Spanish Civil War

In July 18th in 1936, the most conservatives Spanish militaries led their troops into a revolt against the Republican government. The militaries expected little opposition to their manifestation, but they were not aware the government and its supporters were strong enough to battle them. This led to a three year war.
This civil war is known to be as a war of contradictions and political fighting. Both sides had troubles in maintaining a stable support from groups or political parties.
The Government had the support of all the Left political parties, the Republicans, the Socialists, the Communists, and the Anarchists. They and their associated Trade Unions provided with weapons to the military service that resisted the manifestation at the beginning. Some parts of the Military Forces stayed loyal to the Republican Government, like the most of the Navy, also a big portion of the Air Force, some units of the Peninsular Army, some parts of the Civil Guard and Frontier Guards and the majority of the national Riot Police. Some foreign supporters were the French Socialist Government, the Mexican Government and the Russian Government. Also many foreign volunteers participated being part of the International Brigades.
The Insurgents, also called the Nationalists, had the support of the Army of Africa, a part of the Peninsular Army, the remaining part of the Civil Guard, National Riot Police and Frontier Police. Also the Traditionalist and Right Political parties were on their side. Both parties had armies which helped in the resistance and battling, this made their participation of great importance. The Catholic Church supported the Insurgents.
The Nationalists also received foreign military aid. The Right governments of Italy and Germany sent militaries, tanks, aircraft and artillery. Also some Portuguese, French and Irish volunteers fought with the Insurgent armies.

The Battles and their Main events:


The Siege of the Alcazar: July 20th to September 27th, 1936
After the Rising in Madrid had failed, the Nationalists occupied the Military Academy in the Alcazar fortress, in Toledo. The people who participated in the battle were mainly from the local Civil Guard and Falange, commanded by Colonel Jose Moscardo. For two months the Insurgents held out against the Republican Army by besieging them.
They were finally relieved when the Army of Africa, led by Colonel Jose Varela, stormed Toledo.

The Republican invasion of Majorca: August 16th to September 3rd, 1936
On August 16th, the Catalan troops (republican), led by Captain Bayo, landed on Majorca. The Nationalist Army on Majorca was commanded by Colonel Garcia Ruiz. With the help of Italian aircraft and bombers the Nationalists were able to stop any further Republican advance, and on September 3rd they attacked the Republican bridgehead. The Catalan troops rapidly went into their ships and escaped.

The Battle for Madrid: November 8th to November 23rd, 1936
The Nationalists wanted to make an attack on Madrid hoping to capture the Spanish capital and ending the war. Their Army was led by General Emilio Mola and most of the participants were from the African Army. At the beginning, almost three-quarters of the University City fell to the Nationalists, but the republican army supported by Russian tanks and aircraft, stopped any Nationalist advance. Also the international Brigade went to aid the republican army. By November 23rd, both sides were exhausted by the fighting. Although the Nationalists had in their control the North and West areas of the city, all frontal attacks upon Madrid would be likely to fail.

The Battle for the Corunna Road: December 13th (1936) to January 15th, 1937
As the frontal attack upon Madrid had failed, the Nationalists now tried to tighten to cut off the capital from the rest of Republican Spain. On December 13th General Jose Varela attacked the Corunna Road (which is 25 miles to the North of Madrid). Between January 3rd and 15th his forces held a series of fierce attacks against the Republican troops but, as dead people were left on both sides, it became apparent that the situation had become a tie.

The Battle for Malaga: January 17th to February 6th, 1937
Having the Italian volunteers in Spain made the Nationalists feel they were able to set an attack to the southern provinces of Republican Spain. Although large numbers of Republican troops had the capacity to defend Malaga, they were not organised. By February 3rd, the attackers had reached the outskirts of the city and, three days later, the Nationalists entered Malaga.

The Battle of Jarama: February 6th to February 24th, 1937
The Nationalists renewed their attempts to capture Madrid. This time they concentrated their efforts on cutting the Valencia Road where it runs through the Jarama Valley to the south-east of the city. The Nationalists, under the leadership of General Luis Orgaz, began their attack on February 6th and, by February 11th, they had driven the Republican army, commanded by General Sebastian Pozas, across the River Jarama. By February 24th, when the battle ended, the Nationalists had failed again to cut Madrid off from the rest of the Republic, because the republican army was able to defend themselves, stopping the Nationalists plans.

The Advance on the Mediterranean Coast: March 9th to July 23rd, 1938
With the failure of the Republican attack upon Teruel the Nationalists were now able to set an attack on Aragon and Levante. The intention was to cut Republican Spain into two parts. The manifestation was led by General Fidel Davila and began on March 9th. Lerida, in Catalonia, surrendered to the Nationalists on April 3rd, and twelve days later Vinaroz, a village on the Mediterranean coast, was captured and the Republic was cut in two. The Nationalists wanted to make this gap bigger and on June 14th they captured Castellon de la Plana. Republican resistance was increasing, and the Nationalists stopped for a while the invasions for their troops to rest before the attack on Valencia.

The Battle of the Ebro: Between July and November in 1938
The Republic ordered General Juan Modesto to set an attack across the River Ebro. Made by the newly formed Republican Army of the Ebro, forced the Nationalists, who were led by General Juan Yague, to stop their invasions. In its initial phase the offensive was very successful, then it began to lose force. Later, it was the Nationalists who forced the Republicans to retreat. This battle ended on October 30th, in a massive Nationalist attack and by November 18th the Republicans had been forced back across the River Ebro.

The Battle for Barcelona: December 23rd (1938) to January 26th, 1939
The nationalists now set an attack against Catalonia. The attack against the forces defending the Republicans was made by six nationalist armies. This was too much for the already exhausted republicans. They went back to Barcelona and once Borjas Blancas was captured on January 4th, they had lost. The Republican troops maintained a resistance in Barcelona anyways until January 26th, when the city surrendered.