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Chapter 1
Section 6
Spanish Civil War: Part 4, the Final Part
The Fall of Valencia
Despite the collapse and annihilation of most of the army of the Republican State, the Government of President Caballero remained resolute. The machinery of the government kept on moving. After the fall of Madrid, the capture of Seville, the surrender of Barcelona, and the collapse of the army after the Second Battle of Madrid, the government kept on working. At times Valencia, and the Mayor’s house where Caballero was staying, was within shelling distance of the frontline, but the nation still operated. Franco realized this and was determined to crack the Republicans for good.
As the German army was clearing out Barcelona, Field Marshal Keitel received a command to redeploy to Tortosa. The divisions of the III. and II. ArmeeKorps moved fast, marching the distance in under three days. The German Führer Adolf Hitler had ordered Keitel to take the city and war brought to a close by March at the latest.
Eighteen divisions, a quarter of a million men, twice the size of the entire German army two years before, had deployed within sight of the Republican capital. The only forces the Republicans could muster were a fable two understrenghted regular divisions and three untrained militia divisions. Field Marshal Keitel had been given overall control of the operation to take Valencia. On December 21 downtown of Valencia was hit by the first shells of a four day aerial, land, and sea bombardment.
On December 24, the day before Christmas, the German’s II. and III. ArmeeKorps entered the city from three directions, one for each of the cities three main bridges. The Spanish detonated one and damaged one, but the Germans, using wooden boats, made their way into the old city by December 26. Resistance was sporadic at best; most of the militia just gave up and walked home. The regulars were few and outnumbered. Concentrated groups of ten to twenty of them had to defend several city blocks. Once they had given away their positions’ to the Germans artillery leveled whatever building they where in.
German Troops Fighting in Valencia
According to Field Marshals Keitel and List Valencia fall on December 30, in reality no real resistance had remained after Caballero fled on the night of December 26. A group of twenty-one soldiers in the historic cathedral Capilla Mayor had been saved from annihilation by Germans, who didn’t want to destroy the ancient cathedral, and eventually talked into surrendering.
The Last Month
After the fall of Valencia elements of the III. German ArmeeKorps in patrols around the city found abounded stocks of rifles and artillery. Word was rushed through to Field Marshal Keitel that the Republican Armed forces no longer existed around the city, if anywhere. Field Marshal List immediately began to advance. Resistance was almost nonexistent. The East Coast of Spain was overrun by January 10.
Granada was to be Republican Spain’s last capital. The government’s flit to the mountain city lacked the order and discipline of the relocation to Valencia. Large pieces of the government had disappeared, including most of the higher military infrastructure. The army had about 12,000 men in two divisions. The capital was chaotic from the second of the relocation. It was already under almost nonstop bombardment. One of Caballero’s secretaries later wrote about this city
“…Everybody knew it was over…there was no denying it. The President was a shadow of his former self…his advisers, especially the military advisers, had longer faces everyday… I myself slept about three or four nights the whole last two weeks of the civil war. The artillery and planes never seemed to stop…”
By January 18 Granada was the only remaining Republican province. German infantry didn’t even bother to stop for a siege. The garrison melted away before the Germans had even entered the city. A small Presidential Guard of about a hundred men fought for the block around the Governor’s House for a totally of three hours before it to donned civilian cloths and escaped into the population
The Victors
On the night of January 22, after victory was clear, Hitler addressed the Reichstag. An entire population turned on their radios. His voice was heard across Germany and indeed the world.
“In the Summer of 1936, Spain appeared to be lost. International forces fanned the fire of a revolution which was certain to reduce to ruins not only Spain but Europe as well. .. Dreadfully threatening fate raised itself over our continent. The most ancient cultural lands of Europe appeared to be endangered…
…In July 1936, I had resolved quickly to respond to the request for help which this man [Franco] extended to me and to help him in the same measure and for as long as the rest of the world would render support to the internal enemies of Spain. With that National Socialist Germany began to partake actively in the battle for the reestablishment of a national and independent Spain under the leadership of this man. I ordered this in the knowledge that I could save not only Europe but also our own fatherland from a similar catastrophe in the future...
…And I say to you, soldiers of the fatherland. It was painful for us all to have to be silent about the battle through these long months…The entire German people thanks you in proud elation and heartfelt solidarity. In this sense as well, my comrades, your battle in Spain, as a lesson for our foes, was a battle for Germany…
At this moment we also desire to remember those who fought along side us. We remember our Italian and Spanish comrades, who valiantly and loyally gave their blood and life for this battle of civilization against destruction...
…The German nation has no feeling of hatred towards England, America or France; all it wants is peace and quiet…
Soldiers of the Fatherland! Long live the German people! Long live the Spanish people and its leader Franco! Long live the Italian people and its Duce! German people! Long live our Fatherland! Hail Victory!”
German Reichstag after the Führer’s speech
Franco waited until February 2 to finally declare the civil war won. Suspiciously it was the same day that the last German forces left Iberia. After reviving his victories army from the Palacio Real (the Royal Palace) he official declared the war offer.
Nationalist in Madrid
Campaign December 10 – February 2
Section 6
Spanish Civil War: Part 4, the Final Part
The Fall of Valencia
Despite the collapse and annihilation of most of the army of the Republican State, the Government of President Caballero remained resolute. The machinery of the government kept on moving. After the fall of Madrid, the capture of Seville, the surrender of Barcelona, and the collapse of the army after the Second Battle of Madrid, the government kept on working. At times Valencia, and the Mayor’s house where Caballero was staying, was within shelling distance of the frontline, but the nation still operated. Franco realized this and was determined to crack the Republicans for good.
As the German army was clearing out Barcelona, Field Marshal Keitel received a command to redeploy to Tortosa. The divisions of the III. and II. ArmeeKorps moved fast, marching the distance in under three days. The German Führer Adolf Hitler had ordered Keitel to take the city and war brought to a close by March at the latest.
Eighteen divisions, a quarter of a million men, twice the size of the entire German army two years before, had deployed within sight of the Republican capital. The only forces the Republicans could muster were a fable two understrenghted regular divisions and three untrained militia divisions. Field Marshal Keitel had been given overall control of the operation to take Valencia. On December 21 downtown of Valencia was hit by the first shells of a four day aerial, land, and sea bombardment.
On December 24, the day before Christmas, the German’s II. and III. ArmeeKorps entered the city from three directions, one for each of the cities three main bridges. The Spanish detonated one and damaged one, but the Germans, using wooden boats, made their way into the old city by December 26. Resistance was sporadic at best; most of the militia just gave up and walked home. The regulars were few and outnumbered. Concentrated groups of ten to twenty of them had to defend several city blocks. Once they had given away their positions’ to the Germans artillery leveled whatever building they where in.
German Troops Fighting in Valencia
According to Field Marshals Keitel and List Valencia fall on December 30, in reality no real resistance had remained after Caballero fled on the night of December 26. A group of twenty-one soldiers in the historic cathedral Capilla Mayor had been saved from annihilation by Germans, who didn’t want to destroy the ancient cathedral, and eventually talked into surrendering.
The Last Month
After the fall of Valencia elements of the III. German ArmeeKorps in patrols around the city found abounded stocks of rifles and artillery. Word was rushed through to Field Marshal Keitel that the Republican Armed forces no longer existed around the city, if anywhere. Field Marshal List immediately began to advance. Resistance was almost nonexistent. The East Coast of Spain was overrun by January 10.
Granada was to be Republican Spain’s last capital. The government’s flit to the mountain city lacked the order and discipline of the relocation to Valencia. Large pieces of the government had disappeared, including most of the higher military infrastructure. The army had about 12,000 men in two divisions. The capital was chaotic from the second of the relocation. It was already under almost nonstop bombardment. One of Caballero’s secretaries later wrote about this city
“…Everybody knew it was over…there was no denying it. The President was a shadow of his former self…his advisers, especially the military advisers, had longer faces everyday… I myself slept about three or four nights the whole last two weeks of the civil war. The artillery and planes never seemed to stop…”
By January 18 Granada was the only remaining Republican province. German infantry didn’t even bother to stop for a siege. The garrison melted away before the Germans had even entered the city. A small Presidential Guard of about a hundred men fought for the block around the Governor’s House for a totally of three hours before it to donned civilian cloths and escaped into the population
The Victors
On the night of January 22, after victory was clear, Hitler addressed the Reichstag. An entire population turned on their radios. His voice was heard across Germany and indeed the world.
“In the Summer of 1936, Spain appeared to be lost. International forces fanned the fire of a revolution which was certain to reduce to ruins not only Spain but Europe as well. .. Dreadfully threatening fate raised itself over our continent. The most ancient cultural lands of Europe appeared to be endangered…
…In July 1936, I had resolved quickly to respond to the request for help which this man [Franco] extended to me and to help him in the same measure and for as long as the rest of the world would render support to the internal enemies of Spain. With that National Socialist Germany began to partake actively in the battle for the reestablishment of a national and independent Spain under the leadership of this man. I ordered this in the knowledge that I could save not only Europe but also our own fatherland from a similar catastrophe in the future...
…And I say to you, soldiers of the fatherland. It was painful for us all to have to be silent about the battle through these long months…The entire German people thanks you in proud elation and heartfelt solidarity. In this sense as well, my comrades, your battle in Spain, as a lesson for our foes, was a battle for Germany…
At this moment we also desire to remember those who fought along side us. We remember our Italian and Spanish comrades, who valiantly and loyally gave their blood and life for this battle of civilization against destruction...
…The German nation has no feeling of hatred towards England, America or France; all it wants is peace and quiet…
Soldiers of the Fatherland! Long live the German people! Long live the Spanish people and its leader Franco! Long live the Italian people and its Duce! German people! Long live our Fatherland! Hail Victory!”
German Reichstag after the Führer’s speech
Franco waited until February 2 to finally declare the civil war won. Suspiciously it was the same day that the last German forces left Iberia. After reviving his victories army from the Palacio Real (the Royal Palace) he official declared the war offer.
Nationalist in Madrid
Campaign December 10 – February 2
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Private Ludwig Scherer took one step off the flat bottomed transport boat. His right boot hit the water and sank into the Spanish sand. He lifted his left leg, brought it down, hit the edge of the boat, tripped, and landed face first in the shallow water.
Laughter echoed in his ear. He heard his friend Heinz’s voice, “Good going Ludwig.” He heard another set of boots hit the water and looked up to see Heinz’s hand. He grabbed it and was pulled out of ocean. Soaking wet, he heard another burst of laughter from his fellow soldiers remaining on the boat. It abruptly ended when Lieutenant Maurer spoke, “That’s enough, everyone off the boat.”
The hundred or so men waded through the ankle deep water of the Bay of Biscay on to the Northern Spanish beach. A man dressed in a tan uniform stood waiting for them on the sand. “Greeting soldiers of the Third Reich, your Spanish brothers’ welcome you,” his German was heavily accented, but very good. The Lieutenant walked over, spoke a few whispered words with him, and shook his hand. A cheer went up from the Germans.
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The sound of the hammer of a machinegun beat away; bullets hit the dirt around Ludwig. Some hardened Republicans, probably of the pre-coup regular army, had dug in on the ridge of a small hill earlier that morning and had been causing problems for the Germans every since. Ludwig’s company could not get at their well defended position.
Ludwig himself was pretty well protected. A big, sun-backed, dusty-brown stone was enough to keep him, and a few of his fellow soldiers safe. He couldn’t say the same for most of his comrades. The machinegun’s hammer stopped. A man at Ludwig’s left stood up from behind hasty trench to take a shot at the Spaniards. A rifle echoed before the German had even stood up all the way. A bullet struck the man’s head. A splitter of blood hit Ludwig left side.
“Why haven’t they done something?” he asked, actually it was more of a plea, to Heinz.
“Because they got their thumbs out of their asses,” Heinz replied with a sharp edge in his voice.
The rifle fired again. Another German fell.
Heinz was obviously angry. “Damn it, if the Lieutenant will not do anything I will.”
Ludwig tried to stop him, but he Heinz moved to fast.
“Come on men; let’s show these Commy bastards,” he yelled as he ran around a rock.
Ludwig watched in astonishment as Heinz sprinted across the hundred or so yards separating the rock from the Republican machinegun. When the rest of Ludwig’s company saw he wasn’t cut down by bullets, they immediately jumped up at of their foxholes.
Ludwig ran from around his stone. “Damn lucky bastard”
Heinz stopped, crouched, fired, got up, then ran. A mist of blood came from a Republican’s head. The rest of the company followed his example: moving and firing. The sound of the machinegun’s hammer couldn’t be heard, but their was plenty of rifles going off. A bullet zipped over Ludwig’s head. There was a whack and a man’s scream behind him.
Heinz reached within ten yards of the hill, dropped to the ground, pulled a stike grenade from his belt, and through it.
There were no more rifle shots after that. Ludwig reached the Republican trench no longer then ten seconds after the grenade went of. He quickly searched for and located the machinegun. It had run out of bullets. It had been out before Heinz’s charge. “Damn lucky bastard”
Laughter echoed in his ear. He heard his friend Heinz’s voice, “Good going Ludwig.” He heard another set of boots hit the water and looked up to see Heinz’s hand. He grabbed it and was pulled out of ocean. Soaking wet, he heard another burst of laughter from his fellow soldiers remaining on the boat. It abruptly ended when Lieutenant Maurer spoke, “That’s enough, everyone off the boat.”
The hundred or so men waded through the ankle deep water of the Bay of Biscay on to the Northern Spanish beach. A man dressed in a tan uniform stood waiting for them on the sand. “Greeting soldiers of the Third Reich, your Spanish brothers’ welcome you,” his German was heavily accented, but very good. The Lieutenant walked over, spoke a few whispered words with him, and shook his hand. A cheer went up from the Germans.
------------
The sound of the hammer of a machinegun beat away; bullets hit the dirt around Ludwig. Some hardened Republicans, probably of the pre-coup regular army, had dug in on the ridge of a small hill earlier that morning and had been causing problems for the Germans every since. Ludwig’s company could not get at their well defended position.
Ludwig himself was pretty well protected. A big, sun-backed, dusty-brown stone was enough to keep him, and a few of his fellow soldiers safe. He couldn’t say the same for most of his comrades. The machinegun’s hammer stopped. A man at Ludwig’s left stood up from behind hasty trench to take a shot at the Spaniards. A rifle echoed before the German had even stood up all the way. A bullet struck the man’s head. A splitter of blood hit Ludwig left side.
“Why haven’t they done something?” he asked, actually it was more of a plea, to Heinz.
“Because they got their thumbs out of their asses,” Heinz replied with a sharp edge in his voice.
The rifle fired again. Another German fell.
Heinz was obviously angry. “Damn it, if the Lieutenant will not do anything I will.”
Ludwig tried to stop him, but he Heinz moved to fast.
“Come on men; let’s show these Commy bastards,” he yelled as he ran around a rock.
Ludwig watched in astonishment as Heinz sprinted across the hundred or so yards separating the rock from the Republican machinegun. When the rest of Ludwig’s company saw he wasn’t cut down by bullets, they immediately jumped up at of their foxholes.
Ludwig ran from around his stone. “Damn lucky bastard”
Heinz stopped, crouched, fired, got up, then ran. A mist of blood came from a Republican’s head. The rest of the company followed his example: moving and firing. The sound of the machinegun’s hammer couldn’t be heard, but their was plenty of rifles going off. A bullet zipped over Ludwig’s head. There was a whack and a man’s scream behind him.
Heinz reached within ten yards of the hill, dropped to the ground, pulled a stike grenade from his belt, and through it.
There were no more rifle shots after that. Ludwig reached the Republican trench no longer then ten seconds after the grenade went of. He quickly searched for and located the machinegun. It had run out of bullets. It had been out before Heinz’s charge. “Damn lucky bastard”
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