Key Events of the Civil War

• Teruel (December 1937 - January 1938):

  Attempting to distract Nationalists by launching an offensive 320km away. Initially successful but quickly gets bogged down. Nationalists trap the Republicans inside the town and then subjected them to heavy artillery. Republicans have to abandon the town due to a lack of supplies.
• The Ebro Offensive (July - November 1938):

  To divert attention from Valencia, and to try to prolong the war so other European nations would intervene. Progressed rapidly but slowed due to Nationalist resistance. Ended up dug in. Took 3 1/2 months for the Nationalists to regain the land.
• Fall of Madrid (27th March 1939):

  'War within a civil war' made it easy to take the city as Negrin couldn't keep the Republicans together.
• Fall of Barcelona (26th January 1939):

  Nationalists encountered little resistance due to demoralisation of troops. City had suffered isolation, food shortages and aerial bombardment.
• Nationalists Advance to Madrid (August - October 1936):

  The Nationalist's strategic priority was to gain the capital city, Madrid. Therefore, the Army of Africa marched North from their base in Seville, rapidly advancing through Extremadura. They were aided by foreign aid, providing air cover for Nationalist battalions. They covered 320km in their first week.

  The Army of Africa had succeeded by taking Merida and Badajoz by the 15th August. During the massacre of Badajoz, 2000 people were shot, even after the town had been subdued. The Nationalists encountered little Republican resistance.
• Relief of Alcazar (September 1936):

  To the south of Madrid, near Toledo, stood the Fortress of Alcazar, a medieval stronghold with almost 2000 Nationalist troops being surrounded by Republicans.

  Franco diverted the Army of Africa to Toledo to save the troops on the 27th September, instead of proceeding straight to Madrid. He was able to achieve a major propaganda victory, increasing his status and reputation, leading to him on the 29th September, being named head of the Nationalist forces.

  However, it did allow Republicans more time to prepare to defend Madrid.
• Assault of Madrid (October - December 1936):

  The Nationalists began a heavy artillery and aerial bombardment of Madrid, using German Junker 52 aircraft. The Republican government transferred to Valencia. However, the Nationalist advance was halted by Republican resistance in West Madrid.

  The Republicans were aided by USSR military aid (which arrived on 14th October) and they also more troops due to the militias. The first detachments of the International Brigades also arrived on 8th November, which boosted Republican morale. By the end of November, a stalemate had set in west Madrid.
• The Malaga Campaign (February 1937):

  The Nationalists attempted to extend their control over southern Spain early 1937, which a focus on gaining the southern coastal city of Malaga. The city was isolated, with Nationalists moving in troops from the east, west and north, including 10000 Italians (utilising the tactics of rapid war). This was supported by armoured vehicles, tanks and aircraft. Due to Malaga being isolated with only 12000 militia men and 16 pieces of artillery, their defences crumbled rapidly.
• The Battle for Madrid (January - March 1937):

  Madrid remained the strategic focus for the Nationalists for the first half of 1937. New attempts were made to encircle the city.

  This included the attack on Guadalajara to the north-east in March. Like previous attempts, it was based on an infantry advance, supported by tanks, artillery bombardment and low-level use of aircraft. It resulted in a defensive victory for the Republicans, mainly due to the superiority of Soviet military technology.

  Another stalemate was created in Madrid.
• Vizcaya Campaign (March - June 1937):

  After the Nationalists' failure to take Madrid, Franco shifted his attention to northern Spain, notably regions of the Basque Country and Asturias. Due to their mineral and industrial riches, they were valuable for the Nationalists.

  The Nationalists use of airpower was crucial as it marked the first use of the new German aircraft. This made it the first major battle when the Nationalists had aerial supremacy.

  The campaign began with aerial attacks on Ochandiano and Durango in March. Raids over Durango on the 31st March killed around 250 civilians.
• Guernica (26th April 1937):

  Guernica was a Basque town with a population of around 7000 and acted as a communication link for Republican forces, as it contained an armaments factory.

  Several squadrons of German and Italian aircraft targeted Guernica with 60000lbs of high explosive and incendiary bombs, killing fleeing civilians. The government reported 1685 dead and hundreds more injured.

  The horrors were exploited in Republican propaganda and 3 days after the bombings, Nationalist ground troops took Guernica with little resistance.
• Conquest of the North (May - October 1937):

  During the Nationalists' rapid progress through the Basque Country, they breached the Bilbao's 'ring of iron' defences through heavy artillery and aerial bombardment. The city was also isolated and starved of supplies by a Nationalist naval blockade. Bilbao surrendered on the 19th June 1937.

  The Nationalist conquest of the north was completed with the capture of Gijon on the 22nd October 1937, establishing complete control of the Asturias region. The success of the Nationalist advance relied significantly on their unchallenged air superiority.
• Brunete (July 1937):

  While Nationalist forces made advances in northern Spain, the Republicans launched their first major offensive at Brunete (east Madrid). They wanted to relieve Madrid and cut off one of the Nationalist's major supply routes. Although initially successful, supported by airpower, they gained Brunete in 2 days. However, the Condor Legion was superior, putting the Republicans under heavy fire. Republican communications broke down. Due to the inexperience of Republican troops they dug in, exposing themselves to the Condor Legion. The Nationalists regained Brunete.