Spanish Civil War Campaign Phase 2: The Battle of the Ebro

DATE: 25/06/2023

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: WW2

MAP(S): Malden

TYPE: COOP

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Jarvis for Brothers in Arms

SLOTS: 80 / 98

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RATING: (18)

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Throughout the early 1930s, Spanish politics had been plagued by attempts at social, economic and political reform being met by hostility from the conservative sectors of Spanish society. Several coup attempts had taken place during this period, most notably the 1932 ‘Sanjurjada’ coup undertaken by Spanish nationalists.

When the Popular Front, a coalition of left wing parties, won the 1936 general election by a narrow margin, leaders within the Spanish military and right wing parties led by Emilio Mola began planning an audacious coup aimed at toppling the new government. After months of planning, it had been concluded by the conspirators that the Army of Africa, a formation of soldiers brought up from the Spanish colonies, would begin the coup days before the mainland rising, where the Army of Africa would then be transported to Spain by the Navy.

The first days of the coup were complete chaos. Rebel soldiers fought soldiers still loyal to the Republic, and elements of the Civil Guard fought the Assault Guard on the streets of Spanish cities. However, it had quickly been realised that the coup had failed with none of the major cities on mainland Spain being secured by the rebels. This had set in motion the events of the next three years of brutal war, characterised by terrible casualties and crimes against humanity; by 1939, the Nationalists had defeated the last remnants of the Second Spanish Republic and declared victory.

By 1938, following sustained defeats and the loss of the Northern Zone through the Nationalist ‘War in the North’, the Republic was in a dire situation. In response to the Nationalist offensive towards the Matallana Line, the Ebro Army would be formed and the plan to launch a counteroffensive across the River Ebro was approved. On the morning of the 25th of July 1938, Republican commandos crossed the River Ebro and secured positions for pontoon bridges to be established once the sun had risen. The Republican forces gained the advantage initially due to the surprise of the crossing and the key town of Gandesa was placed under siege, however, reinforcements were quickly sent by General Francisco Franco in the form of tanks and bombers, resulting in extreme casualties on the Republican side and the destruction of the pontoon bridges, trapping the Republicans in a pocket