Military Operations in the Basque Country: A School for Luftwaffe

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Published 22-11-2011
Gabriel Cardona

Abstract

From July 1936 to March 1937, Franco's troops fought in the Spanish Civil War according to the traditional strategy of the Spanish Army in Morocco. In spite of its failure, due to the bad weather, its lack of experience and its bad coordination, the Italian offensive in Guadalajara had been the only battle planned with modern criteria. In the Biscay campaign, started by General Mola on March 31 1937, the Basque troops adopted a strategy based on the difficult terrain. In order to win this battle, it was impossible to use old military tactics. Because of that, Mola used combined operations of artillery and air force. Franco's Army learnt modern military strategies, fighting against an enemy geographically isolated, with little artillery and no air support and with a blockade of the coast. Therefore, the Luftwaffe, which had been founded two years before, developed new systems of air raids. All armies would use these techniques during the Second World War.

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