Battle of Badajoz (1936)

Battle of Badajoz
Part of Spanish Civil War
DateAugust 14, 1936
Location
Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain
Result

Nationalist victory

Belligerents
Spain Spanish Republic Francoist Spain Nationalist rebels
Commanders and leaders
Col. Ildefonso Puigdendolas Lt. Col. Juan Yagüe
Lt. Col. Carlos Asensio
Lt. Col. Antonio Castejón
Units involved
3rd Infantry Regiment Castile Madrid Column
Strength
6,000
4,000[1]
2,000 militiamen, 500 soldiers[2]
up 2,000[3]
some bombers[4]		 3,000 regulars
30 guns
at least four bombers[5][6]
Casualties and losses
750 dead
3,500 wounded, captured or missing		 185 casualties:
44 dead, 141 wounded[7][8]

The Battle of Badajoz was one of the first major engagements of the Spanish Civil War, resulting in a tactical and strategic Nationalist victory, however at a significant cost in time and troops. After several days of shelling and bombardment, Nationalists stormed the fortified border city of Badajoz on August 14, 1936, cutting off the Spanish Republic from neighbouring Portugal and linking the northern and southern zones of Nationalist control (although actual contact with General Emilio Mola's northern troops was not established until September 8).

  1. ^ Jackson, Gabriel. La república española y la guerra civil. Editorial Crítica. Barcelona.1976.
  2. ^ Beevor, Antony. The battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War:1936-1939. Penguin Books. 2006. London. p.120
  3. ^ Espinosa, Francisco. La columna de la muerte. El avance del ejército franquista de Sevilla a Badajoz. Editorial Crítica. Barcelona. 2003. p.77
  4. ^ Espinosa, Francisco. La columna de la muerte. El avance del ejército franquista de Sevilla a Badajoz. Editorial Crítica. Barcelona. 2003. p.90.
  5. ^ Neves, Mario. La matanza de Badajoz. Junta de Extremadura. 2007. Mérida. p.55
  6. ^ Espinosa, Francisco. La columna de la muerte. El avance del ejército franquista de Sevilla a Badajoz. Editorial Crítica. Barcelona. 2003. p.91.
  7. ^ Espinosa, Francisco. La columna de la muerte. El avance del ejército franquista de Sevilla a Badajoz. Editorial Crítica. Barcelona. 2003. p.103.
  8. ^ Beevor, Antony. The battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War:1936-1939. Penguin Books. 2006. London. p.91