12
CHRONOLOGY OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR
10 October:
The Popular Front government decides to transform the peo-
ples’ militia into a legitimate, centrally directed Popular Army. From 1936 to
1939 it comprises approx. 1,000,000 men, commanded by a central general
staff.
15 October:
The city of Albacete becomes the organizational base for vol-
unteer combatants arriving from all over the world. Until the beginning of
1937, approx. 35 - 40,000 volunteers from 53 countries arrive in Spain.
22 October:
The Spanish government officially agrees to the formation of In-
ternational Brigades within the People’s Army. In the subsequent period, five
'Brigadas Internacionales' are formed, integrated into the Spanish Popular
Army as the XI - XV Brigade. The XI Brigade includes Germans (Battalion
'Etkar André', Battalion 'Thälmann'), Austrians (Battalion '12 February 1934'),
French (Battalion 'Commune de Paris') and Italians (Battalion 'Garibaldi').
The XII Brigade includes the Battalion 'Dombrowski' with Polish combatants
(including the 'Botwin Company' of 300 Jewish volunteers from Palestine),
the XIII Brigade includes the Battalion 'Chapayev', consisting of representa-
tives from 21 nations; the XV Brigade includes the Battalion 'Abraham Lin-
coln', formed by Americans.
25 October:
The fascist governments in Berlin and Rome officially recognize
the Franco regime. They step up the arms supply and reinforce their inter-
vention corps already sent to Spain.
Beginning of November:
30,000 Franco soldiers advance towards Madrid,
supported by bombardments by the 'Condor Legion'. The Republican army
resists their advance; heavy fighting breaks out.
6 November:
The Popular Front government leaves endangered Madrid and
moves to Valencia.
7 November:
The Republican troops fend off an attack on the Casa de
Campo public park on the outskirts of Madrid.
Mid-November - end of 1936:
Severe fighting around Madrid, involving
heavy losses. Franco’s troops advance to the university quarter, but they ul-
timately fail to capture the capital.
29 December:
Fighting near Brunete; the XI Brigada Internacional storms
the city.
1937
3 January:
Appointment of a German-Italian general staff under the supreme
command of Franco.
3 - 16 January:
Second major attack of Franco’s troops on Madrid, which is
also eventually fended off by the Spanish Popular Army.
17 January:
Beginning of a major offensive of Nationalist insurgents in
Southern Spain.
6 - 28 February:
Battle at the Jarama river. With a major offensive, Franco
seeks to cut off Madrid’s communication towards the south and west. This
fails in the end; the insurgents are driven back into their initial positions. The
XI and XV Brigada Internacional fight on the Republican side.
8 - 21 March:
Battle of Guadalajara. The Italian intervention corps (50,000
men), supported by 18,000 strong Franco troops from Morocco, starts a
breakthrough offensive towards the capital, along the Zaragoza-Madrid
road. The operation is stopped by the Spanish Popular Army and results in
a heavy defeat of the fascist forces which are forced to hasty retreat. The XI
and XII Brigada Internacional fight on the Republican side.
March:
Beginning of a fascist offensive in the North of Spain.
27 April:
The Basque city of Guernica is razed to the ground by dive bombers
('Stukas') of the 'Condor Legion'.
17 May:
After Largo Caballero’s resignation, Socialist Juan Negrín forms a
new government. He introduces decisive steps designed to strengthen the
republic politically and militarily in the spirit of the Popular Front.
4 - 11 July:
The 2
nd
International Writers’ Congress for the Defence of Cul-
ture is held in Madrid.
6 - 28 July:
Battle of Brunete. With a major offensive directed at Brunete, the
Popular Army seeks to eliminate the imminent menace pending on Madrid,
and to relieve the shaken Northern Front. The operation results in the Re-
publicans’ first heavy defeat. The Fascists fight back; the city of Brunete is
lost, and in the end the Popular Army has to relinquish the entire region of
Asturias. The XI Brigada Internacional fights on the Republican side.
24 August - mid-September:
Major Republican offensive on the Aragón
front, managing to capture the towns of Quinto and Belchite. The XI, XIII
and XV Brigada Internacional fight on the Republican side.
1938
Until 27 February:
Battle of Teruel (begun on 15 December 1937). In the
first phase, the Popular Army conquers the city. A subsequent Fascist coun-
teroffensive is successfully fended off. The XI Brigada Internacional fights on
the Republican side.
9 March - 19 April:
Successful major Fascist offensive on the Aragón front,
decisively supported by the German-Italian intervention corps. Catalonia
loses its means of communication with the Republican forces in central Spain
and is now cut off. The XI Brigada Internacional fights on the Republican
side. On 2 April the 'Thälmann' battalion is exhausted in a fierce battle. Only
80 men survive.
16 - 18 March:
Heavy bombings of Barcelona by the 'Condor Legion'.
8 April:
Prime minister Juan Negrín forms a new 'Government of National
Unity' and additionally takes charge of the Defence Ministry.
1 May:
The government passes a 'Defence Charter of the Democratic Re-
public'.
