Bombing of Cabra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bombing of Cabra |
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| Part of the Spanish Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Spanish Republic |
 Nationalist Spain |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 3 SB-2 bombers | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | 109 civilians killed 200+ civilians injured |
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The bombing of Cabra was a sad event that happened on November 7, 1938. It was an air attack on the town of Cabra in Andalusia, Spain. This happened during the Spanish Civil War. Airplanes from the Republican side dropped bombs. This attack sadly killed 109 people who were not soldiers and injured more than 200 others.
Why the Bombing Happened
Throughout 1938, both sides in the Spanish Civil War used airplanes to bomb cities. The Spanish Republican Air Force (FARE) bombed cities held by the Nationalist side. These included places like Seville and Valladolid. They did this because Nationalist planes had bombed Republican cities. Some of these bombed cities were Barcelona, Alicante, and Granollers. It was a very difficult time for everyone.
The Attack on Cabra
On November 7, 1938, three special airplanes called Tupolev SB bombers flew over Cabra. These planes belonged to the Republican Air Force. They dropped many bombs on the town. One of the bombs, which weighed about 200 kilograms (440 pounds), hit the town's market. Many people were there at the time.
The planes dropped a total of six tons of bombs. Most of these bombs exploded in the market area and in parts of the town where working-class families lived. Between 101 and 109 people who were not soldiers died. More than 200 people were hurt. The anti-aircraft guns on the Nationalist side were not ready and reacted too late.
The air attack happened because the pilots made a mistake. They thought that Italian military vehicles and soldiers were in Cabra. When they flew over the town, they saw the awnings (covers) of the market. They thought these looked like military tents. This misunderstanding led to the tragic bombing of the town.
What Happened After
The bombing of Cabra was a very sad day. It was the deadliest air attack carried out by the Republican air force during the entire war. It showed how dangerous and confusing war can be for everyone, especially for people who are not involved in fighting.
See also
In Spanish: Bombardeo de Cabra para niños
- Bombing of Guernica
- List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air Force
