The Basque Campaign 1937

March 31 - June 19, 1937

:Nationalist offensive of the Army of the North to conquer and sieze Basque territories and industry. Supported by Italian troops, Italian Expeditionary Force and German Condor Legion aircraft, tanks, and an abundance of artillery, Navarrese Carlists of the Army of the North attacked poorly equipped Basques. Bad weather delayed offensive after initial gains but despite stubborn resistence, Basques were beaten and their capital, Bilbao, was taken. Nationalists captured their first industrial region when Basques refused to follow scorched earth policy that would leave their people destitute. Terror bombings of Guernica and Durango occured during this campain. Basques and allies suffered more than 30,000 casualties of which about a third were fatalities. Nationalists suffered about the same with approximately 4000 being killed [Santa Cruz].

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