La Guerra Civile Spagnola...
From 1934 to 1936, the Second Spanish Republic was governed by a center-right coalition that included the conservative Catholic Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas (CEDA). During this time, there were general strikes in Valencia and Zaragoza, street conflicts in Madrid and Barcelona, and a miners' uprising in Asturias , which was put down forcefully by the troops commanded by General López Ochoa and the Legionnaires commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Juan Yagüe, under the direction of Minister of War Diego Hidalgo.
After a series of governmental crises, the elections of February 16, 1936, brought to power a Popular Front government supported by the parties of the left and centre and opposed by those of the right. The new government was unstable, and on April 7, 1936, President Niceto Alcalá Zamora was deposed by the new Parliament, which named Prime Minister Manuel Azaña as the new President.
During this period of rising tensions, according to official sources, 330 people were assassinated and 1,511 were wounded in politically-related violence; records show 213 failed assassination attempts, 113 general strikes, and the destruction of 160 religious buildings. On July 12, 1936, José Castillo, a lieutenant in the Assault Guards and member of the Socialist Party, was murdered by a 'far right' group in Madrid. The following day a group of Assault Guards officers took revenge by murdering José Calvo Sotelo , a Member of Parliament and one of the leaders of the extreme anti-republican opposition.
The murder of José Calvo Sotelo was the final incident that triggered the Spanish Civil War
The starting position for Nationalist Spain looks challenging...
The murder of José Calvo Sotelo was the final incident that triggered the Spanish civil war and made the people rise up to get rid of the communist yoke. Although there was public support for the revolution, the Republicans crushed any sign of rebellion in the cities and as a consequence, the Nationalists started the war without control of the major cities: Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. Hitler quickly expressed his support to the Nationalist Spain and on the 21st of July agreed to send the Condor Legion to aid them in the war. The initial force consisted a Bomber Group of three squadrons of Ju-52 bombers; a Fighter Group with three squadrons of He-51 fighters; a Reconnaissance Group with two squadrons of He-99 and He-70 reconnaissance bombers; and a Seaplane Squadron of He-59 and He-60 floatplanes. The Condor Legion, under the command of General Hugo Sperrle, was an autonomous unit responsible only to Franco. The legion would eventually total nearly 12,000 men
The Condor Legion under the command of General Hugo Sperrle was a welcome aid to Nationalist Spain
While Great Britain and France chose not to get involved in the conflict, Russia decided to send material and volunteers to aid the Republicans on the 23rd of July. Mussolini was furious and spoke to the Facist Grand Council:
"Gentlement, we are facing a dire situation. The Spanish are finally revolting to get rid of the communist yoke once and for all and to form a facist government after the Italian model. The government has refused to give in to the rightful claims of the people and is clinging on to the power using brutal force to crush the rebellion. As if that was not enought the evil centre of communism - Russia - has decided to sent troops to aid the Republicans!
This intervention into Mare Nostrum cannot be accepted! Despite the fact that the Spanish people are obviously inferior to the Italians, there is Italian blood flowing in their veins. I will not remain passive while Italian blood is flowing onto the battlefiled! I therefore suggest that the Grand Council help our Spanish brothers by sending an expeditionary force - Corpo Truppe Volontarie!"
Mussolini's speach was received with applauses from the Facist Grand Council that gave Il Duce full rights to form Corpo Truppe Volontarie. It was decided that it should be led by the experienced Lt. General Bergonzoli and consist of four divisions of approximately 50,000 men in total:
- "Littorio" (In English, Lictor) - a regular Italian army division which was also fully motorized
- "Dio lo Vuole" (In English "God wants it")
- "Fiamme Nere" (in English "Black Flames")
- "Penne Nere" (in English "Black Feathers")
Although, Franco was very grateful for the Italian aid, he was nervous that the achievements of the Italian elite forces would make it seem as if his forces were merely observers. He therefore asked Lt. General Bergonzoli not to engage in combat in order to allow the Nationalist forces to have some victories for themselves. Mussolini was furious and threathened with withdrawing Corpo Truppe Volontarie. However, he decided to postpone his decision due to his infinite love for the Spanish people.
Poster from Republican Spain trying to gather suport for repelling the Italian "invasion"
It was soon clear that the Nationalist forces were inferior to the Republican and their Soviet comrades. In a stunning series of victories, the Republicans managed to take Saragossa, Huesca and Guadalajara on the 28th and 29th of July. In the Nationalist camp there was total panick and rumours of mass desertion. It was clear that Italian forces were required to turn the situation around. Bergonzoli was summoned and quickly decided to launch a counteroffensive in Southern Spain.
The achievements of the Italian troops were stunning. On the 9th of August they captured Huelva and just 11 days later Albacete fell. A large Republican force was now encircled in Badajoz. Faced with the superior Italian forces aided by the German Condor legion they wisely chose to lay down their arms on the 24th of August with more than 50,000 Republican soldiers walking in to captivity. Franco now chose to start an offensive in the North, while the Italians were finishing business in the South. Nationalist forces captured Saragossa on the 26th of August, while the Italians took control of Murcia. Almeira was now the only territory in the South still under Republican control. After a short siege with heavy bombardment from Italian and German bombers, the defenders surrendered uncoditionally on the 9th of September with another 50,000 Republican soldiers entering captivity.
Italian soldiers march into Badajoz after their stunning achievements
Franco was now feeling much more comfortable that the Nationalists would be victorious in the end and again wanted to downtone the Italian share in their victory. He therefore asked Bergonzoli to remain in the South, while he led the offensive in the North. With the Republicans now severly weakened, the Nationalist forces were more successful. After heavy fighting the Nationalist had forced the Republicans to retreat to Bilbao and Huesca on the 12th of December. However, due to the difficult terrain and lack of specialized mountaineers it was not until May 10th that the Republicans were totally defeated. Franco was overflowing with gratitude for the Italian intervention and praised the achievements of the Italian soldiers. As a small token of his gratitude he handed over the blueprints for a basic interceptor and basic field artillery that had been found in the ruins of the communist party building in Badajoz... Corpo Truppe Volontarie returned home and were celebrated as the true victors of the Spanish civil war.
(The details on the different events in Italy during the civil war will be provided in a separate post...)