Battle of the Corunna Road
Encyclopedia
The Battle of the Corunna Road (Batalla de la Carretera de Coruña) was a battle of the Spanish Civil War
from 13 December 1936 to 15 January 1937, northwest of Madrid
.
. Franco decided to attack the city from the north-west in order to cut off water and electricity supplies from the Sierra de Guadarrama
and encircle the city. After a failed offensive
in november, the Nationalists concentrated a force of 17,000 men, led by the general Orgaz, with four mobile brigades (led by Garcia Escamez, Barron, Saenz de Buruaga and Monasterio) and backed by heavy artillery and JU-52 bombers. The republican army had a few batallions led by Luis Barcelo.
. The republicans sent a detachment of russian tanks led by the general Pavlov and two International Brigades (XII and XIV). The XII International Brigade
counter-attacked at Boadilla and occupied it, but they were cut off in the town by the Nationalists counter-attack. On 19 December Orgaz, deciced to halt the offensive after gained a few kilometres.
Towards the end of december, Orgaz received reinforcements and decided to relaunch the offensive. The republican high command redeployed their units in the Pozuelo
-Brunete
sector. The republicans had an army corps led by Miaja with five divisions (led by Nino Nanetti, Modesto, Colonels Perea, Prada and Galan) but the republican troops had little ammunition.
The Nationalists relaunched their offensive on 3 January. On the right flank the republican troops collapsed and Barron advanced form Boadilla and reached Las Rozas on 4 January, but in Pozuelo the Modesto´s division, with four Mixed brigades, led by El Campesino, Luis Barcelo, Gustavo Duran and Cipriano Mera managed to hold the front. Then, Varela concentrated his eight batteries of 105 and 155mm, tanks and aircraft on Pozuelo. On 5 January after a Nationalists attack with tanks and waves of infantry, the republican troops collapsed and fled in disorder, although six russian T-26 tanks destroyed 25 german light tanks. The republican brigades had lost contact and had no ammunitions and Miaja decided to send the Lister's brigade and the XIV International Brigade
.
The Nationalists columns reached the Corunna road at Las Rozas
and surrounded Pozuelo, although the republican troops hold it. On 7 January the german Thaelmann Battalion of the XIV International Brigade was ordered to hold Las Rozas and not to retreat. The town was surrounded by the Nationalist troops, bombed by the nationalist artillery, and the battalion suffered apalling loses (only 35 men survived) and many wounded were killed by the regulares
.
, Villanueva
, Pozuelo
and Boadilla
. By 15 February both sides were exhausted and the battle was over.
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...
from 13 December 1936 to 15 January 1937, northwest of Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
.
Background
The Battle of Madrid in November 1936 had been fought to a standstill, with the Nationalists failing to take the city. They then started to besiege it, aiming to cut its links to the rest of SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Franco decided to attack the city from the north-west in order to cut off water and electricity supplies from the Sierra de Guadarrama
Sierra de Guadarrama
The Sierra de Guadarrama is a mountain range forming the main eastern section of the Sistema Central, the system of mountain ranges at the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. It is located between the Sierra de Gredos in the province of Ávila, and Sierra de Ayllón in the province of Guadalajara...
and encircle the city. After a failed offensive
First Battle of the Corunna Road
The First battle of the Corunna Road took place between the 29th of November and 3rd of December, 1936 during the Spanish Civil War.-Background:...
in november, the Nationalists concentrated a force of 17,000 men, led by the general Orgaz, with four mobile brigades (led by Garcia Escamez, Barron, Saenz de Buruaga and Monasterio) and backed by heavy artillery and JU-52 bombers. The republican army had a few batallions led by Luis Barcelo.
The Nationalist offensive
The Nationalists offensive started with a heavy artillery bombardment and on 14 december occupied the town of Boadilla del MonteBoadilla del Monte
Boadilla del Monte is a town in Spain. It is located in the center of the Community of Madrid. It had a population of 41,807 in 2008.-External links:* * *...
. The republicans sent a detachment of russian tanks led by the general Pavlov and two International Brigades (XII and XIV). The XII International Brigade
XII International Brigade
The XII International Brigade was mustered on 7 November 1936 at Albacete, Spain. It was formally named the Garibaldi Brigade, after the most famous and inspiring leader in the Italian Independence Wars, General Giuseppe Garibaldi. Its first commanding officer was a soviet advisor of Hungarian...
counter-attacked at Boadilla and occupied it, but they were cut off in the town by the Nationalists counter-attack. On 19 December Orgaz, deciced to halt the offensive after gained a few kilometres.
Towards the end of december, Orgaz received reinforcements and decided to relaunch the offensive. The republican high command redeployed their units in the Pozuelo
Pozuelo de Alarcón
Pozuelo de Alarcón is a suburb of over 85,000 inhabitants near the city of Madrid, capital of Spain. It is surrounded by large Mediterranean pine-tree forests: la Casa de Campo, el Monte del Pardo and el Monte del Pilar...
-Brunete
Brunete
Brunete is a town outside Madrid, Spain. There was a major battle fought there during the Spanish Civil War. The battle, while a stalemate, was seen as a tactical victory for the Spanish Nationalist Forces. Francisco Franco is known to have gone hunting there during his rule.It is located...
sector. The republicans had an army corps led by Miaja with five divisions (led by Nino Nanetti, Modesto, Colonels Perea, Prada and Galan) but the republican troops had little ammunition.
The Nationalists relaunched their offensive on 3 January. On the right flank the republican troops collapsed and Barron advanced form Boadilla and reached Las Rozas on 4 January, but in Pozuelo the Modesto´s division, with four Mixed brigades, led by El Campesino, Luis Barcelo, Gustavo Duran and Cipriano Mera managed to hold the front. Then, Varela concentrated his eight batteries of 105 and 155mm, tanks and aircraft on Pozuelo. On 5 January after a Nationalists attack with tanks and waves of infantry, the republican troops collapsed and fled in disorder, although six russian T-26 tanks destroyed 25 german light tanks. The republican brigades had lost contact and had no ammunitions and Miaja decided to send the Lister's brigade and the XIV International Brigade
XIV International Brigade
The XIV International Brigade was one of several international brigades that fought for the Spanish Second Republic during the Spanish Civil War. It was raised on 20 December 1936 with volunteers mainly from France and Belgium, under General "Walter" . This Brigade was the fourth of the...
.
The Nationalists columns reached the Corunna road at Las Rozas
Las Rozas de Madrid
Las Rozas de Madrid is one of the larger townships and municipalities in the autonomous community of Madrid, Spain, with an area of between 58.8 and 59.14 km²...
and surrounded Pozuelo, although the republican troops hold it. On 7 January the german Thaelmann Battalion of the XIV International Brigade was ordered to hold Las Rozas and not to retreat. The town was surrounded by the Nationalist troops, bombed by the nationalist artillery, and the battalion suffered apalling loses (only 35 men survived) and many wounded were killed by the regulares
Regulares
The Fuerzas Regulares Indígenas , known simply as the Regulares , were the volunteer infantry and cavalry units of the Spanish Army recruited in Spanish Morocco. They consisted of Moroccans officered by Spaniards...
.
Republican counter-attack
By 9 February the Nationalists had conquered seven miles of the Corunna Road from Puerta de Hierro to Las Rozas. Nevertheless, on 10 February the Republicans started a counter-offensive in heavy mist and cold. The XII International Brigade reached Majadahonda and the XIV Las Rozas, and the Republican drive recaptured some territory west of Madrid including the towns of MajadahondaMajadahonda
Majadahonda is a municipality in Spain, situated 16 km northwest of Madrid, in the Community of Madrid. In 2009 the population was 66,585 inhabitants .It lies alongside the motorway A6 Madrid-A Coruña....
, Villanueva
Villanueva
-Colombia:*Villanueva, Bolívar, a town and municipality in Bolívar Department*Villanueva, Casanare, a town and municipality in Casanare Department*Villanueva, La Guajira, a town and municipality in La Guajira Department...
, Pozuelo
Pozuelo de Alarcón
Pozuelo de Alarcón is a suburb of over 85,000 inhabitants near the city of Madrid, capital of Spain. It is surrounded by large Mediterranean pine-tree forests: la Casa de Campo, el Monte del Pardo and el Monte del Pilar...
and Boadilla
Boadilla del Monte
Boadilla del Monte is a town in Spain. It is located in the center of the Community of Madrid. It had a population of 41,807 in 2008.-External links:* * *...
. By 15 February both sides were exhausted and the battle was over.