Spain 1938 - Civil war
Battle of Madrid November 1936
Honoring the Defenders of Madrid
45 cts + 2 Pesetas Blue (MH)
" Segundo Aniversario de la heroica Defensa de MADRID"
The Republicans repulse assault on Madrid in 1936. The Republicans had a geographical advantage in defending Madrid – the River Manzanares separated the Nationalists from the city centre, representing a formidable physical obstacle.
Due to its strategic location over the Manzanares River, the Bridge of the French was of a crucial importance. The Republican forces there, effectively repelling attempts to cross it and gain access to Madrid’s city center.
After the Battle of Madrid, the Republican government tried to re-organise its armed forces from a collection of militias into a regular army, the "'Popular Army'.
In 1938, the siege of Madrid tightened and its population suffered increasingly from a lack of food, warm clothes and arms and ammunition. However Franco by this point had given up on the idea of another frontal assault on the city and instead was happy to gradually constrict the siege, while keeping up a bombardment of the city.
By the spring of 1939, after the collapse of the Republican forces on other fronts, it was clear that the Republican cause in Madrid was doomed.
1 Mint H stamp (MH).