Army of Africa (Spain)
Army of Africa | |
---|---|
Ejército de África | |
Active | 1912–1956 |
Country | Spain |
Type | Land force |
Size | 35,000 personnel (1909) |
Part of | Ministry of Defence of Spain (from 1937) |
Garrison/HQ | Tétouan |
Engagements | Second Melillan campaign Rif War Asturian miners' strike of 1934 Spanish Civil War Invasion of Val d'Aran Ifni War |
The Army of Africa (
At the start of the 20th century, the Spanish Empire's colonial possessions in Africa comprised Morocco, Spanish Sahara, Ifni, Cape Juby and Spanish Guinea.
Spanish Morocco
Background and origins
Spain maintained garrisons in its two Moroccan coastal enclaves of Melilla from the fifteenth century onwards and Ceuta (which despite having been Portuguese since 1415, chose to be the only Portuguese territory to side with the Spanish Empire after Portugal won back its independence in 1640 —due to the Iberian Union of 1580-1640). At different times these were made up of sailors, disciplinary companies, marine infantry, free companies and detachments from metropolitan units.[1] The Spanish Army of Africa can be said to have originated as a permanent institution with the establishment in 1893 of the Regimiento de África N° 1 (1st African Infantry Regiment).[2]
Recruitment of Moroccan troops
Following the Melilla Campaign of 1909–10 Spain began expanding inland from its established coastal holdings and a force of Policia Indigena (Native Police) was created with Moroccan personnel.[3] This indigenous force provided the basis for the establishment in 1911 of the Regulares - Moroccan infantry and cavalry units with Spanish officers.[4]
The Tiradores de Ifni
The Spanish Army of Africa included an indigenous light infantry force under European officers, designated as the
Spanish Legion
The
1920–1936
By the
Following the conclusion of the Rif War, the garrison of Spanish Morocco was reduced to the units listed above; plus seven infantry battalions, six cavalry squadrons and six artillery batteries from mainland Spain assigned to African service on a rotation basis.[6]
The Spanish Legion and Moroccan colonial forces took part in the suppression of the Asturias miners' strike of 1934. The government decided to deploy them instead of the inexperienced peninsular troops, fearing the negative impact of conscript casualties on public opinion.[5]
Role in the Spanish Civil War
The Army of Africa was to play a key part during the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939. Along with other units in the Spanish Army, the Army of Africa rose against the Second Spanish Republic and took part in the Spanish coup of July 1936 on the side of the Nacionales. On 18 July 1936, General Francisco Franco assumed the supreme command over this force.
Spanish Morocco fell to the rebels without significant opposition. The initial intention was to transport the Army of Africa to mainland Spain by sea. However the crews of the majority of ships in the Spanish Navy had remained loyal to the Republican government,
After landing in Spain, the Army of Africa was split into two columns, one commanded by General Juan Yagüe and the other commanded by Colonel José Enrique Varela. Yagüe's force advanced north, making remarkably rapid gains, and then turned north-eastwards towards Madrid and Toledo. Varela's force entered Andalusia and took control of the key cities of Seville, Granada, and Córdoba. Thanks mostly to the Army of Africa's advances, almost all of western Spain was in Francoist Nationalist hands by the end of September 1936. By early 1937 the Army of Africa's strength had been increased to 60,000 men. The Legion and Regulares spearheaded Nationalist operations for the remainder of the war and played a central role in the Francoist victory.
1940–1956
With the ending of the Civil War the Army of Africa was reduced to a peacetime establishment. However under Franco it was accorded a higher profile in Spain itself than had been the case under either monarchy or republic. During the 1940s detachments from the Tiradores de Ifni garrisoned the Canary Islands, while a mounted Guardia Mora ("Moorish Guard") undertook ceremonial duties in Madrid.
The Legion and troops of Regulares were sent to the Val d'Aran in October 1944 to repel the invasion of the area by Spanish maquis from France.[10]
Post Moroccan independence
Following Moroccan independence in 1956 the bulk of the locally recruited Regulares were transferred to the new Royal Moroccan Army. The cities of Melilla and Ceuta, and the lesser plazas de soberanía as well, remained Spanish and are still garrisoned by Legion and Regulares units.
Ifni remained under Spanish administration until June 1969. However widespread disturbances in the territory in 1956 and the Ifni War of 1957-58 led to substantial desertions amongst the indigenous rank and file of the Tiradores de Ifni. Accordingly, the four tabors which made up this force underwent a process of "europeanisation" in which the majority of their personnel were recruited from Spain itself.
See also
- Spanish Legion
- Regulares
- Tiradores de Ifni
- Colonial Guard of Spanish Guinea
- Civil Guard (Spain)
- Mohamed Meziane
References
- ISBN 84-86629-26-8.
- ISBN 84-86629-26-8.
- ISBN 84-86629-26-8.
- ISBN 84-86629-23-3.
- ^ a b Thomas, Hugh (2003). The Spanish Civil War, p. 166. Penguin Books.
- ISBN 978-1-78200-782-1.
- ISBN 0-141-01161-0
- ISBN 0-141-01161-0
- ISBN 0-141-01161-0
- ISBN 84-7423-198-1.
External sources
- Beevor, Antony. The Spanish Civil War. New York: Penguin Books, 2001.