Spanish Army of Africa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Spanish Army of Africa was a Spanish field army that administered Spanish Morocco until Morocco's independence.

By the start of the 20th century, Spain's colonial possessions in Africa were northern Morocco (called Spanish Morocco), Western Sahara, and Equatorial Guinea. However, Spanish Morocco was the closest one to mainland Spain and the most troublesome. Moroccans led an independence movement against Spain and France, launching many military revolts. They were put down, albeit with difficulty. The Army of Africa was composed of Spanish troops as well as the Spanish Foreign Legion and locally recruited Moroccan infantry and cavalry called Regulares. In total, the Army of Africa numbered 30,000 soldiers and was the most effective fighting force in the 100,000-man Spanish Army during the 1920s and 30s.

The Army of Africa was to play a key part during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39. Just like many other units in the Spanish Army, the Army of Africa rose against the Republic and took part in the Nationalist military uprising of July 1936. On July 18, 1936 general Francisco Franco assumed the supreme command over this force. After Spanish Morocco was quickly taken over by the rebels, the Army of Africa, which was initially supposed to be transported over to mainland Spain by the Spanish Navy, was transported to mainland Spain in a bold airlift led by Junkers and Savoia transport planes that were supplied by Germany and Italy. After landing in Spain, the Army of Africa split into two forces, one commanded by General Juan Yagüe and the other commanded by Colonel José Varela. Yagüe's force advanced north, making remarkably rapid gains, and then swerved north-eastwards towards Madrid and Toledo. Varela's force entered Andalucia and took control of key cities such as Seville, Granada, and Córdoba. Thanks mostly to the Army of Africa's advances, almost all of western Spain was in Nationalist hands by the end of September 1936. In early 1937 the Army of Africa's strength was increased to 60,000 men. The Army of Africa spearheaded the Nationalists' operations for the rest of the war and played a central role in the Nationalist victory.

Following Moroccan independence in 1956 the bulk of the locally recruited Regulares transferred to the new Royal Army. The two enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta remained Spanish however and are still garrisoned by Legion and Regulares units. These units are now comprised of Spanish citizens, although they maintain many of the traditions of the old Army of Africa.