pinella and his troops had been under siege in the Simancas barracks since their failed coup attempt in July. The miners besieging them lacked weapons. They lacked supplies, especially water. The Austurian miners finally stormed the barracks, armed only with dynamite, determinted to force the issue, one way or another. Pinella told his troops there would be no surrender.

Aftermath: As the miners fought their way into the compound, Colonel Pinella radioed to the Nationalist cruiser offshore, the Almirante Cervera to open fire and destroy the barracks. After confirming the order, the cruiser fired several volleys, killing the besieged and besiegers together.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Regimiento Simancas, Guardia Civil de Gijón and Falange (3-4-7's, 4-5-7's). Last turn receive one naval barrage.

Republicans: Milicianos de Gijón (dinaminteros), militia, few leaders.

Terrain:

SSR:
1. All forces for both sides fanatic.

Victory Conditions: Republicans are attackers. Must take and hold barracks. If naval barrage removes last Republican unit, Nationalist wins Phyrric victory.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 200, 327-328.
2. Italian Intervention in the Spanish Civil War, John Coverdale, p. 520.
3. Historia Militar de la Guerra de España., Volume One, Manuel Aznar, pp. 413-417.

SCW13 Return of the Moors

Córdoba, Spain, August 20, 1936. A large Militia army under a loyal army officer, General Miaja, hurried on, eager to wrest Córdoba from the hands of the Nationalists that had siezed it during the revolt. The Andalucian militia carried the battle to the gates of the city, which would soon fall, or so they thought.

Aftermath: Hearing of the attack, the Nationalists called off their own planned offensive on Málaga and hurried a tabor of Moors under General Varela to save Córdoba, onetime capital of the Moorish kingdom of Andalusia. Varela's smaller professional force arrived in time and swept back the militia, who routed in a panicked retreat.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Seville Garrison, Falangists (3-4-7's) and few Tercio (prob 5. a Bandera de Tercio de Extranjeros) (4-5-8's), support weapons.
Arriving as reinforcements: Elements of the 1. o Tabor de Grupo de Regulares de Ceuta, núm. 3. (Regulares of the Army of Africa, 4-5-8's), trucks.

Republican: Elements of the Ejército de Andalucia, milicianos (3-3-7's)

Terrain:

SSR's:

Victory Conditions: Republicans are initial attackers. Must seize objective and hold vs. Nationalist counterattack.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p.325
2. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 519.
3. Historia Militar de la Guerra de España., Volume One, Manuel Aznar, pp. 164-168.

Militia numbered 2000. Nationalist had a tabor of Moors and others.

SCW14 An Easy Kill

Irún, Basque Provinces, August 26th, 1936. Nationalist General Mola ordered Colonel Beorleguí to take the resort town of San Sebastian and nearby Irún, thus cutting the Basque provinces off from France. South of Irún, on the Puntza ridge, the Nationalist forces, including a newly arrived bandera of the Tercio, assaulted the ridge after a heavy bombardment. Supported by artillery, of which the enemy had none, tanks, and Italian planes, the Nationalists were confident. It would be an easy victory. They had all been easy thus far.

Aftermath: The rebels advanced, taking heavy casualties yet they cleared the ridge as expected, only to be driven off in hand to hand combat as the Basques and their allies counterattacked. The ridge would change hands three more times until finally falling to the Nationalists on September 2nd, after a week of fighting.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Army of the North, 2. a Bandera Tercio de Extranjeros (4-5-8's), Elements of the 4. a del Tercio de Montejurra (Requetes , 4-4-7's), Guardia Civil (4-5-7's), Elements of the Regimiento de América (Falange, 3-4-7's), 155 mm artillery, 105mm,3 batteries of 75mm, machine guns, mortars, air support, radios, Panzer 1's , field chaplin (10+1)

Republican: Elements of the Basque Army (3-4-7's), Asturian and Anarchist milicianos (3-3-7's), French and Belgian specialists of the volunteer Paris Battallion (4-5-7's), dinaminteros, barbed wire, 3 lines of trenches, french machine guns.

Terrain: Hill

SSR's:
1. Basques are fanatic.
2. There is a victory point penalty to the Nationalist player should artillery land on a restricted area and offboard direction (France) of the board.

Victory Conditions: Nationalists are attackers and must clear ridge and hold it in face of counterattack. Victory points awarded for destroyed units and holding objectives.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp.321-324.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, pp.97-99.
3. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 518, 520.
4. The Spanish Foreign Legion, John Scurr, p. 23.
5. Historia Militar de la Guerra de España., Volume One, Manuel Aznar, pp. 222-225.

There were 2000 attacking Nationalists at the battle versus 3000 defending Basques and allies.
This engagement ended the notion that untrained workers were incapable of fighting or holding given a defensible position. Of course, the Basque did not show disdain in the use of trenches as did their Spanish militia counterparts.
A reason for the artillery overlap penalty is that the Nationalist commanders were very fearful of any combat spilling over into neutral France, inviting the French to reply militarily or more likely, by sending supplies to help the Republic.
The Franco-Belgian volunteers manned the machine guns and were a tough lot, mostly communists recruited by the Andre Marty and were the forerunner of the International Brigades. The radios on the Nationalist side reflect the support given by German communication specialists of the Condor Legion.
The breakdown of Nationalist forces in the area are as follows: 30% Spanish Foreign Legion, 25% Requetes, 25% Guardia Civil & Carbineros, 20% Falange. (Proctor maintains that Nationalist troops were primarilly Falange and Requetés)
Beevor states that the tanks were German and that Condor Legion planes flew as support; unlikely given that the German Panzer Battalion was not formed until October and that the Condor Legion, as such, did not begin arriving until Novemer.
This engagement also featured in Walker File #2 as The Basques' Connection.

SCW15 The Convent

Irún, Basque Provinces, September 2, 1936. The campaign to isolate the Basque provinces was coming to a close, but the fighting had been fierce. Navarese Requetés of Colonel Beorleguí's army stormed a hill upon which stood the Convent of San Marcial, overlooking Irún. They were eager to enter the town and only a handful of men stood in their way.

Aftermath: The convent's defenders were Austurian miners and dinaminteros, tough men who held out against the assaulting Requetés until their ammunition ran out, finally hurling rocks. The following day, Irun would fall, its defenders fleeing across the Bidasoa river to France. Colonel Beorleguí would be killed in the burned and ruined town, just before realizing his victory.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Army of the North, Elements of the Tercio de Lácar (Requetés, 4-4-7's), few good leaders, artillery, Panzer 1's.

Republican: Very small group of Austurian Milicianos (3-3-7's) and dinaminteros., few leaders at all

Terrain: Convent on a hill, windy

SSR:
1. Republicans are fanatic

Victory Conditions: Nationalists attack and must clear out convent without taking too many casualties.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p.322.

The use of a field chaplin is optional. I found no evidence of a priest being present with these Requetés, but then there is nothing to say one wasn't and it does give a sort of poetic feel to the Carlist player, liberating a holy convent and all that.

SCW16 A Day at the Beach

Porto Cristo, Majorca, September 3, 1936. After having recaptured Ibizia for the Republic, a mixed militia force from Calalonia and Valencia had landed on the eastern side of the Balaeric island of Majorca. Flushed at their own success, the invasion force did not venture inland and lost precious time consolidating, allowing Nationalist troops from Africa to arrive for a counteroffensive.

Aftermath: The Nationalists, supported by Italian aircraft, pushed the invaders to the sea, littering the beaches with corpses. The Catalonians abandoned most of their heavy equipment and disembarked, leaving the Nationalists to hold Majorca.


Suggestion of forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Spanish Foreign Legion or more likely, Falange volunteers, Army of Africa (4-5-8's or 3-4-7's), Italian air support.

Republicans: Elements of the Catalan Expeditionary Force (3-3-7's, 4-5-7's), 75 mm & 105 mm artillery.

Terrain:

SSR's:
1. Republicans are lax.

Victory Conditions: Nationalists are the attacker.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 325-327.
2. Italian Intervention in the Spanish Civil War, John Coverdale, pp. 127-138.
3. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, pp. 519-520.
4. Historia Militar de la Guerra de España., Volume One, Manuel Aznar, pp. 263-267.

Notes: Thomas' contention that Nationalist troops were Tercio from Africa is unsupported by other writers.

SCW17 Another Try

Talavera de la Reina, Spain, September 8, 1936. With the Army of Africa closing in on Madrid, the Republican militia army determined to make a stand at Talavera de la Reina, the last major town on the road to the Capital. The militia made their stand on a hill before the town, covered by artillery and again disdaining the use of trenches. The dawn attack by the Army of Africa took the aerodrome and railway station first. Flanking the militias, the Republicans were routed and the Army of Africa cleared the town by degrees. The militias fled, abandoning the town and much artillery. The retreating militias were met by reinforcements from Madrid, including light tanks, armoured trains and promised air support. Thus bolstered, the militias gave it another try.

Aftermath: Flinging themselves in unimaginative frontal assaults, the militas were decimated. The Foreign Legion and Moroccan troops held the assault for four days when they were reinforced by cavalry. Flanked again, the Republicans abandoned the field, many throwing away their rifles to escape faster from the hunting Nationalists. The militia had failed and the road to Madrid lay open.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Moroccan Regulares, Ejército de Africa (4-5-8's), good leaders, artillery.
Cavalry reinforcements

Republican: Milicianos (3-3-7's), asaltos (4-5-7's), few leaders, few still good ones, French light tanks, artillery, armoured train.

Terrain: Hill

SSR:

Victory Conditions: Nationalists are the attackers. Must clear ridge without taking too many casualties.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 320.
2. Italian Intervention in the Spanish Civil War, John Coverdale, pp. 519-520.
3. Historia Militar de la Guerra de España., Volume One, Manuel Aznar, pp. 287-291.

The number of militia at the battle numbered about 10,000. The armoured train was said to have been of little worth. When the Republican Under-Secretary of War called the town to see how the battle was going, he found out in a rude way when the phone was answered by a Moroccan soldier.
Aznar maintains that the militia were in trenches, I/p. 286.

SCW18 Deadman's Ground

Toledo, Spain, September 27, 1936. Under Franco's orders, the Army of Africa veered away from the drive on Madrid in order to relieve the besieged Nationalist forces holding out in the old fortress of the Alcázar. The militia laying siege were caught offguard by the swift arrival of the Nationalists, who entered the town bent on vengeance. They would take no prisoners.

Aftermath: Though most units fled, only to be cut down on the roads by strafing aircraft, a diehard group of a few hundred made a brave stand in the cemetary where shells fell like rain and battle raged tombstone to tombstone in personal combat. The victorious Nationalist troops then moved on to the hospital where they slaughtered the doctors and the unevacuated wounded still in their beds.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Moroccan Regulares (4-5-8's), Elements of the 1. o Tabor de Tetuán or 2. o Tabor de Melilla, Ejército de Africa, good leaders, artillery.

Republican: Elements of the Batallón de Hierro, or Batallón de Toledo, Regimiento de Wad-Ras, or Regiminto de OtumbaMilicanos de Madrid (3-3-7's), asaltos (4-5-7's), few leaders, Schneider tanks of the Regimiento Naval núm 1..

Terrain: city, cemetary

SSR's:
1. Republican forces are fanatic.
2. No quarter is in effect.

Victory Condtions: Nationalist is attacker. Must clear cemetary without too many casualties.


Notes:

1. A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War, Gabriel Jackson, pp. 55-58.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 363-364.
3. Historia Militar de la Guerra de España., Volume One, Manuel Aznar, pp. 432-435.
4. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 58.
5. The Spanish Foreign Legion, John Scurr, p. 23.

Franco's motives in relieving the Alcázar are usually ascribed to his desire for a propoganda victory that would inspire his troops, and cast him in the light of savior in a Nationalist cause. Also, the value of the Toledo arms factory cannot be ignored.
Also present under Barrón was the 1st Bandera of the Tercio.

SCW19 Holdout At Oviedo

Oviedo, Spain, October 16, 1936. A small force of Falange, Civil and Assault Guards, had held onto the city of Oviedo, under siege by the Asturian militias since the uprising in July. As the miners pressed their final attack, the Nationalists retreated into the town, ready to make their last stand. In the distance, they could see the Army of the North attacking. Help had arrived, but would it be in time?

Aftermath: The miners pressed the desperate defenders to the last but could not wrest the whole town from them before the Army of the North had entered, driving them from the field only after bitter fighting which exhasted the relieving troops. The desperate Nationalist garrison had been saved.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Falange (3-4-7's), and rebel Guardia Civil and Asaltos (4-5-7's), one good leader and few others.
Relieving force to enter later: Elements of the Army of the North, NavareseRequetés (4-4-7's), Field Chaplin. few leaders.

Republicans: Austurian miners (3-4-7's), and dinaminteros, few leaders and no good ones.

Terrain: Hills, town

SSR:

Victory Conditions: Republicans are attackers. Must eliminate rebel garrison before it is relieved. Nationalist must avoid conditions.


Notes:

1. The Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939 ed. James Cortada, pp 34-35, 520-521.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 200, 392.

3000 defending Nationalists in very poor condition versus 15,000 attacking Republicans.
After the uprising, an army officer, Colonel Aranda, having convinced the local miners that he was loyal to the Republic, persuaded them to depart for Madrid to defend the capital, whereupon he declared his support for the rebels and barricaded the town against the resulting siege when the miners had found out they had been tricked into abandoning the town.
Part of the relieving force included a small unit of Moors and Tercio from the Army of Africa. These could be offered the Nationalist player as a playbalance gesture.

SCW20 Clash At Chapinería

Chapinería, Spain, October 16, 1936. A tired and beaten Republican army, bolstered by propoganda about Russian help, was convinced to try and hold the line against the advancing Army of Africa by a counterattack at Chapinería.

Aftermath: The militia broke the Nationalist lines and surrounded the town. The Nationalist commander, Major Castejón, rallied his troops and led them through the cemetary, breaking through the enemy lines, thus robbing the Republicans of their victory.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Ejército de Africa, Regulares (4-5-8's) and the 5. a Bandera de Tercio de Extranjeros (4-5-8's), good leadership.

Republican: Milicianos (4-4-7's, 3-4-7's, & 3-3-7's), leaders.

Terrain:

SSR:

Victory Conditions: Republican must contain breakout. Nationalist must exit a number of units off the board.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 392.

SCW21 Crossing The Line

Navalcarnero, Spain, October 21, 1936. As the Republican militias retreated and the battle lines began to fold around Madrid, it became apparent to Nationalist command that the determined assaults would be necessary to take the capital before rumoured Russian reinforcements could arrive on the Republican side. The hingepin to this thrust would be the daunting Republican positions at Navalcarnero, consisting of a continuous line of double trenchworks and quicky prepared pillboxes fronted by double barbed wire and the Guadarrama River. Behind this ran two other continuous defense lines, all of which would have to be breached. The task fell to Colonel Yagüe and his veteran Army of Africa troops. Aided by Italian tank troops in Legion uniform, the assault began.

Aftermath: In determined attacks along the line, the Italian tankettes breached the barbed wire while troops poured in from behind. Counterattacking Republican armoured cars and tanks were driven off by anti-tank guns and even though the Republic had a overwhelming superiority in artillery and men, the militias were still no match for the veteran Moors and Legionaires and had to give way, falling back on Madrid But, fighting all the way, the militias slowed Yagüe's advance and bought precious time for the city.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Ejército de Africa, fiat-ansaldo tanks, barbed wire, machine guns, anti-tank guns.

Republican: Militias, trenches, barbed wire, light pillboxes, Renault tanks, armoured cars, machine guns, mortars.

Terrain:

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, pp. 79-80.
2. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 521.

SCW22 One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Ilescas, Spain, October 23, 1936. Halfway between Toledo and Madrid, Ilescas had been siezed by the Nationalists three days earlier as part of a feint to distract the Republican commanders from the assault at Navalcarnero. The Republicans, believing the Nationalist ruse, launched a counterattack, determined to retake this strategic road junction and halt the Army of Africa.

Aftermath: After a heavy artillery bombardment, the Republican militias surrounded the town and began a fierce three day battle. The Nationalists brought in reinforcements of cavalry and infantry from Toledo, outflanking the Republicans and causing them to retreat farther than from where they had started.


Suggestion of Forces: Elements of the Ejército de Africa, 1. o or 2. o Tabor de Mellila, Regulares (4-5-8's) and 1. a Bandera de Tercio de Extranjeros (4-5-8's), good leaders.
Reinforcements: Moroccan Cavalry (4-5-8's), good leaders.

Republicans: Milicianos de Madrid (3-3-7's & 4-4-7's), 155mm artillery, good leaders.

Terrain:

SSR:

Victory Conditions: Militia must take town or hold favourable kill point tally.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 392-393.
2. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, p. 168.
3. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, pp. 75, 521.

Similair to an earler situtation, this time the Republican Prime Minister, Largo Caballero, called Ilescas before its fall to see where the front was and asked to speak to the commanding officer. Nationalist General Varela came to the phone.
The attempt to retake the town came as no surprise to the Nationalists, who could see the 15,000 Republican troops approaching in double decker buses across the flat terrain.

SCW23 The Russians Are Coming

Seseña, Spain, October 29, 1936. Russian aid had finally arrived. Russian tank units pushed forward in blitzkrieg fashion to punch holes in the enemy lines which the following Spanish infantry could exploit. Captain Paul Arman had lost his infantry support and, reaching his objective, the town of Seseña, he drove his unit in. Upon entering the square, he was confronted by a large cannon and soldiers just as a troop of cavalry entered the square. He drove up, thinking they might be his lost infantry support but then, realizing they were Nationalists, jumped into his tank and radioed for his troops to open fire!

Aftermath: As one tank overran the cannon, others attacked the Legionares and Regulares. It was total slaughter as the tanks rolled over men and horses. Moving on, Arman's tanks encountered Tercio troops, who managed to set several tanks on fire with improvised petrol bombs. Unsupported by infantry, the tanks had to retire, leaving behind two destroyed T-26's. As the Russians travelled back through Seseña, they were ambushed by more Nationalist troops. Firing into the buildings, the Russians buried the Nationalists in collapsing rubble but lost one more tank. It turned out that due to language problems, the infantry had attacked the wrong village and without support had been repulsed with heavy losses.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Ejército de Africa, Tercio de Extranjeros (4-5-8's), cannon, set up in town, Moroccan cavalry (4-5-8's) start scenario entering from one side, good leaders.

Republican: Russian "volunteer" tank unit, T-26's, armor leader (Arman).

Terrain: urban, narrow streets, tanks cannot turn around unless entering a building hex.

SSR:
1. Legionaires have molotov cabability.
2. Russians attacked by molotov must make morale check +1 or 2 or abandon their vehicles. See special note.

Victory Conditions: Russians must take town without too many losses.


Notes:

1. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, pp. 173-174.
2. Miracle of November, Dan Kurzman, pp. 207-209.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 134.
4. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p.401.
5. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, p. 88.

The forces consisted of 15 T-26's on the Russian side, versus 200 Tercio (Legionaires), the cannon, and a troop of Moroccan cavalry.
So critical was the situation around Madrid that some of the "advisors" were rushed to the front to engage in combat, there being no time to train Spanish crews. Intending to utilize German blitzkrieg tactics, the ill trained militias did not understand and could not keep up. Later tank crews were of mixed Russian and Spanish makeup, gradually becoming more Spanish as time went on (Similair to the experience of German Condor Legion tank units).
Captain Arman had thought the infantry in the square were his lost support. They in turn, had not heard of the arrival of the Russians and, not recognizing his leather jacket without insignia, thought Arman's tanks might be some of their own secret allies, the Italians. Arman realized they were Nationalists and stalled for time. After a group of officers asked if he was an Italian, he said "Si" (one of the few Spanish words he knew) and asked in French for an interpreter, which confused them greatly. While they were talking, he jumped into his tank and ordered his troops to fire.
The lost infantry had in fact attacked Torrejón, thinking it was Seseña, and were attacked by their own artillery and aeroplanes, who thought they were Nationalists. The infantry assaulted the defended town and was routed with heavy losses.
Molotov cocktail: Nationalist version was petrol in a bottle stuffed with a rag and tied to a hand grenade. The hand grenade would explode and the gasoline would burn, deceiving the tank crew into thinking that they had been hit and were on fire, and therefore abandon their vehicle. The Nationalists, having no heavy tanks of the Russian caliber, had to resort to tricks like this to capture T-26 tanks. - drawn from Hills, p. 85.
Two of the tanks the Russians lost were actually captured by the molotov cocktail ruse. Another one broke down at Seseña.
A treatment of this engagement was featured in Walker File #2 as Guderian's Baby.

SCW24 Engagement at Esquivias

Esquivias, Spain, October 29, 1936. Colonel Krivoshein leading his tank unit accompanied by the Spanish 1st Mixed Brigade attacked Esquivias. The going was slow when Krivoshein learned that another Russian unit was engaged in heavy fighting at Seseña. Leaving the area to help the Russians at Seseña, the Russians and Spanish infantry were attacked by enemy bombers, close assaulting Nationalist infantry and Spanish crewed Italian tanks.

Aftermath: The bombers scattered much of the infantry but the Russians pressed on with whatever remained, engaging and destroying six of the Nationalist tanks before being turned back by artillery, unable to aid the Russians at Seseña. Though the attack was a tactical failure, it still bolstered Republican morale and convinced the Nationalists that the southern approach to Madrid was better defended than it actually was.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Ejército de Africa, Moroccan Regulares, L3/35 tanks, air support, good leaders, artillery.

Republicans: T-26 Russian tanks and crews, Elements of the 1st Mixed Brigade (4-4-7's), armor leader, 105mm Russian howitzer, 45mm anti-tank guns.

Terrain:

SSR:
1. Nationalists have molotov capability.
2. Russians attacked by molotov must make morale check +1 or 2 or abandon their vehicles. See special note.

Victory Conditions: Russian must exit one side of board with certain number of tanks and infantry.


Notes:

1. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, p. 174.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 134.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 401.

The forces consisted of 15 T-26 tanks, an unspecified number of 1st Mixed Brigade troops (former 5th Regiment who numbered several thousand. It wasn't an actual regiment as much as a well organized militia sponsored by the Spanish Communist Party) versus six bombers, and a number of Nationalist troops and Italian tanks. (Franco then had only 15 tanks in his entire force, six of which were destroyed by Krivoshein. Mola had some Panzer 1's and might have had some French tanks in his Northern Army).
Krivoshein was Arman's commander.
The Russians were amazed at the bravery shown by the Moroccan troops against their tanks. The Moroccans would continue to fire and attack the tanks until run over, refusing to move. The Russians had to clean human flesh out of the treads.
The actions of the Russians in this phase of the defense of Madrid, though indecisive, nevertheless convinced the Nationalists that the southern approach to the capitol was better defended than it really was.
Molotov cocktail: Nationalist version was petrol in a bottle stuffed with a rag and tied to a hand grenade. The hand grenade would explode and the gasoline would burn, deceiving the tank crew into thinking that they had been hit and were on fire, and therefore abandon their vehicle. The Nationalists, having no heavy tanks of the Russian caliber, had to resort to tricks like this to capture T-26 tanks. - drawn from Hills, p. 85.
This engagement was coupled with the action at Seseña in Walker File #2 as Guderian's Baby.

SCW25 As the Crow Flies

On the road to Madrid, Spain, November 1, 1936.

This scenario was featured in Walker File #2. I do not know to what engagement this scenario refers to, nor the units involved.

SCW26 Pozuelo Turnaround

Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain, November 7, 1936. As a Nationalist Column bore down on Madrid's Casa de Campo park, a Republican preemptive attack was launched from Pozuelo to try and halt the unstopable advance of the Nationalists.

Aftermath: Neither tanks nor fanatical Republican assaults were able to inflict much damage, but the Nationalist column had been forced to turn aside to meet this new threat. The Republicans had been defeated once more, but as the day ended, the Nationalist Column was as far from their goal as they had been at dawn.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the 4th Columna Castejón (probably 5. a Bandera de Tercio de Extranjeros and 2. o Tabor de Ceuta), Ejército de Africa, anti-tank guns.

Republican: Elements of the 3. a Brigada Mixta (4-4-7's), Russian T-26 tank unit.

Terrain:

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, p. 95.

SCW27 Like the Movies

Madrid, Spain, November 7, 1936. The battle of Madrid had begun. A Nationalist assault with Moroccan cavalry had been narrowly defeated in the Carbanchel by a machine gun mounted on a motercycle. Now, in the (southern) suberb of Usera, an advance column led by six Nationalist tanks headed right for the heart of the Capital. A mob of civilians and militia attacked the lead tanks, but no weapon they had could stop them. A lone sailor dashed at the first tank with a lit stick of dynamite, thinking he could blow it up. He had just seen it done in a film.

Aftermath: The sailor, Émelio Coll, threw the dynamite at the treads of the first tank, disabiling it. Repeating the process with the second tank, he was killed by machine gun fire from Nationalist troops. Blocked, the other four tanks retreated, leaving behind them the wreck of the idea that tanks were invulnurable. Equally important, on a body of a dead officer in one of the tanks was found the detailed plans of the Nationalist assault on Madrid. The Republican command now knew where the main Nationalist assault would be.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: L3/35 tanks, Moroccan Regulares (4-5-8's) and Spanish Foreign Legion (4-5-8's) elements of the 5th Columna Tella, Ejército de Africa, machine guns.

Republican: Milicianos de Madrid (3-3-7's), dinamintero-hero, machine guns.

Terrain: urban

SSR's:
1. Republican militia is fanatic.
2. Moorish troops suffer city penalties as perscribed.
3. Republican forces can self rally.
4. Republican troops have molotov cabability.

Victory Conditions: Nationalist must enter one side if board(s) and exit with a prescribed number of units off opposite edge. Republican wins by denying this.


Notes:

1. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, pp. 209-210.
2. Miracle of November, Dan Kurzman, p. 243.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 410.

The film Émelio Coll had watched was a Russian propoganda film, The Sailors of Kronstadt. It was being shown throughout Madrid to show militia, most all of which had never seen a tank, a key scene where young communists blew up Tsarist tanks with dynamite. Coll's heroism inspired the Madrilenos and news spread quickly, inviting similair attacks on other tanks.
There were a number of instances where the militias fighting in Madrid took the general order to not "surrender even one inch" quite literally. They either held or died in the process and the Army of Africa took fearful casualties.

SCW28 ¡No Pasaran!

Madrid, Spain, November 7, 1936. Things were not going as planned. With resistence stiffer than expected, Nationalist General Varela requested more artillery and tank support to crush the unexpected Republican resistance. On a crucial approach to Madrid, the Puente de Toledo (Toledo Bridge) over the Manzanares river, the Nationalists attacked in force with tanks and infantry support just as the Republicans were preparing to blow it up.

Aftermath: A teenager named Eleuterio Cornejo blew up the first tank with a stick of dynamite, blocking the others from crossing. A Republican bayonet charge then threw back the attacking Nationalists and saved the day.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the 5th Columna Tella, Tercio de Extranjeros, Ejército de Africa, (4-5-8's), L3/35 tanks.

Republican: Milicianos de Madrid (3-4-7's & 4-4-7's), dinaminteros., trenches, fortefied buildings, machine guns.

Terrain: urban.

SSR's:
1. Republicans are fanatic.
2. Republicans have Molotov capability.

Victory Conditions: Nationalist must cross bridge and secure a bridgehead with a certain number of units. Republicans must deny this.


Notes:

1. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, p. 210.
2. Miracle of November, Dan Kurzman, p. 244.

"No Pasaran" was the battle cry of the Madrileños, echoing the French vow at Verdun, "They shall not pass!"
One of the units defending the bridge was a company of barbers. Many of the militias were sponsored by organizations or associations (bull fighters, barbers, trade unions, steelworkers, etc). The barbers were supposedly decimated in the attack.
Many of the other fighters were civilians, including women.

SCW29 Hunting Ground

Madrid, Spain, November 8, 1936. Advance Elements of the Army of Africa had siezed the eastern unforested portion of the Casa de Campo and readied themselves to push off the next morning to take the rest of the park, cross the river and scale the heights of the University City. Having routed every militia army sent against them, the Army of Africa considered that the coming fight would be a walk. That night, the weapon poor Republican militias silently entered the field to strip their dead comrades of their rifles.

Aftermath: Thanks to a map found on a dead officer in a destroyed Nationalist tank, Republican General Miaja knew that the main Nationalist drive would be through the park of the Casa de Campo. He proceeded to position the bulk of his forces there and when the attack came, the Nationalist troops met fanatical resistance. Wave after wave of Legionaires and Regulares fell to machine gun and rifle fire. Though the Republican troops were ammunition poor, they knew exactly where the attack would come and stayed, dying at their posts whereupon others would move forward to claim their weapons and continue the fight. Only a devestated Army of Africa was finally able to push forward and sieze the commanding heights of Mount Garabitas. But Madrid would not fall that day.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalists: Advance elements of the Columna Ascenio, Ejército de Africa, Tercio de Extranjeros (4-5-8's) and Moroccan Regulares (4-5-8's), machine guns, good leaders, newly arrived German artillery.

Republican: Elements of CNT-FAI milicianos (3-3-7's, 3-4-7's), Elements of the 4.a Brigada Mixta (4-4-7's), machine guns, mortars, artillery.

Terrain: woods, wooded hill.

SSR:
1. Militia is fanatic.
2. Should be given high ELR to relect unarmed cadres ready to enter the fight.
3. Republican reinforcements should enter on random schedule.

Victory Conditions: Nationalists must clear wooded hill of Republican units.


Notes:

1. A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War, Gabriel Jackson, p. 92-93.
2. Miracle of November, Dan Kurzman, pp. 245-246.
3. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 521.

I'm glad I wasn't there.

SCW30 Room for Rent

Madrid, Spain, November 8, 1936. Moroccan troops of the Army of Africa had reached the Manzanares River from the slopes of the Casa de Campo Park. Crossing the Puente de los Franceses (French Bridge) under heavy fire, they crossed into the city, attacking multistoried rows of apartment houses, clearing them with knife and grenade.

Aftermath: The militias and civilians resisted with fatalic ferocity. Building after building was cleared, but the Moors pace slowed as their casualties mounted enormously. Entire companies were wiped out attacking one building. Finally the assault withered as the attacking force was attritioned to non existence. The Nationalist headquarters estimated that five out of six Regulares involved had become casualties in the fight.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Ejército de Africa, Moroccan Regulares (4-5-8's), good leaders.

Republicans: Milicianos de Madrid (3-3-7's), fortified buildings, machine guns.

Terrain: Wooden terrain dropping down to river basin and bridge, and rising to multistoried buildings (six to seven stories).

SSR's:
1. Republicans are fanatic.
2. Moors suffer city penalties.
3. No quarter is in effect.

Victory conditions: Nationalist must clear board of all good order Republican units within so many hexes of the bridge.


Notes:

1. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, pp. 211-212.
2. A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War, Gabriel Jackson, p. 92.

This fight again demonstrates how out of place the Moors were in cities. In this urban terrain, the militias were more than a match for them.
One Nationalist officer (Major Tella) records similair problems in attacking the Segovia Bridge: "Besides a labrynthlike system of trenches, each house has become a bulwark from which the enemy harasses with machine guns." Kurzman, p. 244.
Another (Colonel Barrón): "Our forces have to make their way through the interior of the houses, breaking partition walls, struggling with the enemy in all rooms of the houses they occupy, dislodging him with only a great effort." (Kurzman, p. 244.)

SCW31 Red Lions

Madrid, Spain, November 9, 1936. Determined to make a crossing, Nationalist General Varela sent waves of soldiers to attack each of the five bridges over the Manzanares river, trying to find a crossing point to enter the city. As Moroccan Regulares recklessly advanced, crawling over their own dead, they were finally able to capture the French Bridge. The Nationalists could now breakthrough.

Aftermath: A loyal army officer, Paulino García Puente, hearing of the breakthrough gathered his staff and any office workers he could find and then marched on to the National Palace where he comandeered the Palace Guard. Finally, on the way to the bridge, he picked up a virtually unarmed militia company of bartenders and waiters who styled themselves the "Red Lions." With this motley group, García Puente assaulted the bridge, the unarmed Red Lions picking up weapons from the fallen dead. In a fierce and bloody struggle, the Republicans pushed the Moors back across the bridge into the Casa de Campo, shooting Moorish snipers in the trees. Garcia Puente commented that it was "like hunting birds." Every attack on every bridge had failed. The people of Madrid had held.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Ejército de Africa, Moroccan Regulares (4-5-8's), better than usual SAN in the Casa de Campo.

Republican: Milicianos de Madrid, machine guns, barricades, fortefied houses, high SAN.
Enter as Reinforcements: Palace Guard (4-5-7) and ragtag militia (initially, 1-1-6, may become 3-3-7).

Terrain: city and bridge and woods.

SSR:
1. Republicans are fanatic.
2. Moors suffer city penalties.
3. Special rules reflecting how the "Red Lions" are armed.

Victory Conditions: Winner takes bridge. Republicans must cross over and secure other side.


Notes:

1. Miracle of November, Dan Kurzman, p. 257.

SCW32 Dead End

Madrid, Spain, November 9, 1936. Frustrated by stubborn resistence in the Casa de Campo, Nationalist General Varela decided to shift the weight of his attack south, through the Carabanchel sector. His elite Moroccan troops spearheaded the drive and soon the whole area erupted in house to house fighting.

Aftermath: The attack bogged down with the Moroccans again unable to make much headway in the unfamiliar terrain of the city. Though the fighting would continue for several more days, neither side would be able to achieve a victory and the battle line would be drawn down streets and houses. Though the killing would go on, for both sides the Carabanchel had become a dead end.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Ejército de Africa, Moroccan Regulares (4-5-8's), good leaders, machine guns.

Republicans: Milicianos de Madrid (3-3-7's & 4-4-7's), machine guns, trenches, barricades, fortefied buildings, etc.

Terrain: urban

SSR's:
1. Republicans are fanatic.
2. Moors suffer city penalties.

Victory conditions: Nationalists must exit a number of units off opposite end of board they entered.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, pp. 137-138, 140.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 413.

The inclusion of 4-4-7's on the Republican side indicates that loyalist soldiers, asaltos and guardia civil were intersped throughout the ranks of the milicianos.
The Carabanchel would see continued fighting the Nationalists bringing in flame throwers and both sides digging mines and setting explosives off under enemy positions. An entire company of Requetes was later killed by one such explosion.

SCW33 Into the Trees

Madrid, Spain, November 9, 1936. The main Nationalist drive had penetrated the old royal hunting grounds of the Casa de Campo but had been checked by the stubborn resistance of the Republican militias. On the 8th, the XIth International Brigade arrived, bolstering the morale of the defending Spaniards. On the evening of the 9th, the Internationals counterattacked.

Aftermath: The battle lasted through the night and into the morning. By its end, the German and French Internationals and Spanish militia had broken the Moroccan units and retaken all of the Nationalist gains in the Caso de Campo except for Mount Garabitas. The Army of Africa had met its match and withdrew leaving their dead, but nearly a half of the brigade had been killed or wounded.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Ejército de Africa, Moroccan Regulares (4-5-8's), good leaders, machine guns.

Republicans: Elements of the German Edgar-André Battaillon, XI. a Brigada Internacional (4-5-8's), machine guns, good leaders.

Terrain: woods, misty

SSR's:
1. Night rules are in effect.
2. Republican militia are fanatic.

Victory Conditions: Republicans must clear objectives of good order enemy units.


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 412-413.
2. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, p.50.

The Nationalist unit was the 4th regiment. (Legions, p. 51)
The International brigade machine guns are W.W.I St. Étiennes (cumbersome and heavy).
The battle was fought in fog and mist and the wooded terrain was composed of ilex and gum trees.
The XIth numbered about 1900 men.
The Hungarian commander of the XIth, General Kleber, was a very able commander and was linguistically diverse enough to command his polyglot of troops, most of whom only knew their native tongues.
Though the Edgar-Andrés were mostly German and Austrian anti-facists, their machine gun unit was British.

SCW34 Hill of Angels

Cerro de Los Angeles, Spain, November 12, 1936. The continuing fighting in the Carbanchel convinced the Republican general staff that General Franco's next move would be to try to cut the Madrid-Valencia road, a vital lifeline to the besieged capital. To forestall this, they sent the newly arrived XIIth International Brigade, of Germans, Franco-Belgians, and Italians, and four Spanish brigades to take a monestary on top of the hill known as Cerro de los Angeles.

Aftermath: Through inadequate artillery preperation and language problems, the attack bogged down and turned into chaos. Not knowing where the entrance to the monestary was, the Internationals assaulted the steep cliff face side of the hill, scaling it with ladders and were mowed down while a Spanish unit made its way to the rear and entered the monestary. Unsupported, the Spanish company was thrown back and though the fighting continued throughout the day, the Republicans were unable to take the objective and the XIIth was withdrawn to Madrid. The Nationalists were able to retain the strategic hill overlooking two Madrid highways.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalists: Elements of the Ejército de Africa (Monesterio's Cavalry - on foot).

Republicans: Elements of the Franco-Belgian Battaillon André-Marty, XII. a Brigada Internacional (4-4-7's), good leaders, machine guns, meager artillery.

Terrain: Hill overlooking road.

SSR:

Victory Conditions: Republicans must take hill.


Notes:

1. Miracle of November, Dan Kurzman, pp. 265-268.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 138.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 413-414.
4. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnson, pp. 50-51.
5. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, p. 102.

The XIIth International was not as experienced as the units that initially formed the XIth International and its commancer, an Hungarian known as General "Lukacz" (the writer, Mata Zalka), though a veteran of the Austrio-Hungarian Army in W.W.I was not as able a commander as the XIth's Hungarian commander, General Kleber. However, most of the units in this outfit would later go on to give a good reckoning of themselves, especially the Italian Garibaldis and the German Thaelmanns. Like the Edgar-Andrés, the German Thaelmann Battalion had an English crewed machine gun unit.
The German Thaelmann Battalion was later transferred to the XIth International.

SCW35 Across the River

Madrid, Spain, November 17, 1936. With the arrival of 1,800 anarchist militia from Barcelona, their commander Buenaventura Durruti demanded an important sector of the front to highlight the martial qualities of his men. They were given the Caso de Campo and with the promise of all available Republican artillery and air support, the attack jumped off. What the Republicans hadn't realized is that the Nationalists had planned their own attack. Realizing this, panicked Republicans blew up the bridge, forcing the anarchists to attack across the river.

Aftermath: Backed by guns and tanks used as mobile artillery, the anarchists attacked four times, each time utterly routed by the accurate machine gun fire of the Moors. As the anarchists retreated before a barrage of artillery, Moroccans and German tanks in turn crashed through the river wall and tried to scale the opposite side while a lone Russian tank backed by militia rained down point blank fire. The German tanks became mired or were unable to climb the opposite bank while three infantry assaults were mowed down. With less than an hour of good light, one last attack was ordered. A Moroccan lieutenant firing an anti-tank missile was killed but had caused the Russian tank to retreat. The Moroccans climbed up the opposite bank while the Panzer 1's were finally able to cross. The Anarchists let the tanks pass and attacked the following Moroccans with machine guns and grenades. The bitter contest would continue but the Nationalists had their crossing.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalists: Elements of the First Columna Ascenio, Ejército de Africa, Moroccan Regulares (4-5-8's), good leaders, machine guns, Panzer 1's, Moroccan hero with anti-tank weapon, artillery barrage of 65mm battery (german).

Republicans: Elements of the Columna Durruti, (3-4-7's & 3-3-7's), few leaders, T-26 tank, artillery.

Terrain: wooded, steep sided river lined with walls, and on opposite side, city.

SSR:
1. Anarchist troops are green.

Victory Conditions: Republican is attacker.


Notes:
1. Miracle of November, Dan Kurzman, pp. 200-279.
2. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, p. 103.
3. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, pp. 221-222.
4. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 138.
5. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 414-415.

SCW36 The Palace

Madrid, Spain, November 19th, 1936. General Varela launched a new offensive to cross the Manzanares river and take the heights of the University City. Three times, the Nationalists were thrown back from the river with staggering losses, but finally a bridgehead was established and Regulares and Legionaires rushed across on a single footbridge. The defending anarchists, reduced to only 400 of their original 1800, fled, opening up a gap in the Republican line where Nationalist troops advanced across University City and tried to widen their bridgehead by crossing the river south of the University complex at West Park. Into this maelstrom the XIth International brigade was thrown to meet the crisis.

Aftermath: The Polish Dombrowskys, German Edgar-Andrés and attached Spanish milicianos attempted to stop the advance. Moroccan cavalry attacking the Poles and Polish-Jews were thrown back three times but as the Dombrowskys ran out of grenades and machine gun ammunition, the Moors were able to make ground and surrounded some Polish units and burnt them alive in the buildings they held. The advance was eventually stopped near the Palacete de la Moncloa with heavy losses to both sides. But the Army of Africa had gained its foothold and new troops were pouring across and scaling the heights of the University City.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalists: Elements of the Ejército de Africa, Moorocan Regulares Cavalry 4-5-8's) (probably 2. o Tabor de Tetuán), horses and Spanish Foreign Legion (probably 4. a Bandera de Tercio de Extranjeros) (4-5-8's), artillery, air support.

Republican: Elements of the Polish Dombrowsky Battalion, XI. a Brigada Internacional (4-5-8's), milicinos de Madrid (3-4-7's), air fighter cover.

Terrain: urban.

SSR:

1. Republican militia is fanatic.
2. No quarter is in effect.

Victory Conditions: Republican must prevent Nationalists from exiting board.


Notes:

1. Miracle of November, Dan Kurzman, pp. 309-310.
2. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, p. 51.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 415.

At this point, only two tabors of Moors and one bandera of Legionaires had made it across.
The Dombrowskys were mostly exiled Polish miners and Polish Jews living in France. Later, as their losses mounted, Hungarians as well as Poles were fed in to make it a Polish-Hungarian unit.
The Palacete de la Moncloa was the Presidential Palace.

SCW37 School Days Again

Madrid, Spain, November 19, 1936. The Nationalists had crossed the river and had entered the University City in force. An abortive Anarchist attack retook the clinical hospital at the top of the hill, but a counterattack retook the ground floor, leaving many Anarchists trapped in the top stories. The Anarchists were unable to stand and routed to the rear after heavy fighting. The XIth and later the XII International brigades were withdrawn from the Casa de Campo and sent to meet and beat back the Army of Africa once again.

Aftermath: The Nationalists swept across much of the complex but were held in check at the clinical hospital, first by the Anarchist militia, then by the German Thaelmann battalion. Combat continued inside the building where Nationalists using flamethrowers cleared room after room, only to have the Republicans break holes from above and drop in dynamite. Rooms were traded several times. The German Thaelmann's sent down bombs in service elevators and Moroccan soldiers died from eating diseased lab animals. The Nationalist advance at the Hall of Philosophy was checked when the French Commune de Paris Battalion threw them back with a bayonet charge. The Nationalist bridgehead had been contained.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalists: Elements of the Ejército de Africa, Moroccan Regulares (4-5-8's), good leaders, machine guns, flamethrowers (german).

Republicans: Elements of the French Bataillon Commune de Paris, XI. a Brigada Internacional (4-4-8's), dynamite, machine guns.

Terrain: urban, University City.

SSR:
1. Moors suffer city penalties.
2. No quarter is in effect.

Victory Condtions:


Notes:
1. Miracle of November, Dan Kurzman pp. 285-286, 291-293.
2. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, p. 51.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 415.
4. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, pp. 218-219, 225-226, 230-232.
5. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 138.
6. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 522.

Out of 1900 men in the first month, the XIth International Brigade (German Edgar-Andre, Franco-Belgian Commune de Paris, Polish Dabrowsky) lost over 900 men killed. The XIIth (German Thaelmann, Italian Garibaldi, Franco-Belgian André-Marty) lost over 700 dead out of 1550 men in its first three weeks of action. Adding wounded, the total casualties were over half the brigades men.
The Thaelmanns played some nasty tricks, like sending down explosives and grenades in elevators, timed to blow when the doors opened on the Moors below them. Some Moors sickened and died from eating research rabbits and guinea pigs infected with disease.
The Commune de Paris was eventually transferred to the XIV International Brigade.

SCW38 A Tough Nut

Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain, November 30, 1936. Frustrated by the failure of direct attacks on the Capital, Nationalist command sent three columns to the north of Madrid to sever the city's water and electricity source in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains. Republican troops were pushed back again and again as Nationalists advanced to capture the sanitarium and cemetery on the southern part of the town of Pozuelo. But as the Nationalist troops entered the first houses of the town, mounting casualties convinced them that the quality of their enemy had changed since the early days of the war and this newly reorganized Republican army was going to give them a tough fight.

Aftermath: Reacting to the Nationalist move, Madrid sent reinforcements in the form of Russian tanks under General Pavlov and International Brigade troops. The Republican 3rd Mixed Brigade, having borne the brunt of the attack, inflicted terrible casualties on the advancing Moroccan troops, who advanced into the slaughter of numerous machine gun nests. Still, the weight of the attack all but anihilated the 3rd, forcing its remnants to fall back behind the lines of the reinforcing Internationals. The Polish and Italian troops of the XIth International Brigade fought with distinction, taking heavy casualties yet mowing down the Moroccans who continued to advance steadfastly into the fire of the Internationals' machine guns and rifles. Meanwhile, Nationalist cavalry and German tanks proved no match for the Russian T-26's. The incredible death toll finaly forced the Nationalists to halt and regain their strength. The offensive had been stopped, temporarily. "Defenseless" Madrid had become a tougher nut to crack than anyone had realized.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalists: Elements of the Columna García-Escamez, Ejército de Africa, Moroccan Regulares (4-5-8's), Panzer 1's, artillery, Junkers 52 bombers, cavalry, 75mm, 105mm & 155mm artillery.

Republicans: Elements of the 3. a Brigada Mixta, 75mm artillery, machine guns.
Reinforcements: Elements of the Italian Battaglione Garibaldi (4-5-7's), XII. a Brigada Internacional, good leaders, machine guns, T-26 tanks.

Terrain: gentle valleys, abundant copses, some winding streams, some rivers, numerous summer cottages (machine guns nests), roads; tendancy towards fog.

SSR:

Victory Conditions.


Notes:

1. La lucha en Torno a Madrid, José Martínez-Bande, pp. 43-45.
2. A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War, Gabriel Jackson, p. 98.
3. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, p. 52.
4. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, p. 113.
5. Las Brigadas Internacionales , Jacques Delperrie de Bayac, pp. 111-112.
5. Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, ed. James Cortada, pp. 154, 523.
6. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 141.
7. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, p. 218.


3000 Legion and Moroccan troops participated in this attack.
Republican Forces: 14, 339 men, 23 artillery pieces of various calibers.
3rd Mixed Brigade (José María Galán)
Brigade "X" (Palacio) in Aravaca
Nationalist Forces: 7000 men (inc. cavalry, infantry and sappers), 2 batt. of 75mm, 2 grupos of 105mm, 2 grupos of 155mm.

Growing stronger each day, the Republican army had at last been able to meet the Nationalists in the field. No longer were they just a collection of rag-tag militias.

SCW39 First and Last

Villarreal de Alava, Basque Provinces, December 5, 1936. Declaring their autonomy within the Republic of Spain, the Basques set out to recapture Vitoria, the capitol of Alava, their southern province. Bolstered by Russian arms shipments, the Basques attacked the town of Villareal de Alava on November 30th, surrounding the town in a few days. However, Nationalist relief was on its way and three days after surrounding the town, the Basques themselves were under attack by Nationalists from Vitoria.

Aftermath: The Basques were driven from the field by artillery and air support, abandoning the drive for Vitoria. It would be the Basques' first and last attempt at an offensive during the war.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalists: Army of the North (?), artillery, air support.

Republicans: Basques, field chaplins, armoured cars, anti-aircraft guns, artillery, fighter cover.

Terrain:

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 433.

SCW40 Boadilla

Boadilla del Monte, Spain, December 16, 1936. The offensive to sever the Coruña Road was halted two days by bad weather. On the morning of the 16th, heavy Nationalists artillery peppered the first objective, an isolated pueblo on the Castillian plain called Boadilla.

Aftermath: Three brigades of the 1st Mixed Brigade broke under the attack and the Nationalists were able to take the town by nightfall. Russian tanks were thrown in but had to retreat in the face of Nationalist artillery.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the División reforzada de Madrid, Panzer 1's, 155mm artillery, air support.

Republicans: Elements of the 1. a Brigada Mixta (4-4-7's), commissars.
Reinforcements: Russian T-26 tanks.

Terrain: gentle valleys, abundant copses, some winding streams, some rivers, numerous summer cottages (machine guns nests), roads; tendancy towards fog.

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War, Gabriel Jackson, p. 98.
2. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, p. 53.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 434-435.
4. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 523.

SCW41 Boadilla II

Boadilla del Monte, Spain, December 19, 1936. To meet the Nationalist drive on the Coruña highway, the Republicans threw in the only available reserve, the XIth and XIIth International Brigades backed by the Russian tanks commanded by General Pavlov. As the Republicans counterattacked, the Nationalist forces retreated, yielding Boadilla, which the International Dabrowsky and Thaelmann Battalions occupied. The Nationalists, in return, saturated the town with heavy artillery, destroying or driving back the tanks. They then counterattacked with infantry, surrounding the Internationals who were forced to fight for their lives.

Aftermath: The Internationals held firm with machine gun and bayonet, inflicting devistating casualties on the advancing Nationalists, who failed to overun them. The Nationalists halted their offensive and eventually, the Internationals were able to withdraw from Boadilla, leaving the town and many of their dead comrades to the enemy.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the División reforzada de Madrid, Panzer 1's, 88mm anti-aircraft guns, 105mm & 150mm artillery, air support.

Republicans: Elements of the Polish Dabrowsky Battalion, XII. a Brigada Internacional (4-5-7's), machine guns.

Terrain: town and rubble, fog, gentle valleys, abundant copses, some winding streams, some rivers, numerous summer cottages (machine guns nests), roads.

SSR:
1. Fog conditions (E.3.31) are in effect.

Victory Conditions:


Notes:
1. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, pp. 141-142.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 435.
3. A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War, Gabriel Jackson, pp. 98-99.
4. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 523.

SCW42 Not One Inch

Las Rozas, Spain, January 7, 1937. As Nationalists reinforcements arrived, General Orgaz ordered a resumption of the offensive to drive north and flank Madrid. Republicans units were being swept aside everywhere. The situation was desperate and General Kleber, commanding the XIth International ordered the Thaelmann Batallion to hold a section of the Coruña Road near the town of Las Rozas. They were told to hold at whatever cost, and not to yield even an inch.

Aftermath: Though a communication was later sent, recinding the order to hold, this could not get through as the batallion was surrounded. In the bitterly cold and wet fog, the Thaelmanns held their ground against aeriel attacks, tanks and wave upon wave of infantry. As their ammunition ran out, Moroccan regulares overran their position and bayoneted the wounded, but the Germans stubbornly fought on. Only thirty-two men survived. When an order was sent to the Thaelmanns to advance, a reply from the front came back stating simply, "Impossible. The Thaelmann Battalion has been destroyed."


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalists: Elements of the División reforzada de Madrid, Moroccan regulares of the 1. o or 2. o Tabor de Mellila (4-5-8's), Panzer 1's,, air support.

Republicans: Elements of the German Thaelmann Bataillon, XI. a Brigada Internacional (4-5-7's), good leaders, machine guns, commissars.

Terrain: road, flat, heavy fog, cold, , abundant copses, some winding streams, some rivers, numerous summer cottages (machine guns nests), roads.

SSR:
1. Dense fog conditions (E.3.31) are in effect.

Victory Conditons:


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 437-438.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 142.
3. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, pp. 53-54.
4. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, pp. 75, 523.

SCW43 A Bloody Nothing

Majadahonda, Spain, January 12th, 1937. The Nationalist offensive along the Coruña road was not going well. Using machine guns and bayonets, Spanish Republican troops officered by Internationals inflicted heavy casualties on advancing Nationalists from the cover of stone garden walls of the numerous villas in the area. Heavy fog had crept in, restricting the effectiveness of air power as well as screening Russian tanks from Nationalist artillery. Bolstered by the XIVth International Brigade brought in from the Cordoba front, the Republicans launched their own counter-offensive. The XIIth International Brigade, pulled in from combat elsewhere and without rest was to take Majadahonda.

Aftermath: In heavy fog, biteing with cold, the exhausted and attritioned XIIth, attacked but was rebuffed. Russian tanks led by General Pavlov himself wreaked havoc in the Nationalist lines, destroying strong points and two companies of German light tanks, but without infantry support, the Russians could not hold their gains. Republican artillery, due to mismanagement of supply, had few artillery shells and fired blanks to keep up the spirit of their own troops with the sound of "friendly fire." However the Nationalists too had depleted their reserves and had taken very heavy casualties at every point on their advance. Three days later, the offensive would end with both sides digging trenches. The Nationalists had gained a few miles but had not realized their objective of flanking Madrid. Again, the slaughter had been for nothing.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalists: Elements of the División reforzada de Madrid, Falange militia (3-4-7's), Panzer 1's, 105mm & 150mm offboard artillery, 88mm anti-aircraft gun, machine guns.

Republicans: Elements of the Franco-Belgian Bataillon André-Marty, XII. a Brigada Internacional (4-5-7's), Russian T-26 tanks, 105mm artillery, commisars.

Terrain: heavy fog, cold mist, gentle valleys, abundant copses, some winding streams, some rivers, numerous summer cottages (machine guns nests), roads.

SSR:
1. Dense fog conditions (E.3.31) are in effect.

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 436-438.
2. A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War, Gabriel Jackson, pp. 98-99.
3. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, pp. 53-55.
4. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 142.
5. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 523.

The Republican/International Brigade artillery are primarilly W.W.I German howitzers with "very delicate mechanisms. (Legions, p. 59).

SCW44 Scipio's Sons

Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, February 6, 1937. In the first major action of Mussolini's CTV (Corpo di Truppe Volontarie) Italian ground troops under General Mario Roatta had set out two days earlier in conjunction with the Duke of Seville's Spanish Nationalists on a general assault against the Andulacian city of Malaga.

Aftermath: From the outset, the Nationalists, with their tanks and artillery, enjoyed a tremendous superiority over the terrified Republican militias. They took the heights of Ventas de Zafarraya, which gave them command over the road to Almeira. Malaga was bombed continuously. The Republican front collapsed and the Italians and Nationalists would enter Malaga the evening of the next day.


Suggestion of Forces:

Italian: Elements of the "Dio lo vuole" Divisione, fiat ansaldo tanks, 105mm artillery, air support.

Republican: Milicianos (3-3-7's) (Army of the South)

Terrain:

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, pp. 146-148.
2. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, pp. 257-264.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 480-483.
4. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, pp. 523-524.

Republican forces consisted of militia, not affected by the Republican army reforms. The number was appx 40,000, of whom a third was said to not have rifles. The Italians had 5000 troops, their artillery was old but alright.

SCW45 Hammerfall

Ciempozuelos, Spain, February 6, 1937. The Nationalist Jarama offensive had begun. Five mobile columns attacked, backed by artillery, and German Condor Legion troops in Spanish uniforms, manning tanks, machine guns and 88mm. guns. At Ciempozuelos, the Republican XVIIIth Mixed Brigade was in position to take the first blow.

Aftermath: Pounded by artillery and armoured assault, the advance elements of the XVIIIth were anihilated. Still, the Republicans put up a bitter fight, loosing in all, 1300 men before giving way to the Nationalists.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist:
Elements of the 5. a Brigada, División reforzada de Madrid, 155mm artillery.
Elements of the German Legion Condor, machine gun crews, anti-tank guns, 88mm. artillery, Panzer Ws I's & II's of the Panzer Bataillon Drone.

Republicans: Elements of the 18. a Brigada Mixta (4-4-7's).

Terrain: mud

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War, Gabriel Jackson, p. 100.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, pp. 152-153.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 485.
4. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, p. 119.
5. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 524.

SCW46 The Bridge

Gósquez de Abajo, Spain, February 11, 1937. Heavy rains had halted the Nationalist Jarama offensive, swelling the Jarama river and making it unfordable. At dawn on the 11th, Moroccan soldiers silently crept forward and knifed the French sentries on guard at the Pindoque Railway Bridge. As the Moroccan cavalry charged across, the Republicans detonated the bridge only to watch it rise and resettle on its foundation, still usable.

Aftermath: Republican planes, in temporary control of the skies, poured down fire on the Nationalists, but failed to halt their advance. Heavily outnumbered, one company of the French and Belgians of the André-Marty machine gunned the oncomming Moors, retreating slowly until they had exhausted their ammunition. Having held the Nationalists up six hours, they were finally surrounded and anihilated. Subsequent charges by the Moroccan cavalry and accompanying infantry destroyed the rest of the André-Martys.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the 1. o or 2. o Tabor de Mellila, Moroccan cavalry, 3. a Brigada, División reforzada de Madrid (4-5-8's).

Republican: Remnants of the Franco-Belgian Bataillon André-Marty, XIV. a Brigada Internacional (4-4-7's), machine guns, trenches, air-support-strafing.

Terrain: mud

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, pp. 152-153.
2. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, pp. 277-279.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 485-487.
4. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, pp. 75, 524.

The André-Martys had been transferred to the XIVth International from the XIIth.
This scenario featured in Walker File #2 as It's Still There.

SCW47 The Bridge II

Gósquez de Abajo, Spain, February 11, 1937. The Nationalist offensive had broken through as General Monesterio's Moroccan cavalry captured the Pindoque Bridge, wiping out the Franco-Belgian André-Marty Battalion and establishing a bridgehead across the Jarama river, threatening to cut Madrid off from the south. The Nationalists' advance was held up by the Dabrowsky and Garibaldi Battalions of the XIIth International Brigade. Russian T-26 tanks arrived intending to throw the Moroccans back across the Jarama.

Aftermath: The counterattack initially failed as Russians tanks attacked twice but were thrown back by Nationalist artillery and anti-tank guns that were rushed across the bridge. As Republican planes strafed the crossing Nationalists, they suffered heavy losses from Condor Legion 88mm guns. Finally that night, the Italian Garibaldis counterattacked and threw the Moors back across the river, retaking the bridge. But it was a phyrric victory as the Nationalists had captured the bridge at San Martin de la Vega, farther south, pouring 10,000 troops across and securing their bridgehead.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the División reforzada de Madrid, Moroccan Cavalry, 3. a Brigada de Cabellería (marroquí) (4-5-8's), 155mm artillery, 88mm anti-aircraft, 37mm Italian anti-tank guns.

Republican: Russian T-26 tanks, armor leader, elements of the Italian Battaglione Garibaldi, XII. a Brigada Internacional (4-5-7's).

Terrain: mud

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, pp. 152-153.
2. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, pp. 277-279.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 485-487.
4. A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War, Gabriel Jackson, p. 100.
5. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, pp. 122-123.
6. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 524.

SCW48 Suicide Hill

Pajares Heights, Spain, February 12, 1937. At 5:30 a.m, the British Battalion of the XVth International went into battle alongside the French "6th of February." They were to seize a hill amongst the Pajares heights and hold the advancing Nationalists along the San Martin-Morata road. Artillery fire poured down on the XVth from the Nationalist positions on Pingarrón, which looked down on the British objective, dubbed "Suicide Hill." Newly formed, this was to be the first taste of battle for many men of the XVth. For many, it would also be their last.

Aftermath: The British were able to take the hill, only to have the brunt of the Nationalist attack fall upon them. They held stubbornly for two days, forcing the Nationalists to commit their reserves. The French fighting alongside were pushed back, exposing the British and compelling them to abandon their ground. As their retreat opened up a dangerous hole in the line, they were ordered to retake the hill at all costs. Though exhausted, the British found the strength to return and recapture the position. But out of 600 men, only 225 remained after only a day's fighting.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the 4. a Brigada, División reforzada de Madrid, Moroccan regulares (4-5-8's), 155mm artillery, machine guns.

Republican: Elements of the British Saklatvala Battalion, XV. a Brigada Internacional (4-4-7's), machine guns, field artillery (75mm?), trenches.

Terrain: Hills, olive groves.

SSR:

Victory Conditins:


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, pp. 153-154.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 487-489.
3. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 94.
4. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, pp. 71-72.
5. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 524.

The stubborn defense convinced the Nationalists that the area was more stongly held then they had thought. They did not discover how frail the XVth had become because of its losses. Miles south of the British, the trenches were empty and the Nationalists could have just walked through had they known.
Featured in Walker File #2 as One More Time.

SCW49 Where Stands The Legion

Vaciamadrid, Spain, February 12, 1937.

Aftermath:


Suggestion of Forces: see note, Feb. 12, Scurr p. 35. 1st Bandera destroys five out of 19 Russian tanks with petrol bombs and dynamite.

Nationalist: Elements of the 1. a Bandera, 1. a Brigada, División reforzada de Madrid.

Republicans: Elements of the 19. a Brigada Mixta.

Terrain

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

SCW50 Shadow Of The Condor

Pajares Heights, Spain, February 13, 1937. Nationalist General Varela was determined to break through the Republican lines. In his way stood the German Edgar-André and reformed Thaelmann Battalions of the XIth International, along with the Slav and Greek Dimitrov Battalion of the XVth. Varela once again ordered his crack troops, the Moroccans, to take the ground.

Aftermath: Wave upon wave of regulares assaulted the Loyalist positions, taking incredible casualties until the Republican machine guns jammed. The Internationals were then fired upon from machine guns fired from Condor Legion Germans on the Nationalist side and artillery shells fixed on them from Mount La Marañosa. The Internationals were forced to retreat and into the breach poured the Nationalist forces, turning the flank of the XVth International and driving on toward Arganda.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalists: Elements of the 3. a Brigada, División reforzada de Madrid, Moroccan regulares (4-5-8's), 155mm artillery.
German Kondor Legion crews, heavy machine guns.

Republicans: Elements of the German Edgar-André Bataillon, XI. a Brigada Internacional (4-5-7's), machine guns, trenches.

Terrain: Hills and olive groves.

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 154.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 490.

The Republican machine guns were old colt guns.

SCW51 Tito's Boys

Morata de Tajuña, Spain, February 14, 1937. Though Nationalist troops had broken through the Republican lines at the Battle of the Jarama, Nationalist General Varela ordered them to halt, fearing their rapid advance would leave them exposed. The next day, a force of Russian tanks and supporting International infantry counterattacked, intending to sweep the rebels from the field.

Aftermath: The tanks and Internationals pushed the Nationalists back to the Jarama, helped partly by Nationalist artillery being unable to fire for fear of hitting their own men. Though the Republicans did not follow up their success, their counterattack allowed reserve troops to be brought into line to stabilize the front.

Elements of the 2. a Brigada, División reforzada de Madrid, Moroccan regulares (4-5-8's).

Republican: Elements of the Balkan Dimitrov Battalion, XV. a Brigada Internacional (4-4-7's), T-26 tanks, armour leader, artillery.

Terrain: Hills, olive groves.

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, p. 72.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 154.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 490.
4. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, p. 524.

The Dimitrovs were south slavs - Bulgarians, Yugoslavs, etc, with a large contingent of Greeks.

SCW52 Pingarrón

Pingarrón Hill, Spain, February 17, 1937. Nationalist losses during their Jarama offensive had been so great that replacements could not make up the defecit. The Republicans decided to launch a counterattack that would push the rebels back across the river. In a general assault, the crack Republican 11th Division with part of the 14th would take the commanding height of Pingarrón Hill.

Aftermath: The Republicans, attacking in a frontal assault, suffered horrendous casualties but refused to yield the offensive. 70th Brigade lost over 1100 men, more than half its effectives but still managed to carry the heights. Counterattacking Moroccans retook the ground but suffered over eighty percent casualties in the process. Pingarrón remained in Nationalist hands. Digging in, the Republicans held on until reinforcements could be brought up.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Trenches, Elements of the 29. a Compañía, 8. a Bandera, 4. a Brigada , División reforzada de Madrid (4-5-8 Moors and Tercio).
Reinforced by the 30. a Compañía.

Republican: Elements of the 70. a Brigada Mixta, 14. a División (4-4-7's).

Terrain: Hill.

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 154.
2. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, pp. 57, 524.
3. The Spanish Foreign Legion, John Scurr, p. 35.

SCW53 The Grey Wolves

La Marañosa Hill, Spain, February 18. 1937. As part of the general counteroffensive, a Republican division crossed the Manzanares river and attacked La Marañosa Hill, garrisoned by a Navarese Carlist Militia Battalion. Initially they were thrown back but the next day prepared to take the hill from which Nationalist artillery had rained down on Republican troops. The Carlists were outnumbered ten to one, but if they did not hold, the entire Nationalist flank would be turned.

Aftermath: The Republican forces charged recklessly over open ground, as they had on the day before. In spite of heavy losses, the Republican battalion, the Grey Wolves of La Passionara, approched to within three hundred yards of the depleted fire of the mauled requetés before their own flank was turned by the arrival of light German tanks. The Grey Wolves were decimated, caught between the fire of the Germans and Navarese.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the Carlist Battalion, the Tercio del Alcázar (4-4-7's), Division reforzada de Madrid, field chaplin (+1).
Reinforcements: Panzer 1's.

Republican: Elements of El Batallón de Los Lobos Grises de la Passionara (4-4-7's), commissar.

Terrain: Hill.

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, pp. 289-290.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, pp. 154-155.

16 Panzer 1's participated in the attack.
The field chaplin was Father Vincente, the inspiration for the idea. He was brave, administering last sacrament at risk to his own life, but his bloodthirsty raveings served as a distraction and were recorded by an English volunteer serving with the Carlists, Peter Kemp.

SCW54 New Blood

Pingarrón Hill, Spain, February 27, 1937. The Republicans resumed the counteroffensive with another bid to take Pingarrón Hill. The newly arrived Lincoln Battalion, supported by the Spanish XXIVth Brigade would jump off with tremendous artillery support, backed by planes and tanks.

Aftermath: At 7:00 a.m, none of the promised artillery support arrived, nor did tanks or Republican aircraft strike the Nationalist positions. Also, the XXIVth Brigade, exhausted from its own fight on Pingarrón, failed to leave its trenches. The American commander, Robert Merriman, refused to order his troops to advance under such conditions but he was overruled and reluctantly led the Americans in a reckless charge on Pingarrón, after only a few artillery shells arrived as cover. Advancing into two flanking machine gun lanes, the Americans lost 127 killed and over 200 wounded, leaving less than 25 percent of the battalion in the field. The next day, the Battle of the Jarama would end.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Trenches, Elements of the (see note, page 35, Feb. 17 John Scurr) 4. a Brigada, División reforzada de Madrid (4-5-8 Moors and Tercio).

Republican: Elements of the American Abraham Lincoln Battalion, XV. a Brigada Internacional (4-4-7's).

Terrain: Hill.

SSR:
1. Republican has scarce artillery.

Victory Conditons:


Notes:

1. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, pp. 73-74.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 491.
3. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, ed. James Cortada, pp. 524-525.

The Battle of Jarama cost the Nationalists 20,000 casualties and the Republicans 25,000. Particulary hard hit for the Nationalists were their crack Army of Africa units (regulares and tercio), already badly mauled in previous months. Noteworthy on the Republican side were the losses taken by the International Brigades, leading to some desertions by International troops. This battle marked the ability of Republican Spanish units to hold the Army of Africa in open ground.

SCW55 Soria South

Castejón, Spain, March 8, 1937. Spanish troops were the first to attack as part of the Italian offensive on Guadalajara. After an opening bombardment of Nationalist and Italian artillery, tanks and troops of the Soria Division attacked the Republican trenches, advancing to protect the right flank of the Italian drive.

Aftermath: The green troops of the 12th Division, having repulsed a Nationalist attack two months earlier, were in good morale, but their inexperience at building defense works prevented their being able to make much of a stand versus the experienced veteran troops of the Nationalists. The Soria Division cleared Castejón and nearby Mirabueno of Republican troops, allowing the easy advance of the 2nd Italian Division, the Black Flames, down the Saragosa Road. However, as the motarized Italians raced ahead, the Spaniards found themselves falling behind.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalists: Elements of the 2. a Brigada, División de Soria, Spanish Foreign Legion (4-5-7's). requetés, Panzer 1's.

Republicans: Elements of the 12. a División (3-4-7's).

Terrain: Hills and forest, heavy fog and sleet.

SSR:

Victory Condtions:


Notes:

1. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, p. 128.

SCW56 Guerra Celare

Almadrones, Spain, March 8, 1937. Mussolini's Italian Expeditionary Force, the Corpo di Truppe Volontarie, jumped off its attack at 7:30 a.m. heading southwest along the Madrid-Saragosa highway, intending to capture the provincial capitol of Guadalajara. The motarized Black Flames Division spearheaded the drive, useing their light tanks in blitzkrieg fashion to punch holes in the Republican lines and follow up with troops on trucks.

Aftermath: The inexperienced soldiers of the newly formed 12th Division, spread out thinly as they were, were routed and the Republican line collapsed leaving the road open to the Italian advance. However, at the village of Almadrones, a mere 400 Republican defenders held up the Italian offensive for 24 hours, until a combined Nationalist-Italian assault carried the village. However, with Republican units raceing to the front and the weather turning against them, the Italian timetable was fast falling apart.


Suggestion of Forces:

Italian: Elements of the 2 a "Fiamme Nere" Divisione (3-4-7's), fiat-ansaldo tanks, armoured cars, some trucks, 65mm guns, 20mm AA guns.
Artillery support derived by a d6 roll: (1) 75mm, (2) 105mm, (3) 149mm, (4-6) 100mm

Republican: Elements of the 12. a División (3-4-7's), T-26 tank(s), poor defensive works.

Terrain: Hills & Forest.

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, pp 156-157.
2. Italian Intervention in the Spanish Civil War, John Coverdale, pp. 212-226.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 495-496.
4. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, p. 128.
5. A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War, Gabriel Jackson, pp. 100-104.
6. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, pp. 75-76.

Defending Republicans actually amounted to 200 men and 4 tanks; Coverdale, p. 225,

SCW57 Blunder At Cogolludo

Cogolludo, Spain, March 10, 1937. Attempting to slow the Nationalist advance, Colonel Lacalle, commanding the 12th Division, ordered his troops to counterattack backed by a company of Soviet tanks.

Aftermath: The counterattack was a failure and the Nationalists captured the town as well as destroying three of the Russian tanks.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalists: Elements of the 2. a Brigada, División de Soria, Spanish Foreign Legion (4-5-7's), cavalry.

Republicans: Elements of the 12. a División (3-4-7's & 4-4-7's), T-26's.

Terrain: Hills and forest, heavy fog and sleet.

SSR:

Victory Condtions:


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 497.
2. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, p. 128.

SCW58 Trouble at Torija

Torija, Spain, March 11, 1937. After pausing in their motarized assault to rest, the Italians continued their push on to Guadalajara. After capturing Trijueque, the Italian Black Arrows Division met the Republican 11th Division just south of the town. The 11th, stiffened by the arrival of the XIth International Brigade, met the attack head on.

Aftermath: The Black Arrows smashed the Republican lines and sent both Spanish and German International troops back reeling. The XIth suffered very heavy casualties and the Italians were on the point of breakthrough when T-26 tanks arrived and helped to stop the advance just short of Torija.


Suggestion of Forces:

Italian: Elements of the 11 o (?) Reggimento, "Penne Nere" Divisione (3-4-7's), 65mm guns, 20mm AA. 11th Regiment?

Republican: Elements of the 11. a División (4-4-7's), German Edgar André Bataillon, XI. a Brigada Internacional (4-5-7's). commisar.
Arriving as reinforcements: T-26 tanks.

Terrain: snow, light woods, highway, town, hills.

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. Italian Intervention in the Spanish Civil War, John Coverdale, pp. 212-226.
2. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, p. 76.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 158.
4. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 497.

The 11th Republican Divison was composed at this point of the German XIth International, a Spanish communist brigade, a Spanish ex-communist brigade, and a Basque brigade.

SCW59 Brothers in Arms

Brihuega, Spain, March 12, 1937. Elements of the Italian Black Flames Division, having encountered a motorcycle patrol of the Republican Garibaldi Battalion, mistakenly assumed that these Italians were part of another Italian division. As the light tanks of the Black Flames advanced, they were fired upon by machine guns of the Garibaldis, who did not at first realize that they too were fighting their fellow Italians. Attempts to woo the CTV troops over to the Republican side with propoganda leaflets broke down when several mutilated Garibaldi corpses were found with the leaflets stuck in their mouths. Thereafter the Italians fought their own civil war centered around a country house called the Ibarra Palace.

Aftermath: Italian CTV troops holding out in the Palacio de Ibarra were subjected to propoganda broadcasts urgeing them to surrender. Some did surrender and exhorted their fellow Blackshirts to do the same. When a white flag was raised, Garibaldi troops went forward to receive the CTV soldiers, but were then fired upon. The war was back on. The Garibaldis stormed the Palace and by nightfall they had taken it from their CTV counterparts.


Suggestion of Forces:

Italian: Elements of the 2 a "Fiamme Nere" Divisione (3-4-7's).

Republican: Elements of the Italian Battaglione Garibaldi (4-5-7's), XII. a Brigada Internacional, machine guns.

Terrain: country estate, woods, walls, snow.

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Passionate War, Peter Wyden, pp. 306-307.
2. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, p. 77.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 498-499.
4. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 158.
5. Italian Intervention in the Spanish Civil War, John Coverdale, pp. 212-226.

Palacio is really a towered villa surrounded by farmhouses.

SCW116 Pittau's Peril


Brihuega, Spain, March 13, 1937. On March 10th, the Italian 5th Independent Regiment acting as reserves at Brihuega crossed the only bridge over the Tajuña River to establish a small foothold on the other side. However, showing poor military judgement, the Blackshirt militia failed to occupy the highground overlooking the bridge. After 6th regiment troops of Consul Mario Pittau relieved the 5th, they also failed to widen the bridgehead and did not realize their mistake until attacked by the Anarchist 14th Division under Cipriano Mera.

Aftermath: Republican planes operating from closer airfields unhampered by the cold bombed the Italian lines in successive waves. No sooner had the planes left than Russian tanks appeared with Spanish infantry in close support. Lacking effective anti-tank weapons, the Italians had to resort to field artillery to try and beat off the tanks. Coming under heavy fire from the ridges they had failed to occupy, the Italian defense broke apart and the Blackshirts routed and abandoned their lines, not even destroying the bridge over the river to cover their retreat. Mera's Anarchists poured over the Tajuña in close pursuit.


Suggestion of Forces:

Italian: Elements of the 6 o Reggimento, 2 a "Fiamme Nere" Divisione (Italian Militia), 20mm AA, 65mm artillery, variable artillery support.

Republican: Airstrike first, then Elements of the 14. a División, T-26 tanks.

Terrain:

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. Italian Intervention in the Spanish Civil War, John Coverdale, pp. 212-226.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, pp. 158-159.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 500.

Note that in Beevor's account, the capture of Brihuega by El Campesino is a communist fiction, the actual victor's being Mera'a anarchists of the 14th Division.

SCW114 The Road Past Brihuega

The Road between Torija and Brihuega. Trying to hold onto a vital roadlink of two main highways, troops of the Italian 1st Division made their stand, reinforced by elements of the 6th Regiment that had not yet broken. Spearheaded by the Italian Garibaldi Battalion, the Republican assault, backed by Russian tanks under General Pavlov slammed into the Italian line.

Aftermath: The 1st regiment commander, Colonel Frezza was killed during the first attack and his troops became disorganized. In an hour, the 1st regiment disbanded, leaving the field. 2nd Division's 6th regiment performed no better than they had at the bridge over the Tajuña and also crumbled before the Republican offensive. With his flank threatened by the Republican 14th Division entering Brihuega, 1st Division's 2nd Regimental commander, Colonel Salvi, retreated to the west of the town and managed to pull together a semblance of defense, incorporating fleeing elements of the 1st Regiment and 2nd Division's 6th. But Brihuega had fallen to the Republicans and the Italian left flank had been irrepairably broken.


Suggestion of Forces:

Italian: Elements of the 1 o Reggimento, 1 a "Dio lo Vuole" Divisione.

Republican: Elements of the Italian Battaglione Garibaldi, XII. a Brigada Internacional, 11. a División. T-26 tanks.

Terrain:

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. Italian Intervention in the Spanish Civil War, John Coverdale, pp. 212-226.

SCW60 CTV

Trijueque, Spain, March 13, 1937. The Republicans had moved up considerable force and, on the afternoon of the 13th, launched their own counteroffensive. The Republican 11th Division and 1st Assault Brigade, spearheaded by T-26 and BT-5 tanks, assaulted the Italian line while the 14th Division fell on the Italian flanks. Pressure was building on the Italian CTV.

Aftermath: Following the tanks, the 11th Division assaulted the Italian Littorio Division, the best Italian unit in Spain, but found themselves momentarilly halted by flamethrower tanks. However, as the fight progressed, the Italian tanks became immobelized in the mud and snow, easy targets for the heavier guns of the Russian tanks The Italians abandoned Trijueque at night. As Republican aircraft pummeled the moterized Italian columns, confined to the road by mud and terrain, their retreat turned into a rout. The Republican 14th Division captured Brihuega and threatened to trap the Italian forces, but the Littorios held the line and fell back in order. Only the fall of darkness and the disciplined retreat of the Littorio Division saved the day. Nationalist Spaniards derided their ally's performance, stating that CTV stood for "Cuando Te Vas?" (When are you going?")


Suggestion of Forces:

Italian: Elements of the Divisione Littorio (4-4-7's), fiat-ansaldo tanks, flame-thrower tanks, 65mm artillery, 20mm AA guns.

Elements of the 2. a Brigada, 11. a División or 1st Assault Brigade (1. a Brigada Asalto under El Campesino) or both entering from opposite ends. (4-4-7's), commisar, T-26 tanks, few BT-5's, air support, artillery barrage (Skoda & Baller guns).

Terrain: hills, trees, mud.

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, pp. 158-159.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, pp. 500-501.
3. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills. p. 131.
4. Legions of Babel, Verle Johnston, pp. 77-78.

Because the Italians did not succeed in their moterized drive (blitzkrieg), French observers concluded that this battle was proof that armored units acting in formation were not effective. The Germans concluded that the concept did not fail, just that the Italians did not have the training to execute a blitzkrieg.

SCW61 Brihuega Brooha

Brihuega, Spain, March 18, 1937. With a chorus of planes, artillery and tanks, Republican troops assaulted the Italian line at and around Brihuega. The 65th Brigade was assigned to eliminate the Italian bridgehead of the `God wills it' Division over the Tajuna river in conjunction with attacks by Spaniards and Internationals on the other side.

Aftermath: The Blackshirts were entirely routed, abandoning much equipment and vehicles while only the Littorio Division continued to retreat in good order. Only the Republican failure to exploit their stunning success and the intervention of the Nationalist Spanish Soria Division managed to extricate the Italians and help restore the situation.


Suggestion of Forces:

Nationalist: Elements of the 1 a "Dio lo vuole" Divisione, tanks, artillery.

Republican: Elements of the 65. a Brigada Mixta, 14. a División, tanks, armoured cars, field and medium artillery, air support.

Terrain:

SSR:

Victory Conditions:


Notes:

1. The Battle For Madrid, George Hills, p. 133.
2. The Spanish Civil War, Hugh Thomas, p. 500.
3. The Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor, p. 159.

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