The Battle of Madrid

October 29 - November 23, 1936

Nationalist offensive designed to take the capital and end the war. Led by their best troops, severely outnumbered Nationalist forces entered the Casa de Campo park and from the start faced fanatical resistence from their poorly trained and poorly armed foes. Casualties were heavy on both sides as the Nationalists siezed the park and tried to force their way across the Manzanares river into the city. Captured plans found on a dead Nationalist officer in a destroyed Italian tankette gave the Republican Head of Armed Forces, General Miaja, the knowledge that the main drive would be through the Casa de Campo and into the University City and that other drives would be feints. He repositioned his forces and the Nationalists attackers found themselves facing hastily prepared positions and the best militia units the Republic had to offer. Still, determined Moroccan soldiers were able to break through at times. At one point, the communist orator, Dolores Ibarruri, known as "La Pasionara", arrived at a breakthrough and rallied the fleeing troops. At another time, General Miaja arrived at another breakthrough and exhorted the fleeing militia, "Cowards! Die in your trenches! Die with your General Miaja!" In both instances, the militia rallied and drove back the attackers, saving Madrid. Translated to Spanish, the cry of the French at Verdun, ¡ No Pasarán!(They shall not pass!) became the rallying cry of the city. The arrival of the first and best International Brigades bolstered the Republican line just at the time when the Nationalists had achieved a major breakthrough at the University City. Fighting within the medical clinic and lecture halls and classrooms of the complex, the Internationals and Spanish fought the Army of Africa to a bloody standstill. The battle was a stalemate and though house to house fighting would continue in the slum district of the Carabanchel, Madrid stayed in Republican hands until the end of the war [Santa Cruz].