Battle of Mérida
Encyclopedia : B : BA : BAT : Battle of Mérida
| Spanish Civil War |
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| Alcázar – Mérida – Badajoz – Sierra Guadalupe – Cape Espartel – Madrid – Corunna Road – Málaga – Jarama – Guadalajara – Guernica – Brunete – Belchite – El Mazuco – Cape Cherchell – Teruel – Cape Palos – Ebro Chronology: 1936 1937 1938-9 |
The Battle of Mérida was contested early in the Spanish Civil War when Republican militia twice attempted to halt the Army of Africa near the historic town of Mérida, and were beaten off.
The Nationalists routed the Republicans from the city August 10, 1936 and secured control the following day, allowing General Yagüe to surround and capture neighbouring Badajoz several days later.
The advance of the Army of Africa
The Nationalist army under Colonel Asensio, assembled at Seville with German and Italian help, began its lightning drive northward on August 2 in trucks supplied by General Queipo de Llano. Major Castejón followed with a second column on August 3.
Asensio raced north, smashing through a fierce Republican attack August 6. The next day, the Army of Africa turned the Republicans out of the village of Almadralejo after a bloody struggle that decimated both sides. The Republicans retreated north to nearby Mérida, while the bloodied Nationalists halted their march to wait for Castejón.
The battle
The Republican militia made another stand on the Guadiana, several kilometers south of Mérida, on August 10. Asensio pushed forward and tore the bridge from them, then swept across the river and captured the city. The militia retreated rather than risk encirclement. General Juan Yagüe then arrived to take command of the Nationalist army.
Yagüe next moved east against Badajoz with Asensio and Castejón, leaving a detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Tella to hold the line at Mérida. On August 11, the Republican militia reappeared with a strong contingent of Asaltos and Guardia Civil from Madrid. The Republicans moved against Tella, whose professional Legionnaires met and defeated them in battle.
Meanwhile, Yagüe's contingent took Badajoz by storm.
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External links
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