Bombing of Cabra

Bombing of Cabra
Part of the Spanish Civil War
Date November 7, 1938 Location Cabra, Cordoba, Spain Result 107 civilians killed
Belligerents
Spanish Republic	Nationalist Spain
Strength
3 SB-2 bombers
Casualties and losses
None	109 civilians killed 200+ civilians injured

The Bombing of Cabra was a Republican airstrike which took place in Cabra, Córdoba, Andalusia on 7 November 1938, during the Spanish Civil War. The air raid left 109 people killed, and more than 200 wounded.

Background.

Throughout 1938, the Spanish Republican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de la República Española) or FARE carried out air bombings against the Nationalists held cities (among them Seville and Valladolid)^[1] in retaliation for the bombing of the Republican held cities (among them Barcelona, Alicante and Granollers).

The bombing

On 7 November of 1938, three Tupolev SB bombers of the FARE, bombed the town of Cabra, in the province of Cordoba. One of the bombs (200 kilograms) fell on the town's market, killing dozens of civilians.^[2] The aircraft dropped six tons of bombs. Most of the bombs exploded in the market and in the working class districts. There were between 101^[2] and 109 civilians dead and 200 wounded.^[3] The airstrike was carried out in the belief that Italian mechanized troops were stationed in the village. Once over the target, the pilots mistook the market's awnings for military tents.^[4]

Aftermath

The bombing of Cabra was the deadliest bombing carried out by the Republican air force during the war.

References