Sad Days of Battle: The Battle of Jarama, February 6-27, 1937 (2021)

“There's a valley in Spain called Jarama. it's a place that we all know so well. It was there that we fought against the fascists. We saw a peaceful valley turn to hell.”—Excerpt from Woody Guthrie’s song Battle of Jarama.

After failing to take Madrid in November, Francisco Franco ordered his forces to cut off the former capital city and now symbol of Republican resistance by taking the roads south of the city linking it to the Republican government in Valencia. The attack over the Jarama river was to be coordinated with the Italian’s offensive to the north and east of the city along the Guadalajara river. However, the Italians were taking longer than anticipated to get their forces into positions, hindered by poor weather and abysmal planning. With growing impatience General Franco ordered his forces to attack, supported by the German Condor Legion as well as masses of new German tanks, artillery pieces and ample supplies of ordinance.

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