Battle of Bilbao
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Bilbao was part of the War in the North
, during the Spanish Civil War
where the Nationalist Army
captured the city of Bilbao
and the remaining parts of the Basque Country
still held by the Republic
.
Bilbao was the capital of the autonomous Basque area
established by the Republic after the war began. This establishment was in payment for Basque Nationalist support of the Republic.
The Basque people in Spain generally inhabit four provinces, Navarre
, Álava
, Gipuzkoa and Biscay
. The Basque Nationalists were dominant in the latter two provinces.
Navarre and Álava had rallied to the rising against the Republic.
The Spanish Nationalists troops gained Gipuzkoa early in the war with the fall of San Sebastián
, September 13, 1936.
By June 11, 1937, The Basque forces had fallen back to the city of Bilbao
, which was defended by a series of rushed fortifications called the "Iron Belt
." The Iron Belt was poorly designed for defense and the designer of the Belt, engineer Alejandro Goicoechea, defected to the Nationalists and brought them the plans of the defenses, so that they could strike at the weakest point. The ring was breached by an infantry assault supported by heavy artillery bombardment. On the night of June 13 the defenders evacuated most of the civilian population from the city. On June 18 General Ulibarri withdrew his remaining troops from Bilbao and the Nationalists occupied the city on the following day. The city's bridges had been destroyed to hinder the attackers but the city remained mostly intact.
War in the North
The War in the North, in the Spanish Civil War was the campaign in which the Nationalist forces defeated and occupied the parts of northern Spain that remained loyal to the Republican government. The campaign included several separate battles. The Battle of Bilbao resulted in the loss of the part...
, during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
where the Nationalist Army
Spanish State
Francoist Spain refers to a period of Spanish history between 1936 and 1975 when Spain was under the authoritarian dictatorship of Francisco Franco....
captured the city of Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
and the remaining parts of the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
still held by the Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
.
Bilbao was the capital of the autonomous Basque area
Basque Government
The Basque Government is the governing body of the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain. The head of this government is the lehendakari or Basque president that is appointed by the Basque Parliament every four years...
established by the Republic after the war began. This establishment was in payment for Basque Nationalist support of the Republic.
The Basque people in Spain generally inhabit four provinces, Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, Álava
Álava
Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
, Gipuzkoa and Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
. The Basque Nationalists were dominant in the latter two provinces.
Navarre and Álava had rallied to the rising against the Republic.
The Spanish Nationalists troops gained Gipuzkoa early in the war with the fall of San Sebastián
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
, September 13, 1936.
By June 11, 1937, The Basque forces had fallen back to the city of Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, which was defended by a series of rushed fortifications called the "Iron Belt
Iron Belt
The Iron Ring , was a vast, labyrinthine fortification around Bilbao, consisting of bunkers, tunnels, and fortified trenches in several rings, protected by artillery.It was hurriedly built during the Spanish Civil War by the Basque Government....
." The Iron Belt was poorly designed for defense and the designer of the Belt, engineer Alejandro Goicoechea, defected to the Nationalists and brought them the plans of the defenses, so that they could strike at the weakest point. The ring was breached by an infantry assault supported by heavy artillery bombardment. On the night of June 13 the defenders evacuated most of the civilian population from the city. On June 18 General Ulibarri withdrew his remaining troops from Bilbao and the Nationalists occupied the city on the following day. The city's bridges had been destroyed to hinder the attackers but the city remained mostly intact.