The Battle of Mérida saw
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
militia twice fail to halt the
Spanish Army of Africa
The Army of Africa ( es, Ejército de África, ar, الجيش الإسباني في أفريقيا, Al-Jaysh al-Isbānī fī Afriqā) or Moroccan Army Corps ( es, Cuerpo de Ejército Marroquí') was a field army of the Spanish Army that garriso ...
near the historic town of
Mérida early in the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...
.
The
Nationalists
Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people), Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: The ...
beat the Republicans from the city on 10 August 1936 and secured control the following day, allowing General
Juan Yagüe
Juan Yagüe y Blanco, 1st Marquis of San Leonardo de Yagüe (19 November 1891 – 21 October 1952) was a Spanish military officer during the Spanish Civil War, one of the most important in the Nationalist side. He became known as the "Butcher o ...
to surround and capture neighbouring
Badajoz
Badajoz (; formerly written ''Badajos'' in English) is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. It is situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana. The population ...
in the
Battle of Badajoz several days later.
Nationalist advance
The Nationalist army, under
Colonel Carlos Asensio, assembled at
Seville
Seville (; es, Sevilla, ) is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula ...
with assistance by
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
and
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
"advisors". The force began its
Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg ( , ; from 'lightning' + 'war') is a word used to describe a surprise attack using a rapid, overwhelming force concentration that may consist of armored and motorized or mechanized infantry formations, together with close air su ...
-like drive northward on 2 August in trucks supplied by
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
Queipo de Llano
Gonzalo Queipo de Llano y Sierra (5 February 1875 – 9 March 1951) was a Spanish military leader who rose to prominence during the July 1936 coup and then the Spanish Civil War and the White Terror.
Biography
A career army man, Queipo de Llan ...
.
Major Antonio Castejón followed with a second column on 3 August.
Asensio raced north, smashing through fierce Republican resistance on 6 August. The next day, the Army of Africa captured the village of
Almendralejo
Almendralejo () is a town in the Province of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. It is situated 45 km south-east of Badajoz, on the main road and rail route between Mérida and Seville. , it has a population of 33,975. It was the site of a battle a ...
after a
bloody struggle that decimated both sides. The Republicans retreated north to nearby Mérida, while the Nationalists waited for Castejón to arrive.
The battle
On 10 August the Republican militia made another stand along the
Guadiana River
The Guadiana River (, also , , ), or Odiana, is an international river defining a long stretch of the Portugal-Spain border, separating Extremadura and Andalusia (Spain) from Alentejo and Algarve (Portugal). The river's basin extends from the e ...
, several kilometers south of Mérida. Two ''banderas'' (''IV Bandera'' and ''V Bandera'') of the
Spanish Foreign Legion
For centuries, Spain recruited foreign soldiers to its army, forming the Foreign Regiments () - such as the Regiment of Hibernia (formed in 1709 from Irishmen who fled their own country in the wake of the Flight of the Earls and the penal ...
and one ''tabor'' (''II Tabor'') of
Moroccan ''
Regulares
The Fuerzas Regulares Indígenas ("Indigenous Regular Forces"), known simply as the Regulares (Regulars), are volunteer infantry units of the Spanish Army, largely recruited in the cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Consisting of indigenous infantry an ...
'' took part in the battle. Before the attack, Mérida was subjected to powerful shelling from Nationalist artillery and aviation. The rebels then attacked the city from three directions: the ''IV Bandera'' from the south, crossing the Guadiana River after taking
Alange
Alange () is a municipality located in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. the municipality has a population of 1,891 inhabitants.
There has been a spa at Alange at least since Roman times when a bathhouse was constructed with separate ...
and
Zafra
Zafra () is a town situated in the Province of Badajoz (Extremadura, Spain), and the capital of the comarca of Zafra - Río Bodión. It has a population of 16,677, according to the 2011 census.
Zafra is the hometown of Fray Ruy Lopez, author ...
, the ''II Tabor'' from the east, and the ''V Bandera'' crossing the
Puente Romano. The ''IV Bandera'' initially failed to cross the river, and retreated itself to Almendralejo, but the ''II Tabor'' entered the city.
In the meantime, Asensio, with the ''V Bandera'', pushed forward and captured the bridge, then swept across the river and captured the city. The loyalist militia retreated rather than risk encirclement, and General Yagüe then arrived to take command of the rebel army. After the occupation of the city, Yagüe's troops carried out a bloody massacre. The committee of defense, led by Anita López was executed by the Nationalists.
Yagüe next moved west against Badajoz with Asensio and Castejón, leaving a detachment of soldiers under
Major Heli Tella to hold Mérida. On 11 August the Republican militia reappeared with a strong contingent of ''
Asaltos'' and ''
Guardia Civil
The Civil Guard ( es, Guardia Civil, link=no; ) is the oldest law enforcement agency in Spain and is one of two national police forces. As a national gendarmerie force, it is military in nature and is responsible for civil policing under the a ...
'' from
Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
. The Republicans attacked and were beaten by Tella's professional Legionnaires.
Meanwhile, Yagüe's contingent took Badajoz by storm.
Aftermath
After the occupation of Mérida and Badajoz, the Nationalists connected the Nationalist-held northern zone and the southern zone.
[Jackson, Gabriel. (1967). ''The Spanish Republic and the Civil War, 1931–1939.'' Princeton University Press. Princeton. p.268] Furthermore, the Nationalist occupied the occidental half of the Badajoz province and the Republican government lost the control of the Portuguese frontier. The Nationalists carried out a harsh repression in the conquered territory.
See also
*
*
*
White Terror (Spain)
In the history of Spain, the White Terror ( es, Terror Blanco; also known as the Francoist Repression, ''la Represión franquista'') describes the political repression, including executions and rapes, which were carried out by the Nationalist ...
References
*
*Espinosa, Francisco. ''La columna de la muerte. El avance del ejército franquista de Sevilla a Badajoz.'' Editoríal Crítica. Madrid. 2003.
*Beevor, Antony. (2006). The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939. Penguin Books. London.
Notes
External links
La Marcha: The Drive on Madrid
{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle of Merida
1936 in Spain
Merida
Merida
Merida
Spanish Civil War in Extremadura
Mérida, Spain
August 1936 events
History of the province of Badajoz