1936

Turn 1: Jul II 1936

From the Nationalist point of
view the most notable result of the variable beginning is that Logrono
and Valladolid both stay loyal, which spells a lot of difficulties to our
undertaking. However, there might be still a chance to decide this issue
quicker than though. First we are going to isolate Malaga while collecting
all available forces for quick stab at Cordoba. Opening the road into Andalusia
will eventually lead us into the heartland of the Communists.

Another important thing will
be to clear up our hinterland as soon as possible, to allow us to throw
everything into the upcoming battle for Madrid. So we start to ship over
the first colonian regiments, especially those wonderful LE regiments which
are unequalled by anything the Loyalists have. Most of these thoughts remain
plans for now, as the rest of the units is mainly busy with pacification.

During the Loyalist player turn anarchists spring up everywhere, one just
wonders where they’ve been hiding all the time.

Turn 2: Aug I 1936

While still to many units are
busy pacifying the cities General Franco orders the first two divisions
that are combat ready to the offensive and mounts an attack on Cordoba,
which bloddlily failes [at 3:1 (-1)]. In the very north another attempt
to quickly overwhelm the Commies fails as well [at 2:0 (0)] as an attack
against Gijon is beaten back with considerable losses of men and territory.
After this debacle, we decide to first consolodate our position before
undertaking any further attempts. However, we have managed to isolate and
surround Cordoba and Valladolid, while the first regiments of our elite
Legion Entrangere head for Malaga.

The Loyalists concentrate on
a solid buildup and start forming militia brigades all over Catalania,
while the newly proclamated Anarchist republic of Anadalusia issues enrolment
orders all over the countryside.

Turn 3: Aug II 1936

As the first cities are pacified
more units rush to the front that starts to take shape. Our troops have
to evacuate Toledo in order to maintain contact with our main concentrations
as the first Loyalist infantry columns are pushing down the Tejo valley.
Along the central Cordillieras contact is made with loyalist troops and
both sides start to dig in.

Meanwhile, the first attempt
of Loyalist columns to march down along the Tejo river valley failes as
well as their attempt to break our lines encirceling Cordoba. The uncoordinated
attacks still show the lack of guidance from the officer corps which has
joined our cause.

Turn 4: Sep I 1936

Two more divisions are assembled,
one at Zaragoza to stem the massive flow of Loyalist troops from Catalania
up the Ebro river, and one more to help the attack at Valladolid. The most
important parts of the Legion Entragere and the Colonial Regiments now
have been shipped to Southern Spain to join the assault against the Anarchist
republic of Andalucia. As the Loyalist fleet remains surprisingly quiet
there is nothing much to do for the first arriving submarine sqadroons
of the Italin Navies, who guard the first transports of supply and artillery
reaching our ports. In the South we intensify our grip on the anarchist
cities and cut them off, while in the North Valladolid falls to a combined
assault of all arms.

The first Catalanian colums establish
contact with our lines in front of Zaragoza. From the southern hills of
the Pyrennes long columns of Loyalist troops heading for the city can be
spotted, a threat we are unable to counter effectively because our inabillity
to shift troops. Their first attempt to break our ranks fails [3:0 -1],
while the important rail junction of Calatyud falls into Loyalist hands
after a blody battle [3:1 (-1) HX] More Loyalist units pouring out of Madrid
score another vitory against a lonly requete column at Soria, smashing
it and occupying the city [4:1 (0) DH].

Losses: Insurgents: 4 Inf

Loyalists: 2 Inf 1 Art

Turn 5: Sep II 1936

The Legion Entrangere finally
reaches the outscirts of Malaga and occupies the approaches to the city,
while our corps at Cordoba receives reinforcements against the new anarchist
colums aggresivly defending the city. The victors of Valladolid rush to
the east to rescue Zaragoza and retake Calatyud, but don’t reach the front
in strengh. A swift attack without preperations or supply overwhelms a
cut-off loyalist column in the eastern Cordilleras [hex 2507].

Nearly a Dozend Loyalist columns
reach the outskirts of Zaragoza and isolate the city, while more bypass
our strongpoints east of the city to press on northward. Huesca falls [4:1
-1 DR].

In the South, the anarchist rulers
of Malaga and Cordoba issue rationing of the stocked supplies, as there
is no imminent chance of relieving the city. From the mass of Loyalist
colums in the Tejo valley a regiment of Guardia del Civil breakes through
and reaches the still besieged Bajadoz, adding to the defenders there.

Losses: Insurgents: 0,

Loyalists: 1 Inf

Turn 6: Oct I 1936

With the new supply arriving

at the ports we find ourselves critically short of rail capacity, the ammunition
rots in the harbours while our fronts are short of supply. To put pressure
on the Loyalists we have to make use of our assets wherever they are, and
as dearly we would like to transfer the Legion Entragere to the North we
simply don’t have the means to do so. The transfer of colonial troops to
Cadiz continues, the presence of Italian subs prevents any incursions by
the Loyalist fleet. In the North
we barely screen the gobernitos, while everything available is now shifted
to the east to occupy the rail line to Zaragoza and secure ist supply line.
To do so, we have to retreat more columns over the Ebro, so that there
are now only 2 border regiments left east of the river.

Another attempt to stop
the Loyalist onlaught at Zaragoza failes east of Merida [5:1 -1 AS] despite
the fact that virtually all reinforcements go to there, while the newly
arrived Italian tank batallion scores its first victory in supporting a
small conterattack up the Teja valley [6:1 +2 DE]. In the mountains north
of Madrid an isolated Loyalist column is cut of and smashed [5:1 -2 EX]
as the battle for the mountain crest continues. We now occupy mountain
hexes everywhere except the rail line to Bajadoz [2412], which doesn’t
matter as Bajadoz finally falls into our hands [4:1 -1 DR], despite some
fierce resistance by the Elite Art Regiment stationed there. In the South
several colums screen Cordoba and Malaga, while the main colums head for
the slowly emerging frontline in the east to prevent relieve attempts.
Solid contact is now established everywhere, and we start to construct
the first fortifications in the open. [frontline from Motril in the South
to 2414, then along the mountains to the rail line to Zaragoza, from there
no contact is established so far becouase of our retreats]

The Loyalists concentrate
on Zaragoza and rail more troops into the area. The remaining National
Forces east of the Ebro are wiped out and solid contact is made with the
Basque forces coming from the North. The river line marks the front, which
means that Zaragoza will be cut off as soon as bad weather occures.

More loyalist colums
mobilized in the vicinity on Madrid manage to re-take a mountain hex north
of the city, while a second attack falteres.

Losses: Insurgents: 5

Inf 1 Arm, Loyalists: 7 Inf 1 Art

Turn 7: Oct II

1936

(D = Mud)

More divisions reach
the front line north-west of Zaragoza as a fierce battle errupts for the
supply lines of the city. We cannot prevent that the city finylly gets
cut of in the last days of the month.

The only important attack
on anarchist colums in Anadlusia failes [5:1 -2 AS], while finally the
last isolated loyalist stronholds in aour hinterland are cleared.

Losses: Insurgents: 5

Inf 1 Art, Loyalists: 3 Inf

Turn 7: Nov I 1936

(D=Mud)

Fighting ceases on most
fronts except in the verx north-east, where the Loyalists try to reach
a secure north-south rail line. As most insurgent reinforcements are stuck
in the mud our lines get pushed back, while south of that an operation
to retake Calatyud failes with two of our best divisions cut off and surrounded.
Of our three attacks, two succeed, but despiteheavy losses we cannot improve
our situation [1 x 5:1 -3 AS, 2 x 6:1 -3 DR + EX]

Elsewhere, Malaga and Cordoba eat gras.

Losses: Ins: 4 Inf

Loyalists: 2 Inf

Turn 8 Nov II 1936

(D=Mud, C=Mud)

The assault on the anarchist
strongholds in Andalusia opens with the attack on Malaga. Meeting fierce
resistance, we are nevertheless able to secure the city and take alrge
amounts of prisoners. Immediately the security organs start their work
[5:1 -2 DR]. Some conterattacks are made to stall the Loyalist offensives
and to improve the situation of the Zaragoza garrison, but the wether prevents
any major operations. We manage to relieve one of the two cut off divisions,
but the other cannot even be ressupplied. The gap in our front at Vitoria
cannot be closed as reinforcements hurry to the front.

As news from the fall
of Malaga spread the country, more anarhists surrender. Refugees pour out
of Cordoba and bring news that the stocks run out in the city. In the North,
the Loyalist exploit the achieved breaktrough and take Logrono [8:1 -3
DR], the cut of division surrenders to a concentric assault [6:1 -3]. After
securing the railway junction to Zaragoza, the Loyalists now mass in front
of the city, obviosly planning an assault onto the city itself.

Losses: Ins: 2,5 Inf

Loy: 1 Art 3 Inf 1 Arm

Turn 9 Dec I 1936

(D=Mud C=Mud)

We have decided now to
cancel all attack operations until spring. Only Cordoba is taken by the
colums sweeping eastwards to the Loyalist-occupied country [8:1 -3]. Again
we shift forces to close the front gaps in the north, while the few mobile
units we have are regegated to back-line duty and to transport supply.

The Loyalists raise
more than 8 new divisions and assemble them around Zaragoza. However, no
ttack is yet to be made, instead, the offensive down the Tejo valley is
resumed, pushing back our colums to the exit of the alley [7:1 -3 DR]

No losses

Turn 10 Dec II 1936

(D=Mud, C=Winter)

Despite our defensive
efforts, Zaragoza falls [5:1 -2, DR], ist garrison marches into imprisonment
fater moths of curageous resistance. All our determination could not prevent
the loss of the city, and we will have again to shorten our front to prevent
more divisions from getting cut off. The Loyalists now securly hold a rail
connection to the Northern Provinces and immediately start to send military
aid north.

Losses: Ins: 1 art 8

Inf, Loy: 3 Inf

back to top