Battle of Talavera de la Reina (1936) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Talavera de la Reina
Part of the Spanish Civil War
Date 3 September 1936 Location Talavera de la Reina, Spain Result Nationalist victory
Belligerents
Second Spanish Republic	Nationalists
Commanders and leaders
General Riquelme Juan Modesto Moisés Gamero José Asensio Torrado	Juan Yagüe Carlos Asensio Cabanillas Antonio Castejón Espinosa
Strength
10,000 regulars and militia	3,500 regulars
Casualties and losses
500 dead 1,000 captured	1,000 dead or wounded

The Battle of Talavera de la Reina was a key fight during the Spanish Civil War. It happened on September 3, 1936, in Talavera de la Reina, Spain. In this battle, the Republicans tried to stop the Nationalists from reaching Madrid.

The Nationalists won the battle. Both sides had many soldiers killed or hurt. This defeat was a big loss for the Republicans. It opened the way for the Nationalists to attack Madrid.

Why Talavera de la Reina Was Important

In the first days of September, the Republican army was slowly moving back. They had been fighting along the Tagus River. Their commander, General Riquelme, decided to save his soldiers. He chose to give up some land instead of fighting in open areas.

This plan helped him gather over 10,000 men at Talavera. They set up in a strong position on the hills above the city. The Republicans also had many artillery guns and an armoured train. Meanwhile, the Nationalist soldiers were tired. They had marched hundreds of miles without much rest.

The Battle Begins

On the morning of September 3, General Yagüe led the Nationalist attack. He sent Colonel Asensio and Major Castejón to attack the sides of the Republican forces. Their goal was to quickly take important spots.

The two Nationalist groups soon captured the city's train station and aerodrome (airport). When the Republican soldiers saw this, some of them got scared. They knew that being surrounded and captured was very dangerous. Many soldiers left their positions and ran away from the battle in buses.

Fighting in the City

Around midday, General Yagüe ordered an attack on Talavera city itself. The Republicans tried to hold on for most of the afternoon. However, they did not put up much resistance in the streets.

By evening, the city of Talavera had been lost to the Nationalists. This battle was costly for both sides. The Nationalists lost about 1,000 soldiers who were killed or wounded. The Republicans lost 500 soldiers who died and 1,000 who were captured. They also lost 42 guns.

What Happened Next

The loss of Talavera de la Reina was a major setback for the Republicans. It meant they had lost their last strong defense line before Madrid. Soon after, Madrid itself would be put under siege.

Because of this defeat, the government of José Giral had to step down. A new government was formed, led by Francisco Largo Caballero.

See also

In Spanish: Toma de Talavera para niños

• List of Spanish Nationalist military equipment of the Spanish Civil War
• List of Spanish Republican military equipment of the Spanish Civil War
• Quinto Regimiento