The Republic Goes on the Offensive in the Basque Country
Sunday 15th
November 1936
The Spanish
Republicans launched what was to be one of their few full-scale regular
military offensives of the Civil War. General Llano de Encomienda, who had
remained loyal to the Republic at his post in Barcelona at the outbreak of the
uprising, was given command of the government armies of the North. Despite a
complete lack of air support and desperate shortage of artillery, he launched
an offensive into the Basque.
His troops
fought bravely but against terrible odds. Even worse, perhaps, his command came
solely from the Republics central government. It had not been notified too,
still less approved, the semi autonomous government of the Basque country. The
Basque “Army of Euzkadi” had no intention of serving under his orders. Once
again regional rivalries weakened the Republican cause.
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