The Road to Torija SCW (id:#57280)

Critical Hit (Guerra Civil: The Spanish Civil War ID: GC9)   [next]   [previous]

On the road to Torija, near Guadalajara, Spain 1937-03-11 (3 others)

Overview:

After the collapse of the third offensive on Madrid, Spanish Nationalist General Francisco Franco decided to continue with a fourth offensive aimed at closing the pincer around the capital. The Nationalist forces, although victorious at the Battle of the Jarama River, were exhausted and could not create the necessary momentum to carry the operation through. However, the Italians were optimistic after the capture of Málaga, and it was thought that the Italian forces could score an easy victory owing to the heavy losses sustained by the People's Republican Army at Jarama. Italian dictator Benito Mussolini endorsed the operation and committed Italian units to it. On the third day of the offensive, Italians began a successful advance on the positions of XI and XII International Brigades, who were forced to retreat down the main road. The Italian vanguard was stopped some 3 km before the town of Torija.

Defender: Spanish Republican (Edgar Andre Bn, XI International Bde)  

Errata (source)