Advance Towards Madrid

August 2 - October 23, 1936

With clandestine Italian and German help, General Franco was able to circumvent the Republican fleet's blockade and bring his elite Army of Africa from Morocco to Andalucia in southern Spain. There, under General Yagüe, the army began to subdue the region, capturing cities and towns, securing a supply line and ultimately linking the two main Nationalist regions with the bloody capture of Badajoz on the Portuguese border. Driving toward Madrid, the Nationalists turned aside only to relieve the besieged garrison of the Alcázar. At no time were the Republican militias able to halt the drive, though taking thousands of casualties in the attempt [Santa Cruz].

The Nationalist army under Colonel Asensio, assembled at Seville with German and Italian help, began its lightning drive northward on August 2 in trucks supplied by General Queipo de Llano. Major Castejón followed with a second column on August 3.

Asensio raced north, smashing through a fierce Republican attack August 6. The next day, the Army of Africa turned the Republicans out of the village of Almendralejo after a bloody struggle that decimated both sides. The Republicans retreated north to nearby Mérida, while the bloodied Nationalists halted their march to wait for Castejón.

The Republican militia made another stand on the Guadiana, several kilometers south of Mérida, on August 10. Asensio pushed forward and tore the bridge from them, then swept across the river and captured the city. The militia retreated rather than risk encirclement. General Juan Yagüe then arrived to take command of the Nationalist army.

Yagüe next moved east against Badajoz with Asensio and Castejón, leaving a detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Tella to hold the line at Mérida. On August 11, the Republican militia reappeared with a strong contingent of Asaltos and Guardia Civil from Madrid. The Republicans moved against Tella, whose professional Legionnaires met and defeated them in battle.

Meanwhile, Yagüe's contingent took Badajoz by storm.

Picture from [Thomas]