Biscay Campaign facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Biscay Campaign
Part of the Spanish Civil War
A group of gudaris (Basque soldiers) in Elgeta, 1937.
Date 31 March – 1 July 1937 Location Biscay, Spain Result Nationalist victory
Belligerents
Spanish Republic Euzko Gudarostea Isaac Puente Battalion	Nationalist Spain Condor Legion
Commanders and leaders
General Francisco Llano de la Encomienda General Mariano Gámir Ulíbarri	Emilio Mola General Fidel Dávila Arrondo José Solchaga
Strength
Thomas: 40,000 men 55,000 140 guns 25–30 aircraft 2 destroyers 3 submarines	65,000 200 guns 150 aircraft 1 battleship 2 cruisers 1 destroyer
Casualties and losses
35,000 casualties (10,000 dead)	4,500 killed 25,500 wounded or missing

The Biscay Campaign (Spanish: Campaña de Vizcaya) was a major attack during the Spanish Civil War. It took place from March 31 to July 1, 1937. About 50,000 Basque soldiers fought against 65,000 Nationalist forces. The Nationalists had much better equipment. After tough fighting, they managed to take over the city of Bilbao and the surrounding area called Biscay.

Why the Biscay Campaign Happened

By late 1936, much of the Gipuzkoa region was controlled by rebel forces. The fighting front was near Elgeta. General Mola, a Nationalist leader, planned to use air power against the Basque region. This area was loyal to the Republic.

Even though Basque leaders tried to protect civilians, Nationalist planes bombed Bilbao. These attacks happened on September 25 and 26, 1936. They caused a lot of anger among the people. More air strikes hit Bilbao on January 4, 1937. This led to violence against prisoners, and many people died.

On March 22, 1937, General Francisco Franco decided to stop his attack on Madrid. Instead, he started a new attack on the northern Republican zone. This northern area was cut off from the main Republican forces. It also had important resources like iron, coal, and factories. The Nationalists wanted to take over this area, starting with the Biscay province.

Who Fought in the Biscay Campaign

The Nationalist forces were led by General Emilio Mola. His "Army of the North" had about 55,000 soldiers. The main attack began with the Navarrese Division. This division had about 18,000 men. There was also the "Black Arrow" division, with 8,000 men and Italian officers. These forces were positioned near the border of Biscay.

The Nationalists also had strong military equipment. They had 200 guns and 120 aircraft. Their navy included a battleship, two cruisers, and a destroyer.

On the other side, the Republicans had General Francisco Llano de la Encomienda's "Army of the North." It was supposed to have 150,000 soldiers. However, the Basque, Asturian, and Santanderino groups did not work well together. The Basque Army in Biscay had about 30,000 men. Most of these were Basque Nationalists.

The Republicans had 140 guns and 25 to 30 aircraft. They also had two destroyers and three submarines.

The Attack Begins

The Nationalist attack started on March 31. General Mola warned that he would bomb Basque cities and factories. He said he would destroy the region if they didn't surrender. On the same day, Italian planes bombed the town of Durango. Many civilians were killed.

On April 1, Nationalist troops captured several mountains. They also attacked the town of Ochandiano. The Basque troops there were surrounded. The Nationalists took Ochandiano on April 4 after heavy fighting. The Basque troops suffered many losses, with hundreds killed or captured. Mola then paused the attack because of bad weather.

On April 6, the Nationalist government announced they would block Basque ports. The British government warned its ships not to go to Bilbao. However, some British merchant ships still managed to reach Basque ports.

On April 20, the Nationalists continued their attack after a huge artillery bombardment. Basque troops tried to resist, but the Nationalist forces broke through. They captured Elgeta. On the same day, the German Condor Legion bombed Guernica.

Retreat and the Fall of Bilbao

The Basques pulled back to a defensive line called the Iron Belt. The Condor Legion bombed the roads and forests with fire bombs. The Basque President, Jósé Antonio Aguirre, took command of the Basque troops. He did this because of problems with the previous commander.

On April 30, Italian forces captured Bermeo. As Nationalist troops got closer to Bilbao, the Basque government asked for help. They wanted to save children from the war. More than 20,000 children were sent to safety on boats. Many of them ended up living in other countries.

The Republican government tried to send fighter planes to the Basque Country. They tried to send them through France. But the French government took the planes' machine guns and sent them back. Still, 45 planes managed to reach Bilbao.

Bad weather again stopped the Nationalist attack. This gave the defenders some time. New weapons arrived in Bilbao, including anti-aircraft guns and cannons. General Mariano Gámir Ulíbarri was sent to organize Bilbao's defense. The Republican government launched two attacks in other areas to try and stop the Nationalists. But both failed.

General Mola died on June 3 and was replaced by General Davila. On June 11, Nationalist troops reached the Iron Belt. On June 12, after heavy bombing, they attacked it. A Basque deserter had given the plans of the Iron Belt to the Nationalists.

The Nationalists attacked Mount Urcullu and broke through the Basque lines. On June 14, the Basque government left Bilbao. On June 18, Basque troops were ordered to leave the city. By June 19, the Nationalists had taken over Bilbao. About 200,000 people left the city, heading west. They were bombed by Condor Legion planes as they went.

What Happened After the Campaign

The Basque army managed to hold a new defensive line for a short time. Biscay was very important because it had the only factory in Spain that could make artillery shells. It also produced half of Spain's explosives. Most of the factories and shipbuilding industries were still working. This was because the Basque leaders did not want them destroyed.

When the Nationalist forces entered Bilbao, there were many problems. Many people were arrested for supporting Basque nationalism. Some were forced to work. Later, severe punishments began, and many people were executed. It is estimated that 916 people were executed during and after the fall of Biscay. The special self-rule of the Basque Country was ended. The Basque language was also forbidden.

See also

In Spanish: Campaña de Vizcaya para niños

• List of Spanish Nationalist military equipment of the Spanish Civil War
• Condor Legion
• Aviazione Legionaria
• List of Spanish Republican military equipment of the Spanish Civil War