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 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 Carlism, Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebeli ...

. The

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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 of ...

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 populati ...

in the Battle of Badajoz several days later.

Nationalist advance

The Nationalist army, under Colonel Carlos Asensio, assembled at

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with assistance by

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and

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"advisors". The force began its

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-like drive northward on 2 August in trucks supplied by

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. 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 ...

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

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, several kilometers south of Mérida. Two ''banderas'' (''IV Bandera'' and ''V Bandera'') of the

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and one ''tabor'' (''II Tabor'') of Moroccan ''

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'' 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 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, autho ...

, the ''II Tabor'' from the east, and the ''V Bandera'' crossing the

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. 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 ''

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'' from

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. 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.

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

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