Siege of the Montaña barracks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of the Montaña barracks |
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| Part of the Spanish coup of July 1936 | |||||||
 Temple of Debod, former location of the barracks |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Nationalist Spain |
 Spanish Republic |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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| Strength | |||||||
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~3,000 security forces | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 200–1000 killed | Unknown | ||||||
The siege of the Montaña barracks (also known as Sitio del Cuartel de la Montaña in Spanish) was a two-day battle. It happened in Madrid from July 18 to 20, 1936. This event showed the first big failure of a military uprising against the Second Spanish Republic. It marked the very beginning of the Spanish Civil War. Most police and security forces in Madrid stayed loyal to the government. With help from workers' groups, they stopped the uprising.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
In July 1936, some parts of the Spanish army tried to take over the government of Spain. This government was called the Popular Front. Generals like Francisco Franco were part of this plan. Taking control of Madrid, the capital city, was a main goal for them.
But their plan for Madrid wasn't well thought out and didn't go smoothly. Different groups who didn't like the government didn't work together well. These groups included Falangists (a political group), people who wanted a king, and some army officers.
The person in charge of the plot in Madrid was arrested. General Joaquín Fanjul took his place at the last minute. However, Madrid had many forces loyal to the government. These included police and security forces. There were also many organized worker groups, though most were not armed yet. A large number of regular soldiers in Madrid also decided to stay loyal to the elected government.
The Montaña Barracks
The Montaña barracks were built in 1860. They were located near the Royal Palace of Madrid in the west of the city. The barracks were like a large fortress made of three connected buildings. They had a wide open area in front with protective walls. Usually, three infantry regiments and other units were based there. But in July 1936, many soldiers were away on summer break.
Other army groups were based in and around Madrid. There were also many Assault Guards and Civil Guards in the city. These trained security forces played a very important role in stopping the uprising.
The Uprising in Madrid
July 18: News Spreads
On July 18, news arrived in Madrid that the army had started an uprising in Spanish Morocco. Two large worker unions, the General Union of Workers and the National Confederation of Labor, asked the government for weapons. At first, the government refused to give guns to civilians. However, some young officers secretly gave about 5,000 rifles to workers.
The rebel leaders had planned for General García Herrán to take an army camp. General Fanjul was supposed to take over the city center from the Montaña barracks. Other rebel officers were meant to take control of the Cuatro Vientos and Getafe Air Bases. But their plan failed. Also, the commanders of the Civil Guard and the Assault Guard in Madrid, with about 6,000 men, stayed loyal to the government.
July 19: The Barracks Under Siege
On July 19, the new government decided to give weapons to the unions. They handed out 65,000 rifles. But only 5,000 of these rifles had the necessary parts (bolts) to work. The other 60,000 bolts were stored separately at the Montaña barracks. The commander of the barracks, Colonel Moisés Serra, refused to hand over these parts. This refusal marked the start of the uprising in Madrid.
On the morning of July 19, General Fanjul arrived at the Montaña barracks. Other rebel officers and volunteers from groups like the Falangists also joined him. Fanjul had about 2,000 soldiers and 500 volunteers. He tried to move his troops into the city streets.
But a crowd of about 8,000 people, organized by the worker unions, had gathered around the barracks. Some were armed. Assault Guards took positions on nearby rooftops. Fanjul decided to go back inside the barracks and wait for help. He hoped other army groups in the city would join him.
However, the uprising had failed in other parts of Madrid. In Carabanchel, General García Herrán was killed by his own troops. The artillery barracks there were secured by loyal officers. Engineer units were moved away. The First Infantry Regiment at Retiro surrendered without a fight. At the Getafe Air Base, loyal troops defeated the rebels. This meant that planes could fly over the Montaña barracks the next day. They would drop leaflets and then bombs.
Worker and peasant groups also formed battalions to help with the siege. One of these groups later became a famous fighting unit.
July 20: The Barracks Fall
On the morning of July 20, more powerful guns joined the siege. A warplane from the Cuatro Vientos Air Base also bombed the barracks. Around 10:30 AM, a bomb wounded Fanjul and Serra. A few moments later, some soldiers inside the barracks waved a white sheet, appearing to surrender.
Despite orders not to, the crowd rushed forward. But other defenders inside the barracks fired machine guns at them. This happened twice, and many people were killed or wounded.
Around noon, the angry crowd broke through the main gate. Many defenders who were trying to surrender were killed by the crowd in the main courtyard. Some were even thrown from an upper floor. Photographs show the courtyard filled with bodies. Some rebel officers chose to end their own lives. Some Falangist and monarchist volunteers, who were wearing regular clothes, managed to escape in the confusion.
Colonel Serra was killed right after the barracks fell. General Fanjul, who was wounded, and other surviving rebel officers were arrested. They were taken to Madrid's Model Prison to face trial.
Estimates suggest that between 200 and 1,000 defenders were killed. The attacking forces had far fewer casualties. The rifle bolts and ammunition, which had caused the attack, were taken by the Assault Guards to the Ministry of War.
What Happened Next
After defeating the rebel troops in Madrid, groups of militia, civil guards, and assault guards left the city. They went on to occupy nearby towns like Alcala de Henares and Guadalajara. Later, General Fanjul and General Villegas were found guilty and executed for their part in the military rebellion. The damaged Montaña barracks remained in ruins for a long time. Eventually, they were torn down, and the area became part of the public gardens on Ferraz Street.
See also
In Spanish: Golpe de Estado de julio de 1936 en Madrid para niños
- List of Spanish Republican military equipment of the Spanish Civil War
- List of Spanish Nationalist military equipment of the Spanish Civil War
