War in the North

War in the North
Part of the Spanish Civil War

Map of the campaign
Date31 March – 21 October 1937
Location
Northern Spain
Result

Nationalist victory

  • Republican defeat in northern Spain
Belligerents
Spain Spanish Republic
Basque Country (autonomous community) Basque Army
Francoist Spain Nationalist Spain
Fascist Italy CTV
Nazi Germany Condor Legion
Commanders and leaders
Spain Adolfo Prada Vaquero
Spain Francisco Llano de la Encomienda
Spain Francisco Ciutat
Spain Francisco Galán
Spain Belarmino Tomás
Francoist Spain Emilio Mola
Francoist Spain José Solchaga
Francoist Spain Fidel Davila
Fascist Italy Ettore Bastico
Strength
120,000 soldiers
thousands of anarchists milicianos[1]
250 artillery pieces
40 tanks
70 aircraft
2 destroyers
7 armed trawlers
100,000 Nationalist soldiers
60,000 Italian soldiers[2]
400 artillery pieces
230 aircraft
1 battleship
2 cruisers
1 destroyer
Casualties and losses
33,000 dead
100,000 prisoners
one destroyer
10,000 dead
one battleship

The War in the North (Spanish: Ofensiva del Norte) was a theatre of the Spanish Civil War that occurred in northern Spain from 31 March to 21 October 1937.

The Nationalists launched a number of offensives into parts of the Basque Country, Santander (Cantabria), and Asturias that formed an enclave loyal to the Republican government. The Biscay Campaign from March to July saw the bombing of Guernica and Durango and resulted in the Republicans losing the Basque Country after the Battle of Bilbao. The Nationalists captured Santander in September after the Battle of Santander and launched the Asturias Offensive against the last northern Republican stronghold in eastern Asturias. The Battle of El Mazucu saw fierce Republican resistance against Nationalist attacks and possibly the first use of carpet bombing against a military target. The War in the North ended when the Nationalists broke through the Republican lines and captured the city of Gijón at the end of October.

  1. ^ Jackson, Gabriel. La república española y la guerra civil. RBA editores. 2005. Barcelona. Pagina 330
  2. ^ Jackson, Gabriel. La república española y la guerra civil. RBA editores. 2005. Barcelona.