"Spanish Civil War" Topic

Has someone done a SCW variant with OB's that is either downloadable or for sale? Thanks.

JPK

Command Post Quarterly issues 7 and 8 included TO&E for the SCW and unit factors. I don't recall any rules changes per se.

I believe you can still buy hard copies of both issues, but I am not sure about PDFs.

Sadly, the testofbattle website has only CP #'s 2,3,4,5,6 and 9 for sale. :-(

From CPQ 7: I'll apologize for the formatting and typos now…

The Quick Guide to the Spanish Civil War

The International Brigades

by Greg Novak

No element of the Spanish Civil War gathered greater renown worldwide then did the International Brigades. Formed from "volunteers" from different countries around the world, they arrived in Spain with the single goal of stopping Fascism, or so the legend goes. Like all elements of the Spanish Civil War, the role played by the International Brigades is subject to an ongoing debate that is totally dependent on the ideological background of the author of the work.

Once the rebellion started in Spain, volunteers began to appear in Spain to help fight the war against the Fascists. (Some of these volunteers were already in Spain, preparing for the Workers' Olympiad, a series of games organized in Barcelona in opposition to the regular Olympic Games of 1936, which were held in Berlin.) The volunteers were organized in groups and centuries by nationality, and attached to a local column in the am that they were serving. As a rule, they tended to have some military background and ability to work together. For service in the early war period, they should be organized as follows:

Foreign Century/Group (early 1936), with:
Troop Quality: Regular
Morale: 9 1 command infantry stand
1-4 infantry stands and
1 MMG stand
Notes

1. Known Groups include: Groupe Rakpsi (Hungarian), Tom Mann Centuri (British), Centuria. Gaston Sozzi (Italian), Thaelmann Centuria (German-Austrian), Groupo Dombrowski (Slavic), Grupo Ludwig Warmski (Polish).

The success of these units and willingness of others to volunteer to serve in Spain was seen as the answer to a problem in the Soviet Union. Since 1919, the Soviet Union had supported a growing number of refugees from across Europe. Many of these were individuals who had taken part in the post-World War I Communist-supported revolts in Europe. Others were more recent refugees from Fascist governments. In either case, the war in Spain was seen as the perfect place to send these individuals to serve in the front lines. Those who did well could return to the Soviet Union; those who did not could not return--but had nowhere else to go!

Starting in September of 1936, the Comintern ordered all parties in Europe to recruit volunteers for service in Spain, as well as dispatching there many of those refugees living in the Soviet Union. The refugees would form the cadre for the new units, one that would in all matters support the PCE. At the same time, the volunteers recruited by the national parties need not be members of the communist party, rather only anti-fascist in nature, and would help give these units a "Popular Front" aspect.

Because of the fact that foreign aid was prohibited to either party in Spain by the Non Interventionist Pact, the journey to Spain for many of the volunteers became an adventure in itself. Volunteers traveled to Paris, and were then given instructions as to how they were to arrive in Spain.

At times, the French government sealed the border, and at times it turned a blind eye. The town of Albacete in eastern Spain was chosen as the depot for the new "Internationalist Brigades" due to its proximity to the seaport of Valencia, through which most of the Soviet aid was funneled.

The first two Brigades to be formed were the XI (October 22,1936) and the XII (November 5, 1936). To distinguish the international brigades from the other brigades of the Popular Army, it was decided to use Roman Numerals for their numbers. Battalions were numbered at first by brigade, and then by the order in which they were raised. All battalions were named, often using the titles of the units that had served before in the early stages of war. Both Brigades served in the defense of Madrid, and provided a needed impetus to the defenders of that city.

International Brigade, 1936, with:
Troop Quality: Veteran
Morale: 9 Headquarters Company, with: 1 command stand
1 car
1 staff telephone truck
1 recon motorcycle infantry stand

Brigade Cavalry Squadron, with
1 command cavalry stand
1 recon cavalry stand
1 cavalry stand

Brigade Trains, with:
1 mounted command stand
1 baggage medium truck
1 general supply medium truck
1 medium truck with field kitchen mailer
1 support stand
3 Infantry Battalions, each with:

Headquarters, with1 command stand
1 command infantry stand
3 Infantry Companies, each with 4 infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, with 2 MMG stands

Notes

1. The XI Brigade had the Edgar Andre Battalion, (German) Commune de Paris (French) and Dowbrowski Battalion (Polish). The XIIth Brigade had the Thaelmann Battalion (German), Garibaldi Battalion (Italian) and Andre Marty (French). The Cavalry Squadrons at this point are listed as being French.

The XI and XII Brigades lost 50% of their strength in and about Madrid, but helped the Republican forces there hold off the Nationalist attack on that city. Additional International Brigades and Battalions were formed at Albacete as follows:

XIII International Brigade-December 2, 1936
XIV International Brigade-December 2,1936
XV International Brigade-January 31, 1937

In addition, the following Brigades of the Popular Army had International Battalions attached to them at one point or the other:

86th Mixed Brigade
129th Mixed Brigade
150th Mixed Brigade

The units of the International Brigade, including those formed already, were (see chart at right --Sorry, unavailable on TMP -- RL):

Chart Explanations
*The first number is the international Battalion Number. The second number is the number within the Spanish Republican Army. This number may or may not have applied, and is based on the battalion's placement in a given International Brigade.

**Though named on paper for the first Communist Member of Parliament, the British Battalion was known as the British Battalion.

Tom Paine: This Battalion was renamed the Mackenzie- Papineau Battalion for propaganda reasons, even though a majority of its members were Americans.

Not all of the International Battalions existed at the same time, and often battalions were folded into one another in an effort to keep the field units up to strength. The average International Brigade after 1936 should have the following:

International Brigade, 1937-38, with:
Troop Quality: Experienced
Morale: 9, unless noted
Headquarters Company, with: 1 command stand
1 car
1 staff telephone truck
1 recon motorcycle MP stand
Brigade Cavalry Squadron, with:
1 command BA-6 armored car
1 recon FAI armored car

Brigade Trains, with:
1 mounted command stand
1 baggage medium truck
1 general supply medium truck
1 medium truck with field kitchen trailer
1 support stand

Brigade AT Battery, with:
1 gun crew stand
1 37LA5 AT gun
1 light truck

2-4 International Infantry Battalions, each with:
Troop Quality: Experienced-Veteran
Morale: 7-9 (see Note 2) Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
3-4 Infantry Companies, each with: 3-4 infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, with: 2-3 MMG stands
0-1 Spanish Infantry Battalions, each with:
Trained-Regular,
Morale 6-8

Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
4 Infantry Companies, each with: 3 infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, with: 2 MMG stands

Notes

1. Each Brigade usually had four or more infantry battalions. One Spanish Battalion was often attached to an International Brigade.

2. The one exception to the unit ratings should be the American members of the International Brigades. They should be rated as Green, Morale 10 prior to their first combat, after which they should change up slowly to the same status as the rest of the Brigade.

3. The five International Brigades went through a rapid turnover in structure, until it was decided to group the battalions by language to simplify command problems. This gave the following structure as of

XI International Brigade: (German)
XII International Brigade: (Italian)
XIII International Brigade: (Polish-Balkan)
XIV International Brigade: (French
XV International Brigade: (English)

Artillery

In addition to the infantry battalions listed above, there were 23 artillery batteries, but these were not always part of the International Brigade structure One known independent battery was the John Brown Battery (American), with the following:

35th Battery, 4th Artillery Group, with:
1 gun crew stand (ds)
1 105L20 howitzer
1 medium truck

The best information on any International Brigade is the XV, the English speaking brigade, as its survivors had a homeland to return to and publish their stories. Much of what is written by the members of the Brigade is suspect, especially the official history of the unit which changed somewhat from the 1939 version to the 1967. The Americans were perhaps the worst military element of the International Brigade, as they lacked discipline (especially when compared to the other units of the International Brigades) and training.

It can be argued in their defense that alone of the nationalities serving in Spain, they lacked any member on the committee controlling the International Brigades, and so often drew the short end on supply shortages and missions. The myth of the Lincoln Brigade (though no such unit existed) is a difficult one to deal with.

The XV International Brigade had a rather unique organization for the opening of the Brunete offensive in July of 1937. Attached to the 15th Infantry Division, the XVth had the following organization:

XVth International Brigade, July 1937, with:
Troop Quality: Experienced
Morale: 9, unless noted

Headquarters Company, with: as above
Brigade Cavalry Squadron, with: as above
Brigade Trains, with: as above
Brigade AT Battery, with: as above

1st Regiment, with:
Regimental Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
1 light truck
British Infantry Battalion, with:
Troop Quality: Veteran
Morale: 9

Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
3 Infantry Companies, each with: 4 infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, with: 3 MMG stands

Lincoln Infantry Battalion, with:
Troop Quality: Regular
Morale: 7

Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
3 Infantry Companies, each with: 3 infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, with: 2 MMG stands

Washington Infantry Battalion, with:
Troop Quality: Trained
Morale: 9
Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
3 Infantry Companies, each with: 4 infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, with: 2 MMG stands

2nd Regiment, with:
Regimental Headquarters, with: as above
Dimitrov Infantry Battalion, with: as British Battalion
6th of February Infantry Battalion, with: as British Battalion
24th Spanish Infantry Battalions, each with:
Troop Quality: Regular
Morale: 7 Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
4 Infantry Companies, each with: 3 infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, with: 2 MMG stands

The International Brigades tended to be used as shock troops and as a result suffered casualties out of proportion to their numbers. In the case of the Washington and Lincoln Battalions, after the battle of Brunete it was necessary to combine the two battalions into one in order to keep it at full strength. By the end of 1937 it was necessary to add a Spanish Company to each of the International Battalions to round out their numbers.

For the first part of 1938 an International Battalion would have the following organization:

International Infantry Battalion, with:
Troop Quality: International Companies Veteran
Morale: 7-9

Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
3 Infantry Companies, each with: 2-3 infantry stands

Spanish Infantry Company, with:
Troop Quality: Trained to Regular
Morale: 6-7
3-4 Infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, with: 2-3 MMG stands

It had been the hope of the Popular Army that the International Battalions would serve as model troops and instructors for the Spanish troops. However the language barrier prevented this from happening. Nevertheless the International Brigades were sent to fight in the battles around Teruel, and were pushed back in the Nationalist Drive to the sea.

As the war continued and the International Brigades continued to lose members, the ranks of all the companies were filled with additional Spanish conscripts.

By mid 1938, the average International Battalion had the following:

International Infantry Battalion, with:
Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
4 Infantry Companies, each with: 1 international infantry stand
2 trained-regular infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, with: 2 MMG stands
Notes

1. The late war International Infantry Battalions were a mixture of International Brigade veterans and Spanish recruits. Rate the International Brigade veterans as veteran infantry, morale 8. Rate the Spanish troops as trained-regular, morale 6-7.

In September of 1938, in an attempt to win world support, the Republican government announced that the International Brigades were to be withdrawn from Spain. It was hoped that if these units were withdrawn, Italians and Germans would follow suit, but it was not to be. Nevertheless, the remaining foreign members of the International Brigades were withdrawn from the front, parading though Barcelona on October 29th, 1938. Over the next few months, they crossed into France, and from there dispersed to their home countries. Three months after they passed though Barcelona, the city fell into the hands of the Nationalists, and the war had only two months to run.

Again, cut and paste, sorry for formatting and typos…

The Quick Guide to the Spanish Civil War

Republican Army

by Greg Novak

From the viewpoint of the Spanish Government, the Army rebellion of July 17-18 was a failure. While northern Spain had risen for the Nationalist cause, the government retained control of most of the southern part of the country. The rebels' base of power was in Morocco, but the Navy and most of the Air Force stood with the government and so could isolate that area.

Even within the Army, the following units remained loyal to the government:

Divisional Headquarters: 1st, 3rd, 4th.
Infantry Regiments: 1st, 2nd, 3rd,4th, 8th,9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 34th, 37th.
Mountain Battalions: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th.
Cavalry Regiments: 3rd, 4th, 8th.
Light Artillery Regiments: 1st, 2nd, 5th. 6th, 7th, and 8th.
Sapper Battalions: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th.
Other Formations: 2nd heavy Artillery, 3rd Heavy Artillery, Horse Artillery, 1st Tank Regiment, 1st AA Groupe, Automatic Weapons Battalion.

From looking at the paramilitary forces, the outlook was even better.
Civil Guard: 108 companies throughout the Government Zone.
Carabineros: 54 companies throughout the Government Zone.
Assault Guard: 11 Riot Corps Companies.
In terms of numbers, the situation was as follows:

Type

Government

Nationalist

Peninsula Army 55,200 62,300
Paramilitary 40,500 27,000
Air Force 3,200 2,200
Army of Africa – 24,000
Totals 98,900 115,500

In terms of quality, while the Peninsular Army was no match for the Army of Africa, it could stand up to the other elements of the Peninsular Army now serving with the rebels. The Civil Guard, Carabineers and Assault Guard were the equalizing force for the government to the Army of Africa, as rank and file of those formations were filled with veterans of the African campaigns. The majority of the officer class was still loyal to the government. In short, the government, since it still held Madrid, the center of the Spanish nation, held the upper hand.

Perhaps because of the notion that the rebellion was all but over, the government failed to take advantage of its assets. Throughout the war there was continual infighting between the groups making up the Republic, and a concern that one should jockey for power while the war was going on so as to be in a good position once it had ended. For this reason the paramilitary forces were never used as a source for a military cadre.

The Civil Guard was mistrusted as it had served prior governments, and was viewed as a source of oppression by many of the political parties forming the government. The Assault Guards and Carabineers were both increased in size and strength, but were used to garrison rear areas and used as a political police. By 1938, the Assault Guards numbered 40,000, while the Carabineers had 30,000 men under arms. Throughout the war, these units only saw combat as the result of Nationalist drives into Republican areas and were never used as part of the Popular Army.

The president of the Republic, in an attempt to cut the rank and file out from under the Nationalist side, issued an official proclamation removing all members of the military from any obligation to obey their commanding officers. The proclamation had little effect on the Nationalist forces, but destroyed the loyal elements of the Peninsular Army. Units which had already taken to the field to block any Nationalist drive on Madrid disappeared overnight as rank and file left their commands. Troops in barracks and supply depots abandoned their posts as well, and allowed anyone who wished to help themselves to the material on hand. Though some regular army units remained in the field, it was as company- and platoon-sized formations attached to other units.

This proclamation had an unforeseen effect on the Navy. An estimated 70% of the officers of the Navy were killed or imprisoned by their crews. At a time when the Navy needed to blockade Spanish Morocco to prevent the passage of troops and supplies to the mainland, major elements of the fleet were unable to put to sea. Army and Navy officers who had remained loyal to the government found themselves under suspicion and unable to command anyone.

To replace the Army as the defender of the Republic, "Columns" of Militia were formed from different political parties, areas, workers and other groups. Named for places, famous people, political parties and concepts, and armed with rifles and whatever else they could find, the columns were self organized. Homemade armored cars and trucks were built in the industrial areas controlled by the Republic, and used to supplement these columns (maximum of one vehicle per column).

At full strength, actual columns were to have the following organization:
Militia Column
Troop Quality: Green
Morale: (see notes below)
Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
6 Centuries, each with: 3 infantry stands

Notes

1. The best way to build these units would be to roll 3d6 for the total number of stands within each unit. Subtract one stand for use as the command infantry stand, and organize the others in six centuries as wished. For morale, I suggest that the first time the unit is fired at, roll a 1d6 and add 4 for its morale number.

2. When rolling up columns and commanders, reroll for Political Alignment. Columns do not have to follow orders unless they are issued by their column's command stand.

Die Roll Alignment

1 CNT-Anarchist
2 POUM – Marxist
3 PPR – Republic
4 UGT – Socialist
5 ERC – Catalon
6 PCE – Communists

3. In addition to the roll for total number of stands, I suggest that one roll 1d10 on the following table for additional assets belonging to the column. (This table is based on information found in the Official Spanish History of the War as to the make-up of actual columns.)

Die Roll Item

1 1 MMG stand
2 4 medium trucks
3 1 75L27 field gun, limber, and crew (trained); 1d6 ammo
4 1 MMG stand
5 1 med. truck or 1 ton artillery ammo (player's choice)
6 1 armored truck or car (homemade)
7 1 MMG stand
8 1 105L20 howitzer, limber, crew, 1d6-2 tons of ammo
9 4 med. trucks, 1 MMG stand
10 Reroll twice, reroll any additional roll of 10

These columns were then formed into "columns" to go out and fight the Nationalist foe. Command over several columns would be carried out by a column commander, whose force should be limited to a command infantry stand and a light truck, with a roll for political alignment.

As out of line as such a system might sound for CDII, it is the only accurate way to portray the first few months of the Spanish Civil War for the Republican side. Loyal officers assigned to work with these columns often found themselves viewed as advisors at best, and all too often were ignored. Orders could not be issued until they had been debated, and a show of hands was often needed before they could be carried out. Orders agreed to could be challenged on the battlefield, and a new debate held if the unit so wished.

In the event of a failure, any military officers present were singled out as scapegoats, and were imprisoned or even shot after a drumhead court martial. Many of the officers who had been loyal to the Republic found themselves fleeing to the Nationalist side in order to save their lives. Though August and September of 1936, the militia columns gained experience at a cost in numbers. By October 1, represent a militia column with:

Militia Column
Troop Quality: Trained or Regular
Morale: 7 to 8 Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
6 Centuries, each with: 1 infantry stand if Regular
2 infantry stands if Trained

The one exception to this rule was found in Madrid. There the PCE had its headquarters and most of its followers located in the capital city. The PCE viewed the war as part of the ongoing struggle to make Spain Communist, and so saw the need to have a disciplined military force at its disposal after the war was over. When the government of Spain called for volunteer columns, the PCE responded by forming the 5th Regiment. The origin of the name of the unit is open to dispute, as one source claims it was the fifth unit to be formed in Madrid, while another claims it was so named because the 1st to 4th Regular Infantry Regiments were part of the Madrid garrison, and it was intended to be organized on the same level.

Regardless, the 5th Regiment soon became a multi-battalion formation noted for its discipline and training. Volunteers had to take an enlistment oath that emphasized need for discipline and loyalty. Officers of the Army were sought out by the PCE and offered commissions in the units of the 5th Regiment. Those who joined noted the difference between it and the other units, and word quickly spread among the officers that this was the unit to join.

Here, if one issued an order, it was obeyed. It should be noted that commissars were about to serve with all units of the 5th Regiment, and that all officers were vetted before being allowed to join.

The 5th Regiment even had its own band, the ex City Band of Madrid, which was paid by the PCE to provide suitable music for the unit. Among many citizens of Madrid and Spain, the 5th Regiment was viewed as the example of how all elements of the Spanish nation should unify and face the uprising, and the popularity of the PCE grew as a result.

Units of the 5th Battalion had the following organization:

5th Regiment Battalion
Troop Quality: Regular
Morale: 9 Headquarters, with: 1 command stand
1 command infantry stand
4 Infantry Companies, each with: 3 infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, with: 1, later 3, MMG stands
Notes

1. A total of 28 different "battalions" served as part of the 5th Regiment.

2. Units of the 5th Regiment were the first to receive weapons from the shipments sent by Russia, and were better armed as the result than other units.

The ban on the sale of weapons to all parties in the Spanish Civil War imposed by the other countries of Europe had some effect on the fortunes of the Republican side, but not to the level often claimed. Weapons arrived from France on a sporadic basis, depending on the political party in control at the time, and other countries sent arms as well. What European counties did not provide, the Soviet Union was willing to provide in large numbers. In addition, the Republicans held the industrial part of Spain, and were able to build and rebuild some of their needed weapons.

As the Battle for Madrid started in late October, reinforcements began to arrive in Spain for the Republican cause. The first battalions of the International Brigades were formed from foreign volunteers, and the first shiploads of supplies from the Soviet Union were unloaded in Republican ports. Realizing that the Republican Army needed to be rebuilt, the Republican government ordered the organization of a new Popular Army to be built from the various semi-independent existing formations.

The Popular Army was to be built on the basis of infantry divisions built of two or three "mixed brigades." The brigades were to have four infantry battalions with some supporting arms, with additional weapons held at the divisional weapons. On paper a Popular Army Infantry Division was to have:

Infantry Division

Troop Quality: Regular to Veteran
Morale: 8
Divisional Headquarters, with:
1 command stand
1 car
1 staff telephone wagon

Divisional Cavalry Squadron, with:
1 command cavalry stand
1 recon cavalry stand
1 cavalry stand or 1 command BA-6 armored car
2 recon FAI or BA-20 armored cars

Divisional Services, with:
Headquarters Company, with: 1 mounted command stand
2 support stands
2 baggage wagons

Supply Columns, with:
1 mounted command stand
2 support stands
3 general supply wagons
3 Mixed Infantry Brigades, each with:

Headquarters Company, with 1 command stand
1 car
1 staff telephone wagon
1 recon cavalry stand

Brigade Trains, with:
1 mounted command stand
1 baggage wagon
1 general supply wagon
1 field kitchen wagon
1 support stand

Brigade Engineer Company, with:
1 command engineer stand
2 engineer stands
1 supply wagon

Brigade Support Battery, with:
1 gun crew stand
1 45L29 infantry gun
1 limber or 1 81mm mortar stand (ds)
1 wagon or 1 gun crew stand
1 37LA5 or 25L72 AT gun
1 limber
4 Infantry Battalions, each with:
Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
4 Infantry Companies, each with: 3 infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, with: 3 MMG stands

Divisional Artillery, with:
2 Groupes, each with: Headquarters Company, with: 1 mounted command stand
1 mounted spotter stand
1 staff telephone wagon

Groupe Trains, with:
1 mounted command stand
1 baggage wagon
1 general supply wagon
1 field kitchen wagon
1 support stand
3 Firing Batteries, each with:
1 gun crew stand (ds)
1 light field gun or howitzer
1 limber

Divisional AT Battery, with:
1 gun crew stand
1 light truck
1 37LA5 antitank gun

Divisional Machine Gun Company, (post 1937), with:
Headquarters, with: 1 command stand
1 command infantry stand
4 Machine Gun Companies, with: 3 MMG stands

Notes

1. Units were all too often equipped on the basis of political reliability. Units favored by the PCE would have a full establishment. Units considered as less reliable would have three infantry battalions per brigade, with one less stand per company, as well as lack supporting weapons, engineers and other services.

2. Battalions were to be at one point numbered throughout the Popular Army so that the 1st Brigade would have the 1st to 4th Infantry Battalions, 2nd Brigade the 5th to 8th, etc. This format was followed in some cases, but not always. Some battalions, especially those of the ERC and the CNT, preferred to be known by name. Infantry brigades were numbered throughout the force structure as a whole, but assigned to divisions in a random order.

3. Field guns in use would include the same types as used by the pre-war Spanish Army, as well as weapons sent by the Soviet Union. These included 75L27, 76.2L29, 77L35, 105L20 and 105L12 Mountain Howitzers. All weapons of a group would be of the same type.

4. The Basque enclave was very short of heavy weapons. Basque battalions should have one MMG stand. Basque brigades have no supporting weapons, while the Divisional Artillery should be limited to one groupe. The Basques did build a number of light tanks called the Euskadi at Bilboa, so add one vehicle to the headquarters of each Basque Brigade.

Infantry Divisions were numbered 1 to 75, as well as the 1st to 6th Basque.

The Republican corps were to have three infantry divisions as well as supporting elements, but what existed on paper did not always exist in the field. Among the organizations found in the field attached to a Republican corps were:

Sapper Battalion, with:
Headquarters Company, with: 1 mounted command stand
1 command engineer stand
1 baggage wagon
1 general supply wagon
1 field kitchen wagon
1 support stand
4 Sapper Companies, each with:
4 engineer stands
1 supply wagon

Fortification Battalion, with:
Headquarters Company, with: 1 command infantry stand
1 baggage wagon
1 general supply wagon
1 field kitchen wagon
1 support stand
4 Fortification Companies, each with: 4 Pioneer stands

1-4 Artillery Groupes, each with:

Headquarters Company, with: 1 mounted command stand
1 mounted spotter stand
1 staff telephone wagon
Groupe Trains, with:
1 mounted command stand
1 baggage wagon
1 general supply wagon
1 field kitchen wagon
1 support stand
3 Firing Batteries, each with:
1 gun crew stand (ds)
1 field gun or howitzer
1 limber

Notes

1. Weapons in use would include the same types as used by the prewar Spanish Army, as well as weapons sent by the Soviet Union. These included 107L28 Field Guns, 122LI2 Field Howitzers, 152 Field Howitzers and 1521,27 Gun Howitzer. All weapons of a groupe would be of the same type.

Armoured Units

The most noted attachments at the corps and even divisional level were those of armored units. Starting in October of 1936, Soviet tanks and armored cars arrived in Spain. Before the war was over, an estimated 300+ T-26 tanks, 50+ BT-5s and 100+ armored cars arrived in Spain. In addition, the Republicans built a number of armored cars using the Soviet vehicles as models. Soviet advisors and complete tank crews were brought to Spain to man the vehicles.

By mid-1937 there were 12 tank battalions and 4 armored car battalions serving in the Republican Army. In October of that year, the 1st Armored Division was formed with the following organization:

1st Armored Division

Troop Quality: Regular 1937 to Experienced 1938
Morale: 8

Divisional Headquarters, with:
1 command stand
1 car
1 staff radio truck
1st Armored Brigade, with:

Headquarters Company, with: 1 command stand
1 car
1 staff radio truck
1 recon FAI armored car

Brigade Supply and Maintenance Company, with:
1 command stand
2 medium supply trucks with trailers
1 medium parts truck with trailer
1 medium truck with field kitchen
2 support stands

1st Armored Car Battalion, with:
Headquarters, with: 1 command BA-10 armored car
1 supply truck
3 Armored Car Companies, each with:
1 BA-6 recon armored car
1 FAI recon armored car

1st Tank Battalion, with:
Headquarters, with: 1 command T-26
1 supply truck
3 Tank Companies, each with: 2T-26 tanks

2nd Tank Battalion, with: as 1st Tank Battalion
3rd Tank Battalion, with: as 1st Tank Battalion
4th Tank Battalion, with: as 1st Tank Battalion

2nd Armored Brigade, with:
Headquarters Company, with: as 1st Armored Brigade
Brigade Supply and Maintenance Company, with: as 1st Armored Brigade

2nd Armored Car Battalion, with: as 1st Armored Car Battalion
5th Tank Battalion, with: as 1st Tank Battalion
6th Tank Battalion, with: as 1st Tank Battalion
7th Tank Battalion, with: as 1st Tank Battalion 8th Tank Battalion, with: as 1st Tank Battalion

Fast Tank Regiment, with:
Headquarters Company, with: as 1st Armored Brigade
Regimental Supply and Maintenance Company, with: as 1st
Armored Brigade

1st Fast Tank Battalion, with: Headquarters, with: 1 command stand
1 car
1 supply truck
3 Tank Companies, each with: 2 BT-5 tanks
2nd Tank Battalion, with: as 1st Fast Tank Battalion
3rd Tank Battalion, with: as 1st Fast Tank Battalion

While this unit existed on paper, it was not used in the field as such, and lacked all supporting arms and weapons. As can be seen below, common practice was to assign a tank battalion to these corps that needed help. The few times that armor was used en masse, problems in command and control prevented it from being very useful.

On the battlefield, the superiority of the Soviet weapons over the Nationalist's German and Italian tanks was such that a bounty was paid for each T-26 captured by a Nationalist unit.

For the Republican offensive at Brunete in July of 1937, the following two formations took part. (The Spanish Official History rarely gives brigade makeups for the Republican side.)

V Corps

11th Infantry Division, with:
1st Mixed Brigade
9th Mixed Brigade
100th Mixed Brigade
46th Division, with: 10th Mixed Brigade 101st Mixed Brigade

35th Division, with:
XI Mixed Brigade
32nd Mixed Brigade 108th Mixed Brigade
Corps Troops, with:

1 Cavalry Regiment, with: Headquarters, with: 1 command cavalry stand
3 Cavalry Squadrons, each with: 2 cavalry stands
7 45mm infantry gun batteries
2 76.2mm groups (3 batteries each)
107mm battery
105mm group (3 batteries)
Sapper battalion

Tank Battalion, with:
Headquarters, with: 1 command stand
1 car
Armored Car Company (attached)
1 BA-6 recon armored car
1 FAI recon armored car
3 Tank Companies, each with: 2 T-26 tanks

2 Truck Battalions, each with:
Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
4 Truck Companies, each with: 10 medium trucks
XVIII Corps

34th Infantry Division, with:
3rd Mixed Brigade
68th Mixed Brigade
16th Mixed Brigade
10th Division, with:
2nd Mixed Brigade
105th Mixed Brigade
X Division, with:
XIII Mixed Brigade
XV Mixed Brigade
Corps Troops, with:
Cavalry Regiment
6 45mm batteries
2 76.2mm groups
107mm group
Sapper battalion
Tank Battalion as before
2 Truck Battalions as before
Later in the war, for the Republican attack on Teruel in December, 1937, the following troops took part:

XXII Corps

11th Infantry Division

25th Infantry Division, with:
1st Mixed Brigade 9th Mixed Brigade 100th Brigade
35th Division, with:
116th Mixed Brigade 117th Mixed Brigade 118th Brigade
Corps Troops, with:
T-26 Tank Battalion
Armored Car Battalion
3 groups artillery
Antiaircraft Group, with: Headquarters, with: 1 command stand
1 car
1 medium supply truck
2 Heavy Batteries, each with: 1 76.2L53 AA gun
1 medium truck
1 gun crew stand (ds)
3 Light Batteries, each with: 1 20L70 AA gun
1 gun crew stand
1 light truck
XX Corps

40th Infantry Division, with:
82nd Mixed Brigade
84th Mixed Brigade
87th Brigade
68th Infantry Division, with:
218th Mixed Brigade
219th Mixed Brigade
220th Brigade
Corps Troops, with:
Tank Battalion (BT-5)
2 groups artillery (76.2 field guns)
Armored Car Battalion
Antiaircraft Group, with: as above
XVIII Corps

34th Infantry Division, with:
3rd Mixed Brigade
68th Mixed Brigade
16th Brigade
64th Division, with:
16th Mixed Brigade
81st Mixed Brigade
83rd Brigade

Corps Troops, with:
Tank Battalion (T-26)
4 groups artillery, with: (one 105, 155, 2 unknown)
Antiaircraft Group, with: as above
The failure of the Republican troops to win the war was not a failure on the battlefield. The weapons and manpower were similar to that of the Nationalists, and in some cases, even better. The war was lost in the council chambers of the Republican governments. On the battlefield, don't be surprised if the Republicans do well--they have the ability!

Again, pardon the formatting and typos…

The Quick Guide to the Spanish Civil War

Nationalist Army

by Greg Novak

The rebellion of July 17-18 was at best semi-successful. Northern Spain, the provinces of Galica, Leon, Old Castile, Navarre, and Aragon, rose for the Nationalist cause, as did Spanish Morocco. Some garrisons in Andalusia, including the cities of Seville and Cadiz, rose as well, but the government retained control of most of the southern part of the country. In addition, Austurias, the Basque Provinces and Catalonia stood with the government, denying the Nationalists the industrial heart of Spain.

Though it is often stated that the entire Spanish Army rose in revolt on July 18, that must be viewed as an overstatement of the facts. Of the 24 serving Major Generals in the Spanish Army, only four joined the revolt. Of the 68 serving Brigadier Generals, 31 joined the revolt.

The Peninsular Army divided almost in half, with 62,000 troops joining the Nationalists and 55,000 staying loyal to the government. While the Army of Africa could bring 24,000 men in to join the Nationalists, the Paramilitary forces divided, with 40,000 men supporting the government and 27,000 men joining the Nationalists. In all, at the start of the rebellion, the Nationalist edge was 115,000 to 99,000, hardy an overwhelming majority.

At this point in time, the following units had gone over to the Nationalist cause:

2nd Infantry Division (HQ Seville), with: Divisional Headquarters
Divisional Services

3rd Infantry Brigade, with:
5th Infantry Regiment
6th Infantry Regiment
4th Infantry Brigade, with:
7th Infantry Regiment

Divisional Artillery, with:
3rd Light Artillery Regiment
4th Light Artillery Regiment
2nd Sapper Battalion

Attached Units, with:
7th Cavalry Regiment
Machine Gun Battalion

Cadiz Garrison, with: Garrison Headquarters
33rd Infantry Regiment
1st Coastal Artillery Regiment
5th Infantry Division (HQ Saragossa), with:
Divisional Headquarters
Divisional Services

9th Infantry Brigade, with:
17th Infantry Regiment
18th Infantry Regiment
10th Infantry Brigade, with:
19th Infantry Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment

Divisional Artillery, with:
9th Light Artillery Regiment
5th Sapper Battalion

Attached Units, with:
9th Cavalry Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
Bridging Battalion
2nd Antiaircraft Groupe
6th Infantry Division (HQ Burgos), with:
Divisional Headquarters
Divisional Services

11th Infantry Brigade, with:
22nd Infantry Regiment
12th Infantry Brigade, with:
23rd Infantry Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment
Divisional Artillery, with:
11th Light Artillery Regiment
12th Light Artillery Regiment
Attached Units, with:
1st Cavalry Regiment
5th Cavalry Regiment
6th Cavalry Regiment
2nd Mountain Brigade, with: 5th Mountain Infantry Battalion
7th Mountain Infantry Battalion
8th Mountain Infantry Battalion
2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment
7th Infantry Division (HQ Valladoid), with:
Divisional Headquarters
Divisional Services

13th Infantry Brigade, with:
25th Infantry Regiment
26th Infantry Regiment
14th Infantry Brigade, with:
27th Infantry Regiment
28th Infantry Regiment
Divisional Artillery, with:
13th Light Artillery Regiment
14th Light Artillery Regiment
Attached Units, with:
4th Heavy Artillery Regiment
2nd Cavalry Regiment
10th Cavalry Regiment
8th Infantry Division (HQ Galicia), with:
Divisional Headquarters
Divisional Services

15th Infantry Brigade, with:
29th Infantry Regiment
30th Infantry Regiment
16th Infantry Brigade, with:
31st Infantry Regiment
32nd Infantry Regiment
Divisional Artillery, with:
15th Light Artillery Regiment
16th Light Artillery Regiment
8th Sapper Battalion

Attached Units, with:
El Ferrol Garrison, with: Garrison Headquarters
35th Infantry Regiment
2nd Coastal Artillery Regiment
Gijon Garrison, with:
40th Infantry Regiment
Canarias Garrison, with:
Garrison Headquarters
Garrison Services
38th Infantry Regiment
39th Infantry Regiment
2nd Independent Artillery Group
3rd Independent Artillery Group
3rd Independent Sapper and Signal Group
4th Independent Sapper and Signal Group
THE ARMY OF AFRICA
All units as listed under prewar.

The Para Military Forces
Civil Guard: 109 companies throughout the Nationalist Zone.
Carabineros: 55 companies throughout the Nationalist Zone.
Assault Guard: 7 Riot Corps Companies.

Unknown number of companies throughout the Nationalist Zone. Two additional groups of possible reinforcements existed for the Nationalists. The Carlists, whose base of power was in the Northern area held by the Nationalists, were quickly willing to form military units from paramilitary elements of their party. The Carlists were very unwilling to serve as part of a joint formation and refused to integrate their Tercios into the Nationalist Army. The Tercios were noted for their aggressiveness in battle and were organized as follows:

Requetes (Carlist) Tercio, with:
Troop Quality: Regular (1936) to Veteran (1937)
Morale: 9
Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
1 recon infantry stand
3/4 Infantry Companies, each with: 1 command infantry stand
2-3 infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, (after 1936) with: 1-2 MMG stands

The Falange also formed military units and were the first elements in the South to come forward to support the Nationalists

Falange Bandera, with:
Troop Quality: Green (1936) to Experienced (1937)
Morale: 8
Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
3/4 Centuries, each with: 2-3 infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, (after 1936) with: 1-2 MMG stands

The northern provinces were the heart of the Nationalist cause, as well as its Achilles heel. A shortage of small arms ammunition in the area meant that the troops there would be hard- pressed to hold onto what they had, let alone expand their area. Salvation, in the form of small arms ammunition, would have to be shipped from Africa to the mainland and brought north by linking up the southern enclave to the northern enclave. From July 20 to August 14, the Nationalist forces concentrated on this policy.

At this point, the Army of Africa began its movement to the mainland, then fanned out across southern Spain. The Northern forces began their movement south, keeping what pressure they could on the government forces. Both enclaves found themselves reverting to practices learned in Africa-that is, forming mobile columns from whatever forces one had on hand and sending them out to occupy as much territory as they could. As with the Republicans, some Nationalist units built their own armored cars and trucks. (Only one such vehicle should be allowed per column.)

The first four columns dispatched north from Seville give an idea of the makeup of these forces. (All columns were instructed to motorize themselves as they moved, with the result that they had anywhere from 2 to 10 stands of medium trucks attached as they went.)

Column Castejon, with:
Column Headquarters, with: 1 command stand
1 car
1 staff radio truck
2nd Tabor of Ceuta
5th Bandera, Spanish Foreign Legion
1 battery of 75L27 field guns

Column Asensio, with:
Column Headquarters, with: 1 command stand
1 car
1 staff radio wagon
1 recon Assault Guard armored car
2nd Tabor of Tetuan
4th Bandera, Spanish Foreign Legion
1 battery of 70L19 mountain guns
1 Sapper Company
Column Tella, with:
Column Headquarters, with: 1 command stand
1 car
1st Tabor of Tetuan
1st Bandera, Spanish Foreign Legion
1 company of Civil Guard
1 battery of 75L27 field guns

The linkup on August 14 of the two areas allowed active operations to commence again in the north. Columns were formed of regular infantry and Carlists, and dispatched toward Madrid. The troops of the Army of Africa began their drive on Madrid as well, with the result that by early November the battle of Madrid was about to start.

The Nationalists took steps increase their force in several ways. First and foremost, they increased the size of the regular army. Those units which had lost their titles back in 1931 had them restored, and it became common Nationalist practice to refer to the units not by their number but by their name. The new (old) titles for the infantry units were (see list at right):

This renaming of the units allowed the Nationalists to raise units on a local basis, while at the same time divorcing these units from those of the old army which had stayed loyal to the government. The newly raised regiments were assigned directly to a "mixed brigade," and thus not always served with other elements of their regiment.

In addition, other infantry battalions were raised directly from Nationalist areas or from surplus personnel of non-infantry formations. These battalions were numbered independently from 100 on up. As can be seen below, the 3rd Heavy Artillery Regiment furnished two such battalions.

These new infantry battalions had the following establishment:

Wartime Infantry Battalion, with:
Troop Quality: Regular (1936) to Veteran (1938)
Morale: 8
Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
4 Infantry Companies, each with: 2-3 infantry stands
Machine Gun Company, with: 1-2 MMG stands

In the case of artillery regiments, new formations were raised to replace those loyal to the government. The first formations followed the prewar establishment of three groups of three batteries each. As the war went on with a greater need for weapons, additional batteries were often formed with whatever weapons were present, and assigned to serve with infantry formations. In the summer of 1937, the 9th Field Artillery Regiment reports having Machine Gun Batteries as part of its organization. These had the following organization:

Machine Gun Battery
Troop Quality: Regular (1936) to Veteran (1938)
Morale: 8
1 command infantry stand
2-3 MMG stands

The 3rd Heavy Artillery Regiment had stayed loyal to the government, with the result that anew 3rd Heavy Artillery Regiment was formed in late September 1936. It was formed of 10 batteries. When it took to the field in the following January, it had the following organization:

1st Group 1st Battery 150L17
2nd Battery 150L17
3rd Battery 150L17
2nd Group 4th Battery 8" Model 1917
5th Battery 155L15
6th Battery 8" Model 1917
3rd Group 7th Battery 75L27 Field Guns
8th Battery 75L27 Field Guns
9th Battery 75L27 Field Guns
10th Battery Coastal Weapons
11th Battery 70L19 Mountain Guns
Antitank Battery 75L27 Field Guns
In January of the following year, it reported that it had 27 serving batteries of artillery, two Infantry Battalions (the 139th and the 333rd) and three additional batteries under instruction.

The Regiment had now had:
Coastal Battery 10th
8" Howitzer Batteries 4th, 25th
155L38 Gun Batteries 6th
15SL15 Howitzer Batteries 5th, 14th, 16th,
149L19 Howitzer Batteries 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 23rd, 24th
105L28 Howitzer Batteries 12th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 19th
100L16 Howitzer Batteries 18th
75L27 Gun Batteries 7th, 8th, 9th, 26th, 27th
70L19 Mountain Gun Battery 11th
Antitank Battery
75L42 AA Batteries 20th, 21st, 22nd

The second source of troops, as mentioned, was those recruited from the Falange and the Carlists parties. However, the Nationalist leadership disliked raising these units due to problems with the semi- political control that the parent parties had over these units. Though the Carlists remained a major element of the units raised in the north throughout the war, the Falange units found themselves used to supplement the Civic Guard. This, in turn, allowed the Nationalist Army to use the Civic Guard formations as a source of cadre for its new infantry divisions.

The third source of additional manpower was from the Army of Africa. The Foreign Legion was built up to a total 18 Bandera, though in the process the troop quality of the formation was lost. The 1 st to 6th Bandera keep their elite status until January of 1937, after which they drop to Veteran for the rest of the war. The new formations of the Legion and the date organized are as follows:

New Foreign Legion Bandera, with:
Troop Quality: Experienced, then Veteran
Morale 9
Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
1 baggage wagon
1 general supply wagon
1 field kitchen wagon
1 support stand
3 Infantry Companies, each with: 3 infantry stands
1 Machine Gun Company, with: 3 MMG stands
7th Bandera September 1936
8th Bandera September 1936
9th Bandera December 1936
10th Bandera December 1936
11th Bandera February 1937
12th Bandera February 1937
13th Bandera July 1937
14th Bandera August 1937
15th* Bandera August 1937
16th Bandera October 1937
17th Bandera January 1938
18th Bandera April 1938

*There existed two separate formations with the title 15th Bandera of the Foreign Legion. The Bandera Irlandais, formed from the Irish Blueshirts, was formed in February of 1937. It was broken up six months later, and a new 15th Bandera was formed to replace it. The Bandera Irlandais had the following:
Bandera Iriandais, with:
Troop Quality: Trained
Morale: 7
Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
1 baggage wagon
1 general supply wagon
1 field kitchen wagon
1 support stand
3 Infantry Companies, each with: 2 infantry stands
1 Machine Gun Company, with: 2 MMG stands
There were three specialized formations added to the Legion as well during this time. The first was the Bandera de Carros De Combate, formed from 1st Company de Carros De Combate, which had:

Bandera de Carros de Combate, with:
Troop Quality: Experienced, then Veteran
Morale 9
Headquarters, with: 1 command stand
1 staff radio truck stand
1 baggage truck
1 general supply truck
1 maintenance van
2 support stands
3 Tank Companies, each with: 2-3 CV 3/33 tankettes
As the war went on, the CV 3/33s were replaced by Pz Is and captured T-26s.

The other two formations were company-sized formations:
Antitank Company
Troop Quality: Experienced, then Veteran
Morale: 9 1 command stand
2 light trucks
2 gun crew stands
2 37L45 AT guns
Assault Company
Troop Quality: Elite
Morale: 10
1 command flamethrower stand
2 flamethrower stands
3 light trucks

An additional source of Nationalist manpower was formed from the Moors of Spanish Morocco. Five additional groups were raised of Moors, and the establishment raised in all existing formation as new Tabors were added to existing units. By the end of 1937 the number of Tabors per group was increased to as many as six or seven in an effort to increase the numbers at the front. The major problems with these formations was a shortage of Spanish officers who had worked with the Moors.

The new formations and the revised organization are as follows:

Troop Quality: Experienced, then Veteran
Morale: 9

6th Moroccan Infantry Group
Headquarters Company, with: 1 command stand
4 pack mule stands
1 field kitchen wagon
1 support stand
1st Xauen Tabor, with:
Headquarters, with: 1 command infantry stand
1 MMG stand
3 Infantry Companies, each with: 1 recon infantry stand
2 infantry stands
2nd Xauen Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor
3rd Xauen Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor

7th Moroccan Infantry Group, with:
Headquarters Company, with: as 6th Headquarters Company
1st Llano Amarillo Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor
2nd Llano Amarillo Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor
3rd Llano Amarillo Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor
8th Moroccan Infantry Group, with:
Headquarters Company, with: as 6th Headquarters Company
1st Riff Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor
2nd Riff Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor
3rd Riff Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor
9th Moroccan Infantry Group, with:
Headquarters Company, with: as 6th Headquarters Company
1st Arcila Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor
2nd Arcila Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor
3rd Arcila Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor
10th Moroccan Infantry Group, with:
Headquarters Company, with: as 6th Headquarters Company
1st Bab-Tazza Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor
2nd Bab-Tazza Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor
3rd Bab-Tazza Tabor, with: as 1st Xauen Tabor
From the remainder of 1936 and into early 1937, the Nationalists continued to use the column as the basis of their field formation. For the drive on Madrid in December 1936, the following columns existed:

Column #1, with:
Column Headquarters
1st Tabor of Tetuan
3rd Tabor of Tetuan
6th Bandera, Spanish Foreign Legion
1 battery of 75mm Field Guns
Column #2, with:
Column Headquarters
1st Tabor of Melilla
2nd Tabor of Melilla
1st Bandera, Spanish Foreign Legion
1 battery of 75mm Field Guns
Column #3, with:
Column Headquarters
1st Tabor of Alhucemas
3rd Tabor of Alhucemas
4th Bandera, Spanish Foreign Legion
1 battery of 105mm, Field Guns
Column #4, with:
Column Headquarters
Battalion, Sevilla Infantry Regiment
5th Bandera, Spanish Foreign Legion
1 battery of 105mm Field Guns
Column #5, with:
Column Headquarters
8th Bandera, Spanish Foreign Legion
Column #6, with:
Column Headquarters
3rd Tabor of Melilla
Battalion, Sevilla Infantry Regiment
Battalion, Canarais Infantry Regiment
Sapper Company
1 battery of 75mm Field Guns
Column #7, with:
Column Headquarters
3rd Tabor of Melilla
3rd Battalion, Toledo Infantry Regiment
5th Battalion, San Quinton Infantry Regiment
Sapper Company
1 battery of 75mm Field Guns
Column #8, with:
Column Headquarters
1st Tabor of Riff
3rd Tabor of Riff
7th Bandera, Spanish Foreign Legion
Falange Bandera of Morocco
1 battery of 75mm field guns
1 battery of 105mm field Guns
1 battery of 155 howitzers
Cavalry Corps, with:
Column Headquarters
7 Sabre Squadrons
2 Machine Gun Squadrons
Force Artillery, with:
Column Headquarters
2 groups of 65mm infantry guns (Italian)
2 groups of 105mm field guns
2 groups of 155 howitzers
1 battery of 8" howitzers
The failure of the attack on Madrid caused the formation of four sectors about the city, and the formation of five separate brigades. These brigades were to be used to attack the city as needed, as well as serve as a reserve against a Republican counterattack. The five brigades and their makeup are as follows:

1st Brigade
Troop Quality: Experienced, unless noted
Morale: 9, unless noted
1st Regiment, with: 4th Tabor of the Riff
7th Tabor of Alhucemas
1st Tabor of Melilla
2nd Regiment, with:
7th Bandera of the Legion

Requetes Tercio of Alcazar (Veteran, Morale 9)
1st Battalion, Aragon Infantry Regiment (Regular, Morale 8)
Brigade Troops, with:
1 65mm Infantry Gun Battery
2 75mm Field Gun Batteries
2 105mm Field Gun Batteries
Antitank Battery-Italian
Sapper Company

2nd Brigade
Troop Quality: Experienced, unless noted
Morale: 9, unless noted
3rd Regiment, with: 9th Bandera of the Legion
Tabor of Melilla
4th Regiment, with: 1st Tabor of Alhucemas
7th Tabor of Tetuan
Falange Bandera of Morocco
Brigade Troops, with: 1 65mm Infantry Gun Battery
2 75mm Field Gun Batteries
2 105mm Field Gun Batteries
Antitank Battery-Italian
1 Tank Company-CV 3/33
Sapper Company

3rd Brigade
Troop Quality: Experienced, unless noted
Morale: 9, unless noted
5th Regiment, with:
1st Bandera of the Legion (Elite, Morale 10)
Cueta Group (3 Tabors)
6th Regiment, with: 2nd Tabor of Melilla
Ifni Infantry BattalionCavalry Force (attached), with: 2nd Cavalry Regiment, with: Headquarters Squadron, with: 2 Squadrons from Morocco
2 Squadrons from Spain
1 Machine Gun squadron
3rd Cavalry Regiment, with: Headquarters Squadron, with: 1 Squadron from Morocco
3 Squadrons from Spain
1 Machine Gun squadron
Brigade Troops, with: 65mm Infantry Gun Battery
3 75mm Field Gun Batteries
2 105mm Field Gun Batteries
Antitank Battery-Italian
Tank Company-CV 3/33
Sapper Company

4th Brigade Troop Quality: Experienced, unless noted Morale: 9, unless noted
7th Regiment, with: lst Tabor of Tetuan
3rd Tabor of Tetuan
2nd Battalion, Tenerife Infantry Regiment (Regular, Morale 8)
8th Regiment, with: 6th Bandera of the Legion (Veteran, Morale 10)
7th Tabor of Mellila
Cavalry Force (attached), with: 1st Cavalry Regiment, with: Headquarters Squadron, with:
3 Squadrons from Spain
2 Machine Gun Squadrons
Brigade Troops, with: 1 65mm Infantry Gun Battery
2 75mm Field Gun Batteries
2 105mm Field Gun Batteries
Antitank Battery-Italian
1 Tank Company-CV 3/33
Sapper Company

5th Brigade
Troop Quality: Experienced, unless noted
Morale: 9, unless noted
9th Regiment, with: 5th Bandera of the Legion (Veteran, Morale 10)

Falange Bandera de Valladolid
10th Regiment, with: 2nd Tabor of Ceuta 2nd Battalion,
Toledo Infantry Regiment
Brigade Troops, with: 1 65mm Infantry Gun Battery
2 75mm Field Gun Batteries
2 105mm Field Gun Batteries
Antitank Battery-Italian
1 Tank Company-CV 3/33 Sapper Company

The above formations served about Madrid during the Battle of Jarama, where they were used to launch the Nationalist attack designed to cut off Madrid from the south. The failure of the attack, and the need to reorganize the Nationalist forces, led to the establishment of a standard Nationalist Infantry Division in early 1937. This was to have the following:

Infantry Division

Troop Quality: Regular to Veteran, unless noted
Morale: 8, unless noted
Divisional Headquarters, with: I command stand I car I staff telephone wagon

Divisional Cavalry Squadron, with:
1 command cavalry stand
1 recon cavalry stand
1 cavalry stand
Divisional Services, with:
Headquarters Company, with: 1 mounted command stand
2 support stands
2 baggage wagons
Repair Depot, with:
1 mounted command stand
2 support stands
2 baggage wagons
Divisional Supply Troops, with:
3 Supply Columns, each with: 1 mounted command stand
2 support stands
3 general supply wagons
3 Infantry Brigades, each with:
Headquarters Company, with: 1 command stand
1 car
1 staff telephone wagon
Brigade Trains, with:
1 mounted command stand
1 baggage wagon
1 general supply wagon
1 field kitchen wagon
1 support stand
4 Infantry Battalions, Bandera, Tabors, etc., with: see Note 2

Divisional Artillery, with:
1 to 3 Groupes, each with: Headquarters Company, with: 1 mounted command stand
1 mounted spotter stand
1 staff telephone wagon

Groupe Trains, with:
1 mounted command stand
1 baggage wagon
1 general supply wagon
1 field kitchen wagon
1 support stand
3 Firing Batteries, each with:
1 gun crew stand (ds)
1 light field gun or howitzer
1 limber

Divisional AT Battery, with:
1 gun crew stand
1 light truck
1 47L32 or 37L45 antitank gun
Sapper Company, with:
1 command engineer stand
2 engineer stands
1 supply wagon

Notes

1. It should be noted that the above organization allowed the Nationalists to mix their experienced troops with those of lessor experience. Each of the Nationalist Divisions usually included one or more units from the Army of Africa.

2. Starting in early 1938, add a 45mm mortar stand to Legion, Carlist, Falange and Regular Infantry Battalions. Ratio of weapons should be 2 45mm stands to each 81mm. These weapons were provided by the Italians as elements of the CTV were reorganized.

A total of 74 Infantry Divisions and 2 Cavalry Divisions served during the war. Numbers used were 1st to 5th, 11th to 26th, 31st to 34th, 40th, 50th to 63rd, 71st to 75th, 81st to 85th, 102nd, 105th, 107th, 112th, 117th, 122nd, and 150th to 152nd, as well as the 1st and 2nd Cavalry Divisions. There was some renumbering of divisions during the war.

The renumbered divisions were:
1st Division (April 1937) became the 71st Division (May 1937), became the 11th Division (June 1937).
2nd Division (April 1937) became the 72nd Division (May 1937), became the 12th Division (June 1937).
3rd Division (April 1937) became the 73rd Division (May 1937), became the 13th Division (June 1937).
4th Division (April 1937) became the 74th Division (May 1937), became the 14th Division (June 1937).
23rd Division (March 1937) became the 31st Division (fall 1937).
24th Division (March 1937) became the 32nd Division (fall 1937).
53rd Division (April 1937) became the 72nd Division (June 1937).
61st Division (April 1937) divided into the new 4th and 5th Divisions (October 1937).
61st Division (April 1937) divided into the new 61st, 62nd and 63rd Divisions (October 1937).
75th Division (April 1937) became the7lstDivision (June 1937).
117th Division (September 1937) became the 73rd Division (October 1937).
New divisions were formed and took the vacant numbers 1, 3,23, 24 and 74.

Throughout the 1937 campaign, many of the troops assigned to the Northern Front from Castile and Navarre served in "brigades" of a strength equal to the Nationalist Division, with 10 to l4 battalions of infantry in each "brigade" of infantry. Supporting services were at the same level as for a Nationalist Infantry Division. After the completion of the Northern Campaign, these "brigades" were reformed into divisions.

One often finds a reversion to the old divisional organization of two brigades of two regiments. However, the battalions assigned to each regiment were not from the same unit, but instead from different formations. Divisions with this two-brigade organization included the 13th, 15th, 52nd, 81st, 82nd, 85th, and 108th and 150th.

The Nationalist army kept most of the heavy artillery and supporting weapons at the corps and army level. Units moving up to the attack would be reinforced; units serving on quiet fronts would lack any army-level assets and have few at the corps level. The Spanish Army viewed armored units as an army-level formation, and never used them en Masse. The units which served as armored formations were converted from Infantry Regiments and considered as attached to that corps. The 1st Tank Regiment was a converted battalion of the Argel Infantry Regiment, and the 2nd Tank Regiment was a Bandera of the Legion. Unlike the Republicans, the Nationalists never formed an Armored Division during the war. When Nationalist tanks am used, they are in small numbers attached to other formations, and never used en Masse.

Moroccan Corps

For the "Drive to the Sea" campaign of March-April 1938, one of the elements that took part was the Moroccan Corps. This was one of the best equipped units in the Nationalist Army, and served as an assault formation. The following is its organization as of March 9, 1938. (The Spanish Official History gives units assigned to each division, but not brigade makeup within each division.)

Moroccan Corps

Troop Quality: Veteran
Morale: 8 to 9
Corps Artillery, with:
1 group of 77L35 field guns
1 group of 100L16 howitzers
1 group of 155 howitzers
Attached Army Artillery, with:
1 group of 149L19 howitzers
1 group 155L15 howitzers
2 batteries of 8" howitzers

Attached Antiaircraft Artillery, with:
4th AA Group (Spanish), with: 2 batteries of 75L42
1 battery of 88L56

Attached Army Level Units (not assigned), with:
Tank Battalion, with: Headquarters, with: 1 command stand
1 car
1 staff radio truck
1 support stand
1 maintenance van
3 Tank Companies, each with: 1 PzI
1 T-26
2 37mm AT Batteries
20mm AA Battery, with: 1 command stand
3 gun crew stands
3 20L113 AA guns
3 light trucks
Medium Mortar Company, with: 2 81mm mortar stands (ds)
2 medium trucks

5th Navarra Infantry Division, with:
3 Brigades, with: 5th Battation, San Quinton Infantry Regiment
5th Battalion, San Marcial Infantry Regiment
9th Battalion, Zaragoza Regiment
4th Falange Bandera of Palencia
4th Battalion, Zamora Infantry Regiment
7th Battalion, Zamora Infantry Regiment
3rd Battalion, Argon Infantry Regiment
3rd Tabor of Athucemas
8th Battalion, Valladolid Infantry Regiment
San Miguel Carlist Tercio
1st Falange Bandera of Palencia
1st Falange Bandera of Navarra
1 group 65L17 infantry guns
2 groups 105L20 howitzers
Sapper Company

Attached Army Level Units, with: Tank Company, with: 1 Pz I
1 T-26
37mm AT Battery
20mm AA Section, with: 1 command stand
1 gun crew stand
1 20LI 13 AA gun
1 light truck
Medium Mortar Company, with: as above
13th Infantry Division, with:
2 Brigades, with: 2 Regiments per Brigade, with:
4th Bandera of the Legion
6th Bandera of the Legion
5th Tabor of Larache
5th Tabor of Melilla
6th Tabor of Melilla
1st Battalion of Inri
Tabor of Infi-Sahara
4th Falange Bandera of Castilla
1st Battalion, Merida Infantry Regiment
3rd Battalion, La Victoria Infantry Regiment
4th Bandera of the Legion
73rd Infantry Battalion
262nd Infantry Battalion
1 group 75L27 guns
1 group 105L20 howitzers
Sapper Company

Attached Army Level Units, with: Tank Company, with: as above
37mm AT Battery
20mm AA Section, with: as above
Medium Mortar Company, with: as above
15th Infantry Division, with:
2 Brigades, with: 2 Regiments per Brigade (1 regiment not present), with:
9th Tabor of Tetuan
271st Infantry Battalion (Cernera)
272nd Infantry Battalion (Cernera)
10th Tabor of Ceuta
273rd Infantry Battafion (Serralo)
274th Infantry Battalion (Serralo)
1st Battalion, Merida Infantry Regiment
173rd Infantry Battalion (San Quintin)
175th Infantry Battalion (Toledo)
37mm AT Battery
1 group 65mm infantry guns
2 groups 75L27 guns
1 group 100L16 howitzers
2 Sapper Companies

150th Infantry Division, with:
2 Brigades-1st and 2nd, with: 4 Regiments (90th, 91st, 92nd, 93rd), with: 12th Bandera of the Legion
9th Tabor of Melilla
10th Tabor of Alhucemas
9th Tabor of Larache
9th Tabor of Teutan
4th Falange Bandera of Castilla (also listed as serving in 13th Division)
251st Infantry Battalion
252nd Infantry Battalion
253rd Infantry Battalion
256th Infantry Battalion
257th Infantry Battalion
Divisional Units Not Listed

Attached Army-Level Units, with: 1 65mm Infantry Gun Company
1 37mm AT Battery
1 20mm AA Section, with: as above
In addition, though not part of the Moroccan Corps, the lst Cavalry Division served in that campaign with the following organization:

1st Cavalry Division, with:
Divisional Headquarters, with: 1 command stand
1 car
Headquarters Company, with:
1 mounted command stand
2 baggage wagons
2 mounted support stands
2 general supply wagons
3 Cavalry Groups, each with:
Headquarters Squadron, with: 1 mounted command stand
1 recon cavalry stand
Trains, with: 1 mounted command stand
1 baggage wagon
1 general supply wagon
1 field kitchen wagon
1 mounted support stand
3 Sabre Squadrons, each with:
1 command cavalry stand
1 recon cavalry stand
1 cavalry stand
Machine Gun Squadron, with: 2 pack MMG stands

Attached Artillery, with:
Horse Artillery Groupe, with: Headquarters, with: 1 mounted command stand
1 mounted spotter stand
1 ammo wagon
3 Firing Batteries, each with:
1 gun crew stand (ds)
1 75L27 field gun
1 horse artillery limber
1 group 149mm Howitzers, with: 1 regular artillery group

Notes
1. The 2nd Cavalry Group had only two sabre squadrons.

Hope this helps. Note that the issue was published in 1994, so there is probably new information that has been revised in the last 25 years, but this will give you a head start.

Wow, Russ. Impressive! Almost you would convince me to get into the SCW. If only I didn't already have so many irons heating in the fire….

Thanks Russ, great stuff. I've had some players agitating for a Combat Command expansion into the Spanish Civil War and this is a fantastic start. Official version a few years away but this will get us up and running.

Miss the old Command Post – it was one of the outlets for publishing my then heretical ideas on battalion level games.

Thomas J. Thomas
Fame & Glory Games