Battle of Annual
Annual, Driouch Province, north-eastern Morocco
What happened
Rifian forces led by Abd el-Krim fought a Spanish army under General Manuel Fernández Silvestre. Spain had pushed deep into the Rif mountains of northern Morocco, with scattered outposts and weak supply lines. In July 1921 Rifian fighters attacked the Spanish camp at Annual. Silvestre ordered a withdrawal, but it turned into a disorderly retreat, and Silvestre fell.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Spain lost all the land it had gained in the area since 1909, and the defeat caused a political crisis in Spain. It helped lead to the military dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera and weakened the Spanish monarchy.
What came next
Abd el-Krim became president of the Republic of the Rif in September 1921. He surrendered to the French in 1926 and was exiled.
Did you know?
Abd el-Krim's fighting methods later influenced guerrilla leaders around the world, including Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong.
Timeline
- 1 June 1921Rifians capture a Spanish outpost on Mount Abarrán.
- 22 July 1921The Rifians win at Annual.
- 18 September 1921Abd el-Krim becomes president of the Republic of the Rif.
- 26 May 1926Abd el-Krim surrenders to the French.
- 6 February 1963Abd el-Krim dies in Cairo.