Mérida Offensive

The Mérida Offensive was a military operation, carried out by the Nationalists during the very early phase of the Spanish Civil War in August 1936; if formed part of the Extremadura campaign. Its primary objective was connecting two rebel zones, separated by the loyalist-held southern Extremadura. The operation was designed and prepared by Franco; its starting point was Seville. The raid was executed by an improvised force, which grew from 1,000 at the beginng to 5,000 later, and composed mostly of the Foreign Legion and the Regulares infantry units. Most of the time the Nationalists operated in two battlegroups usually referred to as "columns", commanded by Asensio and Castejón. Between August 2 and August 11 they performed a breakthrough raid of some 180 km, defeating much more numerous yet loose and poorly organized loyalists during engagements at Santa Olalla, Monesterio, Llerena, Los Santos de Maimona, and Almendralejo; the operation climaxed in the battle of Mérida. Success of the Mérida Offensive linked two separate rebel-held zones and proved of paramount importance for future military developments of 1936; it was also vital for future rise of Franco as the overall rebel commander.