Fighting

• Nationalists Advance towards Madrid (August-October 1936)


  WHAT?: Army of Africa march from Seville to Extremadura (320km first week)

  WHO?: nationalists gain Merida and Badajoz - 2000 shot on General Yugues orders after

  WHY?: inexperienced and ill-equipped militiamen; Talavera de la Reina 1 day to subdue
• Nationalists Relief of the Fortress of Alcazar (September 1936)


  WHAT?: symbolic victory of breaking siege

  WHO?: 27th - AoA disperses republican troops

  WHAT?: Gave republicans time to reorganise defence of Madrid - vital supplies from USSR
• Nationalist Assault on Madrid (October - December 1936)


  WHAT?: heavy bombardment of Madrid used German Junker 52 Aircraft; republican gov moves to Valencia

  WHO?: Stalemate in West Madrid; International brigades halt advance across Casa de Campo

  WHY?: Military aid: USSR - T-26 tanks, Polikarpov I-25. Soviet planes superior to German/Italian ones, More manpower assisted my militias
• Málaga Campaign (February 1937)

  WHAT?: Nationalists attempt to extend control but isolated from 3 sides - moved 100,000 troops

  WHO?: Italian advance from East, West and North were successful

  WHY?: Italians used Guerra Celare, Republicans isolated with only 12,000 militiamen and 16 artillery
• Battle for Madrid (January - March 1937)


  WHAT?: aimed to take city via north-west (Guadalajara Campaign). Infantry advance, tanks, artillery, low level aricraft

  WHO?: Defensive victory for Republicans. Neither side able to exploit weaknesses - stalemate

  WHY?: Superiority of Soviet Military technology, particularly aircraft and tanks
• Vizcaya Campaign (March - June 1937)

  WHAT?: Franco shifts attention to Northern Spain - Basque, Asturias - outside nationalist control but rich resources (mineral and coal)

  WHO?: Aerial attacks over Ochandiano and Durango: Durango killed over 250 civilians

  WHY?: first sue of new German aircraft superior to soviet ones. First Major battle with Nationalist aerial supremacy - retained for the rest of the war
• Guernica (April 1937)


  WHAT?: Remorseless cruelty of fascists: 26th: Heinkel 111 dropped 60,000lbs high explosive incendiary bombs. Heinkel 51s shoot civilians

  WHO?: 3 days after bombing nationalists take Guernica. Exploited in republican propaganda

  WHY?: Heinkel 51s - flew low strafing roads and shooting fleeing civilians, civilian death toll: 1,685 more injured
• Nationalist Conquest of the North (May - October 1937)

  WHAT?: progress through Basque culminates in assault in Bilbao (steel engineering). Protecting by Ring of iron: breached bombardment and naval blockade of port

  WHO?: Bilbao surrenders on 19th June 1937, Conquest completed with capture of Gijón on 22 October - complete control of Asturias

  WHY?: unchallenged air superiority; severe aerial bombardment ahead of infantry advance
• Brunette (July 1938)


  WHAT?: Republicans first major offensive - relieve Madrid; broke nationalist siege of city cut major supply routes from north

  WHO?: initial manoeuvres successful captured in 2 days; republicans dug in - exposed to aerial assault. Counter-attack regained Brunette.

  WHY?: Messerschmitt 109 fighters; Heinkel 111 bombers from Condor Legion outperformed republicans. Communication broke down. Inexperienced junior officers in PF Army
• Teruel (December 1937 - January 1938)

  WHAT?: Franco would launch on Madrid after North. Republicans try to divert - Teruel 320km away from Madrid

  WHO?: initially successful - nationalists counter attack trapped in town - heavy aerial bombardment

  WHY?: running short supplies abandoned on February 22. Majority of Spain under nationalists control. PF maintained discipline and organisation to a higher extent in retreat, lost manpower