Jarama

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Jarama is a river in central Spain. It flows north to south, and passes east of Madrid. It flows into the river Tagus in Aranjuez. The Manzanares is a tributary of the Jarama.

During the Spanish Civil War at Paracuellos del Jarama, 1000 (other sources give the number of 2000) nationalist prisoners were killed by the Republican Militia guards during the Battle of Madrid (November 8-9, 1936). Santiago Carrillo has often been claimed responsible for the massacre [1], although some historians _such as Ian Gibson, Paul Preston and Anthony Beevor, claim his direct involvement has not been proved.

The Jarama was also the scene of fierce fighting - the Battle of Jarama - in 1937. Nationalist forces crossed the river in an attempt to cut the main Madrid-to-Valencia road and isolate the Republican capital. Nationalist forces led by Spanish Legionnaires and Moroccan soldiers of the Army of Africa were confronted by forces from the Republic including the 15th International Brigade. The 15th Brigade contained both the British Battalion of Volunteers and American volunteers in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Despite heavy casualties (over 270 British out of 600) the nationalists were stopped short of their objective. A period of trench warfare followed before the "Internationals" were withdrawn.

[edit] In fiction

• El Jarama is a novel by Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio about young people from Madrid meeting for a picnic by the river. Its realistic dialog renovated Spanish novels.

[edit] Other meanings

• The Circuito del Jarama is the main motor racetrack of Madrid. Before the construction of the safer Montmeló, Montjuic and Jerez racetracks, it hosted several Formula One and motorbike prizes.