Battle of Santander

{{Campaignbox Spanish Civil War}} The '''Battle of Santander''' was fought over the summer of 1937 in the [[War in the North]] campaign in the [[Spanish Civil War]]. [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]]'s fall on September 1 assured the [[Nationalist Spain|Nationalist]] conquest of the [[province of Santander]] and marked the last stand of the [[Second Spanish Republic|Republic's]] "Army of the North," which was destroyed and captured in the fighting. ==Timeline== 14 Aug. The [[Nationalist Spain|Nationalist]] 1st Navarrese Brigade attacks the front between [[Valdecebollas]] ([[Palencia]]) and [[Cuesta Labra]], trying to cut off the Republican forces south of the [[Cantabrian Mountains]].
15 Aug. The [[Nationalist Spain|Nationalists]] advance in the area of [[Barruelo de Santullán|Barruelo]] ([[Palencia]]) up to [[Peña Rubia]], [[Salcedillo]], [[Matalejos]] and [[Reinosilla]]; the [[Second Spanish Republic|Republic's]] fight back at [[Portillo de Suano]].
16 Aug. The [[Nationalist Spain|Nationalists]] overcome the Republicans at [[Portillo de Suano]] and take the factories near [[Reinosa]] ([[Cantabria]]); they enter [[Reinosa]] itself at nightfall. The 4th Navarrese Brigade advances at the River [[Saja]] valley towards [[Cabuérniga]] Valley ([[Cantabria]]). Italian forces advance from [[Burgos]] to [[Lanchares]] and [[San Miguel de Aguayo]] ([[Cantabria]]).
17 Aug. Italian forces take [[El Escudo]] Pass and join the rest of the forces at [[San Miguel de Aguayo]]. 22 Republican battalions are encircled at [[Campoo]] ([[Cantabria]]).
18 Aug. Nationalist forces take [[Santiurde de Toranzo|Santiurde]], and Italian forces take [[San Pedro del Romeral]] and [[Luena, Cantabria|San Miguel de Luena]] ([[Cantabria]]).
19 Aug. Nationalist forces advance in [[Cabuérniga]] and the [[Pas River]] valley, taking [[Bárcena de Pie de Concha]] and [[Entrambasmestas]] ([[Cantabria]]).
20 Aug. Italian forces advance towards [[Villacarriedo]] and Navarrese forces advance towards [[Torrelavega]] and [[Cabezón de la Sal]].
22 Aug. The Nationalist take [[Selaya]], [[Villacarriedo]], [[Ontaneda]] and [[Las Fraguas]] ([[Cantabria]]).
23 Aug. Navarrese forces enter [[Mazcuerras]] Valley and take Mount [[Ibio]], nearly cutting the main road and railway between [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]] and [[Asturias]]. Italian forces face Republican resistance near [[Puente Viesgo]] ([[Cantabria]]).
24 Aug. General Gámir-Ulibarri orders the general evacuation towards [[Asturias]]. The Nationalist take [[Torrelavega]] and [[Barreda]], cutting the main road to [[Asturias]]. The Basque forces, after defeating the front, sign the [[Santoña Agreement]] (Spanish ''Pacto de Santoña'') by which they surrender to the Italians.
25 Aug. The main Republican authorities leave [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]], heading to [[Gijón]] ([[Asturias]]).
26 Aug. Nationalist forces enter [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]] around noon; 17,000 republicans are made prisoners, many of whom would be immediately executed.
1 Sep. The Nationalist take [[Unquera]] ([[Cantabria]]), in the limit with [[Asturias]].
The rest of Cantabria (valleys of [[Tudanca]] and [[Liébana]]) would be taken during the Asturian campaign. ==Consequences== Santander's fall, coupled with the capture of heavily-fortified [[Bilbao]], tore an irreparable gap in the Republic's northern front. The destruction of the Army of the North marked another crippling blow to the Republic's sagging strength and turned the war to Franco's favour. Factors accounting for the Republican defeat include: *The Nationalists' overwhelming superiority in artillery and air power. *A lack of unified command among Asturian, Cantabrian and Basque Republican units. *The precision, shock, and rapidity of the Nationalist advance, which had as its objective the destruction of enemy forces and not the consolidation of territory. *The defenders' poor morale, in contrast to the exceptional confidence and enthusiasm of the Nationalists. *Mutinies and sedition by the Basque units in the Republican camp ([[Santoña Agreement]]). The disaster proved total and the losses beyond repair. Of the twelve Basque [[brigade]]s there remained at the end only eight battered [[battalion]]s. The Republican Army of Santander of twelve brigades was reduced to six battalions. The Asturians committed 27 battalions and escaped with only fourteen. In no other theatre of the civil war did Franco's troops achieve results as decisive as those of the Santander campaign: sixty thousand Republican soldiers were wiped off the map, with corresponding losses in materiel. The War in the North was all but won. ==External links== *[http://web.archive.org/web/20091027111235/http://es.geocities.com/su_biografia/guerra_civil.htm La Guerra Civil en Cantabria] * [http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=58242&highlight=escudo Puerto del Escudo and Italian Forces] {{coord missing|Spain}}