battles

• Advance towards Madrid - August to October 1936 : Causes


  NATIONALISTS WON

  • strategic priority to get Madrid
  • Majority of Republican fighters were militiamen = inexperienced and ill equipped = easy for army of Africa to outmaneuver
• Battle of Madrid - Consequences

  • Army of Africa took Merida and Badajoz by August 1936
  • Massacre of Badajoz - 2,000 people shot on Yague's orders even after town was subdued
  • delayed little of republican resistance
  • Town of Talavera de la Reina fell to Nationalists in a day
• Battle Of Madrid - Factors for N win

  • international intervention , aided by foreign allies
  • gave air cover for N
  • Army of Africa was experienced , organised and trained
  • Republican disorganisation and lack of experience allowed N to win
• Nationalist Relief of the Fortress of Alcazar , September 1936 : Causes


  NATIONALISTS WON

  • 2,000 troops were besieged by Republicans on the fortress
  • liberating them would be a symbolic victory for Franco
  • decided to divert Army of Africa to advance on the Fortress and break seige
  • went against orders of General Yague who saw the offensive of little strategic value
• Consequences of Fortress of Alcazar

  • earned propaganda value and symbolic victory by relieving fortress
  • Franco's status improved - 1936 : chief and supreme general
  • By diverting Army towards Toledo , it gave R time to organise and defend Madrid - time to get supplies from Soviet Union
  • Republicans were well organised in Nationalist Assault on Madrid
• Factors that led to Nationalist V at Fortress of Alcazar

  • military skill and experience from Army of Africa
  • international intervention helped Republicans
  • organisation helped Republicans in prepping against Nationalists
• Causes for Nationalist Assault on Madrid - Oct - Dec 1936

  REPUBLICANS WON

  • able to withstand Nationalist advance into the city from the west at Casa De Campo
• consequences of Nationalist Assault on Madrid

  • 1 in 3 brigadiers killed at Casa De Campo
  • International Brigades arrival in November , boosted morale , helped halt Nationalists
  • Nationalists unable to break down Republican forces
  • ended in stalemate
• factors contributing to Republican Victory in Assault on Madrid 1936

  • Republicans had strong military Soviet aid - Polikarpov 1-15 and 1-16 were superior to Italy and German planes + T-26 Tanks
  • Republican troops assisted by Republican militias and International Brigades
• causes for Nationalist Victory in Malaga Campaign , Feb 1937


  • wanted to gain Malaga to extend control of Southern Spain - did so to failed attempts at controlling Spain
  • Malage isolated through 3 sides by Nationalist troops
  • Republicans were weak - had only 12,000 men , 16 pieces of artillery
• consequences of Malaga Campaign 1937


  • Italian advance was successful and it was a quick defeat
• factors contributing to Nationalist Victory in the Malaga Campaign

  • 10,000 Italians alongside using rapid war tactics
  • used lots of armoured vehicles and tanks covered by supporting aircraft
• Causes of Battle of Madrid - Jan - March 1937

  REPUBLICANS WON

  • Nationalists attack Guadalajara after failed Madrid attempts
  • aimed to do by attacking North-West
  • had tanks , artillery , low level use of aircraft
• Consequences of Battle of Madrid 1937

  • Republicans won
  • neither side able to exploit advances , stalemate set around in Madrid
• factors contributing to Republican win in Battle of Madrid

  • international intervention let Republicans win - had superior Soviet tech at the time
• Causes for Vizcaya Campaign , March to June 1937

  NATIONALISTS WON

  • failure to take Madrid = strategic focus
  • shifted attention to North in Basque and Asturias
  • give them industrial and mineral riches
  • began with aerial attacks in Durango
• consequences of Vizcaya campaign

  • airpower gave N aerial superiority
  • effect of bombardments were devastating
  • raids skilled 250 civillians
  • nationalist troops occupied town with little resistance
• factors contributing to Nationalist victory in Vizcaya campaign

  • international intervention - new German aircraft was crucial to Soviet aircraft
  • kept this advantage for rest of war
• Causes of Guernica , April 1937


  REPUBLICANS WON

  • provincial Basque town, population of 7,000
  • strategic - communication link for Republicans and had armament factories. Occupied main courses North
• consequences of Guernica


  • devastating attack showed cruel fascist tactics
  • bombed roads and purposely killed fleeting civillians
  • 1,685 died
  • horrors exploited through Republican propaganda
  • took Guernica after 3 days
• factors contributing to Nationalist win in Guernica , 1937 April


  • squadrons of Italian and German aircraft , new Heinkel III bombers targeted Guernica with 60,000 bombs
  • international intervention
  • air superiority
  • good skill and training
  • good organisation tactics
• causes of Nationalist conquest of the North , May to October 1937

  NATIONALIST WIN

  • rapid progress through Basque country culminated in their assault on capital , Bilbao
  • Bilbao had steel works and engineering industries
  • protected by Ring Of Iron
• consequences of Nationalist Conquest of the North

  • Ring Of Iron breached by Nationalists following heavy artillery and aerial bombardment
  • city isolated and starved due to naval blockade of its port by Nationalists
  • Bilbao surrendered June 1937
  • completed with capture of Gijon in October
  • complete control of Asturias region
• factors in Nationalist victory in Conquest of the North

  • aerial superiority
  • air superiority
• causes for the Brunete battle , July 1937


  • relieve Madrid by breaking part of Nationalist siege of the city and to cut off one of their major supply routes from the north
• consequences of the Brunete battle , July 1937


  • Republicans successful at first
  • many tanks used to support infantry were hasted by anti-tank guns
  • lost superiorty in skies due to German figures and Heinkel 111 bombers from condor legion
  • Republican communications broke down = exposed to Nationalist forces
  • gave Nationalists time to bring reinforcements and regained it
• factors contributing to Nationalist victory of Brunete , 1937


  • International intervention lost them their superiority to Nationalists
  • outperformed Republican aircraft
  • republicans left exposed due to inexperienced officers
  • Nationalists had aerial superiority
• causes of Teruel , December 1937 - January 1938

  NATIONALIST WON

  • Republicans tried to divert Nationalist troops away from Madrid by launching offensive in Teruel first
  • At first , Republicans were successful
  • Nationalists counter attack trapped Republicans forced inside a town with heavy artillery and aerial bombardment
  • eventually abandoned town
• consequences of battle of Teruel

  • start of 1938 = majority of Spain under Nationalist control
  • except South East and Catalonia
  • Nationalist troops had tanks and aircraft , had superiority
  • aimed to take South East and Catalonia
  • German fighter jets crucial
• factors leading to Nationalist winning Battle of Teruel

  • aerial superiority
  • lack of supplies led them to abandon town
  • international intervention due to German fighter jets being crucial
• Causes of Republican Ebro Offensive

  • attempt to divert Nationalist forces north and prolong war , attempt to get Britain and France involved
  • Republicans were initially successful , covered 40km in first week
  • Popular Army showed signs of discipline and organisation involved
  • Nationalists still superior
• consequences of the Republican Ebro Offensive


  • R couldn't keep up with offensive , Nationalists countered
  • lost number of tanks due to inexperience
  • 20,000 Republicans killed with 50,000 wounded
  • lost artillery , aircraft and tanks
  • Negrin failed to prolong war
• factors leading to Nationalist's victory in Ebro Offensive


  • 16th November - lost all territory
  • Republicans lacked experience and organisation
  • Aerial superiority key to Nationalists recapture of territory
• why were the Nationalist victories in Madrid and Barcelona in 1939 so straightforward?


  • Barcelona - population = demoralised , continued bombing , food shortages and low confidence city allowed for Nationalists to easily take control
  • Madrid - internal war broke out between National Defence Council and those loyal to