Battle of Monte Pelado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Monte Pelado |
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| Part of the Spanish Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Spanish Republic |
 Nationalists |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Mario Angeloni † | Carlos Sanez | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| ? | 500 regulars | ||||||
The Battle of Monte Pelado was an important fight during the Spanish Civil War. It happened on August 28, 1936. This battle was special because it was the first big fight for Italian volunteers who joined the Republican side. These volunteers were part of a group called the Matteotti Battalion.
The Spanish Civil War was a big conflict in Spain from 1936 to 1939. It was fought between two main groups: the Republicans, who supported the elected government, and the Nationalists, who were rebels led by General Francisco Franco.
Contents
What Was the Battle of Monte Pelado?
The Battle of Monte Pelado, which means "Bald Mountain," was a clash between the Republican forces and the Nationalist forces. The Republicans won this battle. It showed that the Italian volunteers were ready to fight hard.
Where Did It Happen?
The battle took place at Monte Pelado in the Aragon region of Spain. This mountain is located between the cities of Huesca and Almudévar. The Nationalists had set up a gun position there. They also had about 500 soldiers in the area.
Who Fought in the Battle?
The main fighters were the Italian volunteers from the Matteotti Battalion. They fought alongside Spanish anarchists from a group called the Francisco Ascaso column. They were fighting against the Nationalist troops.
- Italian Volunteers: These were people from Italy who came to Spain to help the Republican government. They believed in freedom and democracy.
- Spanish Anarchists: Anarchists are people who believe in a society without a government. They fought for the Republican side.
- Nationalists: These were the rebel soldiers who wanted to overthrow the government. They were also called Francoists because they followed General Franco.
What Happened During the Battle?
The fighting at Monte Pelado was very intense. It started early in the morning, around five o'clock, and lasted until nine o'clock. The Italian volunteers and Spanish anarchists attacked the Nationalist position. They fought bravely and eventually took control of the mountain. However, they suffered many losses, meaning many of their soldiers were injured or killed.
Heroes and Survivors
Many brave Italian volunteers were killed during the Battle of Monte Pelado. These included:
- Mario Angeloni, who was the commander of the column.
- Michele Centrone, an anarchist.
- Giuseppe Zuddas, who was part of the "Giustizia e Libertà" (Justice and Liberty) group.
- Fosco Falaschi, another anarchist.
- Attilio Papparotto, a Communist.
- Vincenzo Perrone, an anarchist.
Some important Italians who survived the battle were:
- Carlo Rosselli, a socialist.
- Camillo Berneri, an anarchist.
- Maria Zazzi, an anarchist.
- Leonida Mastrodicasa, an anarchist.
See also
- In Spanish: Batalla de Monte Pelado para niños
- List of Spanish Republican military equipment of the Spanish Civil War
- List of Spanish Nationalist military equipment of the Spanish Civil War
