Battle of Guadalajara
Near Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, north-east of Madrid
What happened
The Spanish Republican army, with commanders including Enrique Líster and Cipriano Mera, fought Italian troops sent by Mussolini under General Mario Roatta, with Spanish Nationalist forces. In the Spanish Civil War, Italian divisions attacked toward Guadalajara to help surround Madrid. They advanced through fog and sleet but soon got stuck. The Republicans counter-attacked and routed the Italian forces; at one point, Italian volunteers fighting for the Republic called on their countrymen to change sides.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It stopped the Nationalist attempt to surround Madrid and was a major blow to Mussolini's prestige. Franco changed to a slower strategy of taking Republican territory piece by piece.
What came next
Franco turned his attacks to northern Spain.
Did you know?
Officers at a Nationalist headquarters reportedly toasted 'Spanish heroism, of whatever colour', probably the only time the Nationalists celebrated a Republican victory.
Timeline
- December 1936Bombing hits Guadalajara's Palacio del Infantado.
- 8 March 1937The Italian offensive begins.
- 18-23 March 1937The Republican counter-attack routs the Italians.