Siege of Gijón facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Gijón
Part of the Spanish Civil War
Monument to the fallen at Simancas barracks
Date 19 July – 16 August 1936 Location Gijón, Asturias, Spain Result Republican victory
Belligerents
Spanish Republic Antifascist Worker and Peasant Militias	Nationalist Spain
Commanders and leaders
Maj. José Gállego Aragüés Manuel Otero	Col. Antonio Pinilla  †
Strength
unknown	600 regulars & militia 1 battleship 1 destroyer

The Siege of Gijón was an important early battle in the Spanish Civil War. It happened in the city of Gijón, Spain, from July 19 to August 16, 1936. During this siege, a group of fighters called the Anarchist militia attacked a small Nationalist army base.

The militia was fighting for the Republic. They surrounded the Simancas barracks in Gijón. Inside were about 180 soldiers and police officers. These officers had joined General Franco's rebellion and taken over the base for the Nationalists. This battle was known for how fiercely both sides fought.

What Led to the Siege?

The Nationalist uprising began in July 1936. But it did not go well in Asturias. This area was strongly against Franco. From the start of the war, Asturias was controlled by a group of government officials, experts, and mine workers.

Many people in Asturias were members of large worker groups. About 70,000 people belonged to the CNT and UGT groups. These members formed a strong and organized fighting force.

The military leader of Gijón was Colonel Antonio Pinilla. He did not openly say he supported Franco. But few people were fooled. By late July, his base was surrounded. It was cut off from General Emilio Mola's army by hundreds of miles of enemy land.

The Nationalist warship Almirante Cervera could have helped from the sea. It had powerful guns. But this ship offered no real hope of rescuing the soldiers inside the barracks.

The Battle for Gijón

The battle for Gijón showed Colonel Pinilla's strong will to resist. The attackers had very few weapons, mostly just dynamite. Until Gijón fell, the Republican forces could not fully focus on their siege against the Nationalists in Oviedo. Because of this, their attacks were constant.

The soldiers defending the barracks soon ran out of water. They became very thirsty. Pinilla still refused to give up. He believed that help was coming soon. This belief came from false reports spread by Nationalist propaganda.

Something similar happened during the siege of the Alcázar in Toledo. The Anarchists took Pinilla's son. They threatened to harm him if the defenders did not surrender. But like the leader in Toledo, José Moscardó Ituarte, Pinilla did not change his mind.

In mid-August, the miners stormed the barracks. They threw dynamite as they charged forward. The barracks caught fire, and the Nationalist defense broke apart. Instead of surrendering, Pinilla sent a radio message to the Almirante Cervera. He ordered the ship to fire on his own position. The ship followed his order. The last defenders of Simancas barracks died in the flames.

See also

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