"This Osprey by Philip Jowett and Martin Windrow is dangerous, given my predilection for obscure conflicts. I had thought this was a solely Spanish colonial affair without appreciating France's role.
The Rif War (1921–1926) was a conflict between Spain (later joined by France) and the Berber tribes of the Rif region in northern Morocco, led by the revolutionary leader Abd el-Krim. Spain controlled northern Morocco as a protectorate, while France controlled the central and southern regions. The Riffians, primarily Berber tribes, resisted Spanish rule and heavy taxation, pushing back poorly trained Spanish forces in the mountainous Rif region. At the Battle of Annual (1921), the Riffians routed the Spanish army, killing 8,000 and seizing large amounts of weapons, including machine guns and artillery. It was the greatest-ever defeat of a white colonial army.
This led to the establishment of the Rif Republic (1921–1926), led by Abd el-Krim, with his younger brother commanding the army. Alarmed by Rif victories, the French joined Spain. In 1926, facing overwhelming forces, Abd el-Krim surrendered to the French.
The authors start with some historical background and a chapter on the earlier conflict, which began in 1909 and ran through the First World War. The Spanish forces started with the conscripted mainland army, but when that failed, they increasingly turned to regular troops (the Tercio) and locally recruited Regulares. These were recruited from tribes hostile to the Riffians. There are orbats for each campaign and excellent colour plates. The Spanish also used FT-17, Schneider tanks, and aircraft to drop gas shells from 1923…"
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