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{{Short description|Part of the Spanish Civil War (1937)}}
{{Infobox military conflict {{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Bilbao | conflict = Battle of Bilbao
| partof = the ] | partof = the ]
| image = ] | image = Frente del Norte - Spanish Civil War (March-Sept 1937).svg
| caption = The Northern Front. Bilbao is on the right of the red area. | image_size = 300
| caption = The Northern Front. Bilbao is on the right of the red area.
| date = 12–19 June 1937 | date = 12–19 June 1937
| place = Biscay, Northern ] | place = Biscay, Northern ]
| territory = Nationalists capture Biscay from the republicans | territory = Nationalists capture Biscay from Republicans
| result = Decisive Nationalist victory | result = Nationalist victory
| combatant1 = {{flag|Spanish Republic}}<br>{{flagdeco|Basque Country}} ] | combatant1 = {{flag|Spanish Republic}}<br>{{flagdeco|Basque Country}} ]
| combatant2 = {{flag|Nationalist Spain|1936}}<br>{{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy}} (CTV) | combatant2 = {{flag|Nationalist Spain|1936}}<br>{{flagicon|Fascist Italy (1922–1943)}} ]<br>{{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} ]
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Spanish Republic}} ]<br>{{flagicon|Spanish Republic}} ]{{Surrendered}}<br>{{flagicon|Spanish Republic}} ]<br>{{flagicon|Spanish Republic}} Joseph Putz<br>{{flagicon|Spanish Republic}} ]{{KIA}} <br> {{flagdeco|Basque Country}} ]<br> {{flagdeco|Basque Country}} ]
| commander1 =
| commander2 = {{flagicon|Nationalist Spain|1936}} ]<br>{{flagicon|Nationalist Spain|1936}} ]<br>{{flagicon|Nationalist Spain|1936}} ]<br>{{flagicon|Nationalist Spain|1936}} ]<br>{{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} ]
| commander2 =
| strength1 = 50,000 troops and militia | strength1 = 50,000 troops and militia
| strength2 = 60,000 Nationalist troops<br>15,000 Italian troops | strength2 = 60,000 Nationalist troops<br>15,000 Italian troops
| casualties1 = Unknown | casualties1 = Unknown
| casualties2 = '''Nationalist Spain:''' Unknown<br>'''Italy:''' 105 dead<br>427 wounded<br>three missing | casualties2 = '''Nationalist Spain:''' Unknown<br>'''Italy:''' 105 dead<br>427 wounded<br>3 missing
}} }}
⚫ {{Campaignbox Spanish Civil War}}


The '''Battle of Bilbao''' was part of the ], during the ] where the ] captured the city of ] and the remaining parts of the ] still held by the ]. The '''Battle of Bilbao''', part of the ] in the ], saw the ] capture ] and the rest of the ] that was still being held by the ].


==Background== ==Background==
] light tank passes several armoured vehicles.]]
Bilbao was the capital of the ] established by the Republic after the war began. This establishment was in payment for ] support of the Republic. The Basque people in Spain generally inhabit four provinces, ], ], ] and ]. The Basque Nationalists were dominant in the latter two provinces. Navarre and Álava had rallied to the rising against the Republic.<ref>{{cite book |authorlink=Gabriel Jackson (hispanist) |first=Gabriel |last=Jackson |title=The Spanish Republic and the Civil War, 1931–1939 |year=1965 |location= |publisher= |page=384 }}</ref> Bilbao was the capital of the ], which had been established by the ] after the war began to reward ] support of the Republic. The ] in Spain generally inhabit four provinces: ], ], ] and ]. The Basque nationalists were dominant in the last two provinces. Navarre and Álava had rallied to the rising against the Republic.<ref>{{cite book |author-link=Gabriel Jackson (hispanist) |first=Gabriel |last=Jackson |title=The Spanish Republic and the Civil War, 1931–1939 |year=1965 |page=384 }}</ref>


The Spanish Nationalists troops gained ] early in the war with the fall of ] in August and ] on 13 September 1936,<ref>{{cite book |authorlink=Hugh Thomas (writer) |first=Hugh |last=Thomas |title=The Spanish Civil War |year=2001 |edition=Rev. ed. |location=New York |publisher=Modern Library |page=397 |isbn=0375755152 }}</ref> isolating the Basque country and the Northern Republican held zone from the French frontier. On 31 March, the Nationalist, led by the General Mola, launched an offensive against the ] province. The Basque troops had to retire and by June the Nationalist reached the outskirts of Bilbao. The Spanish Nationalist troops gained ] early in the war with the fall of ] in August and ] on 13 September 1936,<ref>{{cite book |author-link=Hugh Thomas (writer) |first=Hugh |last=Thomas |title=The Spanish Civil War |year=2001 |edition=Rev. |location=New York |publisher=Modern Library |page= |isbn=0375755152 |url=https://archive.org/details/spanishcivilwar00thom_0/page/397}}</ref> isolating the Basque Country and the zone held by the Northern Republicans from the French border. On 31 March, the Nationalists, led by the General ], ] against Biscay Province. The Basque troops had to retire, and by June, the Nationalists had reached the outskirts of Bilbao.


==The Battle== ==Battle==
By 11 June 1937 the Basque forces had fallen back to the city of ], which was defended by a series of rushed fortifications called the "]." The Iron Ring was poorly designed for defense.<ref>Gabriel Jackson, pp. 380-384.</ref> It was quite an antiquated defense concept akin to ] fortifications, so it was vulnerable to modern warfare weapons of its time such as aircraft and artillery, and only 30,000 troops were defending it (it was conceived to be defended by 70,000)—therefore the Iron Ring was rather easily overcome by Nationalist forces.<ref name=Chueca>{{eu icon}} Josu CHUECA: , ''36ko Gerra orain''.</ref><ref name=ImanolVilla>{{es icon}} Imanol VILLA: , ''El Correo'', 2007-02-11.</ref> By 11 June 1937. the Basque forces had fallen back to the city of ], which was defended by a series of rushed fortifications called the "]". It was poorly designed for defence.<ref>Gabriel Jackson, pp. 380–384.</ref> It was quite an antiquated concept, akin to ] fortifications, and so was vulnerable to modern warfare and weapons, such as aircraft and artillery. Also, only 30,000 troops defended it although it had been conceived to be defended by 70,000. Therefore. the Iron Ring was rather easily overcome by Nationalist forces.<ref name=Chueca>{{in lang|eu}} Josu Chueca: , ''36ko Gerra orain''.</ref><ref name=ImanolVilla>{{in lang|es}} Imanol Villa: , ''El Correo'', 2007-02-11.</ref>


The ring was breached by an infantry assault supported by heavy air and artillery bombardment (150 guns and 70 bombers). On 12 June, the Spanish Republican Army launched a diversionary attack against ] in order to stop the Nationalist offensive but the Nationalist troops continued their advance. On the night of June 13 the defenders evacuated most of the civilian population from the city. On 18 June, General Ulibarri withdrew his remaining troops from Bilbao and the Nationalists occupied the city on the following day. The city's bridges had been destroyed to hinder the attackers but the city remained mostly intact.<ref>{{cite book |last=Beevor |first=Antony |year=2006 |title=The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939 |publisher=Penguin Books |location=London |page=236 |isbn=014303765X }}</ref> The ring was breached by an infantry assault supported by heavy air and artillery bombardment (150 guns and 70 bombers). On 12 June, the Spanish Republican Army launched a diversionary attack against ] to stop the Nationalist offensive, but the Nationalist troops continued their advance. On the night of 13 June, the defenders evacuated most of the civilian population from the city. On 18 June, General Ulibarri withdrew his remaining troops from Bilbao, and the Nationalists occupied the city on the following day. The city's bridges had been destroyed to hinder the attackers, but the city remained mostly intact.<ref>{{cite book |last=Beevor |first=Antony |year=2006 |title=The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939 |publisher=Penguin Books |location=London |page= |isbn=014303765X |url=https://archive.org/details/battleforspainsp00anto/page/236 }}</ref>


==Notes== == See also ==
* ]
* ]
* ]

==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


{{coord|43|15|N|2|55|W|source:euwiki_region:ES|display=title}} {{Coord|43|15|N|2|55|W|source:euwiki_region:ES|display=title}}

⚫ {{Campaignbox Spanish Civil War}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Of Bilbao}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Of Bilbao}}
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Latest revision as of 16:08, 16 October 2024

Part of the Spanish Civil War (1937)
Battle of Bilbao
Part of the Spanish Civil War

The Northern Front. Bilbao is on the right of the red area.
Date12–19 June 1937
LocationBiscay, Northern Spain
Result Nationalist victory
Territorial
changes		 Nationalists capture Biscay from Republicans
Belligerents
 Spanish Republic
Basque Army		  Nationalist Spain
Fascist Italy CTV
Condor Legion
Commanders and leaders
Second Spanish Republic Mariano Gámir Ulíbarri
Second Spanish Republic Juan Cueto Ibáñez Surrendered
Second Spanish Republic Pablo Belderráin
Second Spanish Republic Joseph Putz
Second Spanish Republic Nino Nanetti †
José Antonio Aguirre
Alberto Montaud		 Francoist Spain Fidel Dávila Arrondo
Francoist Spain José Solchaga Zala
Francoist Spain Rafael García Valiño
Francoist Spain Juan Bautista Sánchez
Nazi Germany Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen
Strength
50,000 troops and militia 60,000 Nationalist troops
15,000 Italian troops
Casualties and losses
Unknown Nationalist Spain: Unknown
Italy: 105 dead
427 wounded
3 missing

The Battle of Bilbao, part of the War in the North in the Spanish Civil War, saw the Nationalist Army capture Bilbao and the rest of the Basque Country that was still being held by the Spanish Republic.

Background

Triumphant nationalist forces parade through Bilbao; a Panzer I light tank passes several armoured vehicles.

Bilbao was the capital of the autonomous Basque area, which had been established by the Spanish Republic after the war began to reward Basque nationalist support of the Republic. The Basque people in Spain generally inhabit four provinces: Navarre, Álava, Gipuzkoa and Biscay. The Basque nationalists were dominant in the last two provinces. Navarre and Álava had rallied to the rising against the Republic.

The Spanish Nationalist troops gained Gipuzkoa early in the war with the fall of Irún in August and San Sebastián on 13 September 1936, isolating the Basque Country and the zone held by the Northern Republicans from the French border. On 31 March, the Nationalists, led by the General Emilio Mola, launched an offensive against Biscay Province. The Basque troops had to retire, and by June, the Nationalists had reached the outskirts of Bilbao.

Battle

By 11 June 1937. the Basque forces had fallen back to the city of Bilbao, which was defended by a series of rushed fortifications called the "Bilbao's Iron Ring". It was poorly designed for defence. It was quite an antiquated concept, akin to First World War fortifications, and so was vulnerable to modern warfare and weapons, such as aircraft and artillery. Also, only 30,000 troops defended it although it had been conceived to be defended by 70,000. Therefore. the Iron Ring was rather easily overcome by Nationalist forces.

The ring was breached by an infantry assault supported by heavy air and artillery bombardment (150 guns and 70 bombers). On 12 June, the Spanish Republican Army launched a diversionary attack against Huesca to stop the Nationalist offensive, but the Nationalist troops continued their advance. On the night of 13 June, the defenders evacuated most of the civilian population from the city. On 18 June, General Ulibarri withdrew his remaining troops from Bilbao, and the Nationalists occupied the city on the following day. The city's bridges had been destroyed to hinder the attackers, but the city remained mostly intact.

See also

References

  1. Jackson, Gabriel (1965). The Spanish Republic and the Civil War, 1931–1939. p. 384.
  2. Thomas, Hugh (2001). The Spanish Civil War (Rev. ed.). New York: Modern Library. p. 397. ISBN 0375755152.
  3. Gabriel Jackson, pp. 380–384.
  4. (in Basque) Josu Chueca: «Burdin Gerrikoa puskatuta», 36ko Gerra orain.
  5. (in Spanish) Imanol Villa: «El Cinturón de Hierro», El Correo, 2007-02-11.
  6. Beevor, Antony (2006). The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939. London: Penguin Books. p. 236. ISBN 014303765X.

43°15′N 2°55′W / 43.250°N 2.917°W / 43.250; -2.917

Spanish Civil War
July 1936 uprising / Revolution
1936
1937
1938
1939

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