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The Córdoba offensive was a failed Republican offensive against the Nationalist held city of Cordoba. It took place from 19 to 22 August 1936 during the
Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...
.


Background

On 18 July, the military governor of Cordoba, Ciriaco Cascajo, started the '' coup'' in the city, bombing the civil government and arresting the civil governor, Rodriguez de Leon. After that, he and the civil guard officer Bruno Ibañez, ''Don Bruno'', carried out a bloody repression (in the first weeks, 2,000 persons were executed). In the second week of August, the Nationalist troops were reinforced by 400 ''
regulares The ("Indigenous Regular Forces"), known simply as the (Regulars), are infantry units of the Spanish Army, largely recruited in the cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Historically, the force, which has also included mounted divisions, has consisted ...
'' who, led by Colonel Varela, after the capture of
Huelva Huelva ( , , ) is a municipality of Spain and the capital of the Huelva (province), province of Huelva, in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. Located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, it sits betwee ...
, launched an attack eastwards from
Seville Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spain, Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir, River Guadalquivir, ...
in order to relieve the besieged nationalist-held city of
Granada Granada ( ; ) is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada (Spain), Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence ...
. After a corridor to the city was established, Varela prepared to attack Malaga. At that point, the Republican Army launched an attack in order to recover Córdoba.


The offensive

The Republican force, led by General Miaja, was composed of 3,000 men, mainly regular troops, civil guards, militiamen from Madrid and local volunteers. Opposing them, the Nationalists had the small force of the Nationalist commander in Cordoba, Colonel Cascajo, and the column of Colonel Varela. The Nationalists also had one DC-2 and several Sa-81 bombers. The advance of Miaja's force had started on 5 August but its advance was very slow and only occupied small towns like Adamuz and
Pozoblanco Pozoblanco () is a town in the Córdoba Province, Spain, province of Córdoba, southern Spain, in the north-central part of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. It is located near the headwaters of the Guadamatil ...
. The Republican attack against Cordoba itself started on 20 August. The Republican troops reached the gates of Cordoba (5 km from the city), but they were beaten back and the attack failed on 22 August. According to Thomas, the offensive failed because of the skillful use of the Italian Savoia bombers and because Cascajo threatened to execute the family of Miaja who were in Cordoba. According to Beevor, the attack failed because of the incompetence of Miaja and the Republican professional officers. Furthermore, many of Miaja's officers were, in fact, Nationalist supporters (Miaja's adjutant was hoping to cross the lines, and on 23 August one captain, Antonio Reparaz, deserted with 200 civil guards).


Aftermath

Nationalist repression in the towns briefly occupied by the Republicans was very harsh. In the town of Palma del Rio, a local landowner killed 300 supporters of the Republic (the Republicans had killed 42 supporters of the Nationalists there). After a nationalist counter-offensive in September, the Cordoba front was stabilised.


See also

*
List of Spanish Republican military equipment of the Spanish Civil War This is a list of military equipment of the Spanish Republicans. The Soviet Union was the main provider of Republican military equipment. Weapons * List of Spanish Civil War weapons of the Republicans Aircraft * List of aircraft of the Sp ...
*
List of Spanish Nationalist military equipment of the Spanish Civil War {{short description, None This is a list of all military equipment used by the nationalists during the Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil ...


References


Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cordoba Offensive Battles of the Spanish Civil War 1936 in Spain Conflicts in 1936 History of Córdoba, Spain Province of Córdoba (Spain) August 1936 in Europe