Bombardment of Almería facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bombardment of Almería
Part of the Spanish Civil War
Admiral Scheer in Gibraltar in 1936.
Date 31 May 1937 Location Almería, Spain Result Almería severely damaged
Belligerents
Spanish Republic	Nazi Germany
Strength
	1 heavy cruiser 4 destroyers
Casualties and losses
19–20 civilians killed 55 injured 35 damaged structures	None

The Bombardment of Almería was a naval attack that happened on May 31, 1937. It took place during the Spanish Civil War. Germany's navy, called the Kriegsmarine, bombed the city of Almería in Spain. This attack was revenge for a Spanish Republican air raid. That air raid had hit a German warship called the German cruiser Deutschland.

Why Did the Bombing Happen?

In April 1937, a group called the Non-intervention Committee was formed. This committee set up naval patrols to watch the Spanish coasts. Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy provided ships for these patrols.

Spanish Republican planes attacked the harbor of Mallorca. This was a naval base used by the Nationalists. On May 24, 1937, a Republican air raid hit an Italian ship. Six Italian sailors died. On May 26, another Republican air raid almost hit a German ship.

Later that same day, two Republican bombers attacked the German warship Deutschland. This happened near Ibiza. About 20 to 23 German sailors were killed. Another 73 sailors were hurt.

After this attack, Adolf Hitler, Germany's leader, wanted to declare war on the Spanish Republic. But instead, he ordered the city of Almería to be bombed.

The Bombing of Almería

At dawn on May 31, 1937, German warships attacked Almería. The main ship was the heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer. Four German destroyers joined it.

The German ships fired about 200 shells at the city. This attack killed 19 to 20 civilians. Around 50 people were injured. Also, 35 buildings were destroyed.

Indalecio Prieto, who was the Republican Minister of Defense, wanted to attack the German fleet back. But the president, Manuel Azaña, and the prime minister, Juan Negrin, disagreed. They thought fighting Germany directly could destroy the Republic.

Instead, Negrin and Azaña sent protest notes. They sent them to the League of Nations and to the French and British governments. However, the British and French governments said that the German attack was fair.

What Happened Next?

On June 15, Germany claimed that the Spanish Republican Navy attacked another German ship. This ship was the Leipzig. Because of this, Germany and Italy left the Non-Intervention Committee on June 23. Portugal also removed British observers from its border.

By the end of July, Italy started attacking Republican and neutral merchant ships at sea. The loss of these ships and the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War meant less help for the Republic from the Soviet Union. By mid-1937, the Spanish Republic was almost completely alone.

See also

In Spanish: Bombardeo de Almería para niños