Córdoba offensive facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Córdoba offensive |
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| Part of the Spanish Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Spanish Republic |
Nationalist rebels |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Gen. José Miaja Lt. Col. Juan Bernal Segura Col. Joaquín Pérez Salas Alejandro Peris |
Col. Ciriaco Cascajo Col. José Enrique Varela |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 3,000 men Unknown number of bombers |
2,000 men 3 Sa-81 bombers 1 DC-2 bomber |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| ? | ? | ||||||
The Córdoba offensive was a military attack by the Republican army. They tried to take back the city of Cordoba from the Nationalist forces. This battle happened from August 19 to 22, 1936, during the Spanish Civil War. The attack failed, and the Nationalists kept control of Cordoba.
Why the Attack Happened
On July 18, 1936, a military uprising, or coup, began in Spain. In Cordoba, the military governor, Ciriaco Cascajo, took control of the city. He bombed the local government building and arrested the civil governor. After this, the Nationalists took strict actions against people who supported the Republic.
In early August, the Nationalist troops got stronger. About 400 special troops, called regulares, arrived. They were led by Colonel Varela. These troops had just captured the city of Huelva. Their next goal was to help the Nationalist forces stuck in Granada. After they opened a path to Granada, Varela planned to attack Malaga. At this point, the Republican army decided to launch an attack to try and take back Córdoba.
The Battle for Cordoba
The Republican army, led by General Miaja, had about 3,000 soldiers. These included regular army troops, civil guards, and volunteers from Madrid and the local area. The Nationalists in Cordoba were led by Colonel Cascajo and Colonel Varela. The Nationalists also had some airplanes, including one DC-2 and several Sa-81 bombers.
General Miaja's forces started their advance on August 5. However, they moved very slowly. They only managed to capture small towns like Adamuz and Pozoblanco. The main attack on Cordoba itself began on August 20. The Republican troops got very close to the city, reaching about 5 kilometers (3 miles) away. But the Nationalists fought back hard. The Republican attack failed by August 22.
Historians have different ideas about why the attack failed. Some say the Nationalist bombers, especially the Italian Savoia planes, were very effective. Others believe it was due to mistakes made by General Miaja and other Republican officers. Also, some of Miaja's officers secretly supported the Nationalists. For example, on August 23, one captain and 200 civil guards switched sides.
What Happened Next
After the battle, the Nationalist forces took harsh actions in the towns that the Republicans had briefly controlled. For example, in Palma del Rio, many people who supported the Republic faced severe consequences.
After a Nationalist counter-attack in September, the fighting around Cordoba became less intense. The front line, or where the two sides faced each other, became stable for a while.
See also
In Spanish: Ofensiva de Córdoba para niños
- List of Spanish Republican military equipment of the Spanish Civil War
- List of Spanish Nationalist military equipment of the Spanish Civil War
