The Invasion of Majorca (article) A few more photos and some new links added 16/10/23

 The Invasion of Majorca

August 1936 by Richard Baber

Another article which originally appeared in SOTCW magazine The Journal

I`d like to thank L Sabia Byrne from the Spanish Civil Wargamers FB group for his input and new info

I’ve always been fascinated by amphibious operations during wars – Gallipoli, Torch, D-Day, Inchon etc; the logistics involved in such daring assaults really ignites my interest. I quickly realised however that as a wargamer I could never re-create such large scale landings, not having either the room or the time or figures required. So I’ve been limited to running small scale landing operations usually just a small part of something more grand.

 Whilst I was researching into the Rif War (Morocco 1919-26) [see Journal 53 for the results of this research], I found that the Spanish had carried out two amphibious operations in Morocco (at Alcazarseguer in March 1925 and at Alhucemas Bay on September 8^th). When I was reading up on these landings I found several references to an invasion of Majorca during the Spanish Civil War? I was intrigued and did a little digging to find further information. Later in the summer of 2005, I found myself on Majorca and actually visited the small fishing village – Porto Cristo where the Republican soldiers landed back in August 1936! Surprisingly there was not a statue or plaque (at least not one I could find) to this event in Porto Cristo. Anyway here are the results of my brief study into this interesting and very game-able operation:

 In the summer of 1936, a group of Spanish Generals began a rebellion against the elected government. The Balearic Islands were quickly brought under the control of the rebels (except for Menorca) with the military authorities assisted by local members of the right-wing Flange party. The rebels attempt to take control of Barcelona had been a total disaster so when news began to filter back of the Nationalist occupation of the islands of Majorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Carbrera. Regarded as part of Catalonia, with popular feelings running high, plans were quickly formulated to send a Catalonian Expeditionary Force to liberate the isles.

Two separate forces set out, neither with the knowledge or consent of the Republican government in Madrid. One from Valencia, under the command of a Civil Guard Captain Manuel Uribarri with 1,200 men. (Mostly anarchist militia but including about 400 Civil Guard). These set sail in a liner – Mar Cantabrico, escorted by two destroyers – Almirante Antequerra & Almirante Miranda. This force headed first for Carberra (August 1st), then onto Formentera (August 8th) and finally Ibiza (August 9th); none of these landings were seriously opposed and all three islands were soon secured for the Republic.

 And from Barcelona a much larger force commanded by an naval air force officer – Captain Alberto Bayo (see below). This force’s objective was Majorca it consisted of: 2,000 men (mostly regulars and Catalan militia) in eleven merchantmen escorted by the Battleship – Jaime I (see notes below); the Cruiser – Libertad; 3 submarines and a torpedo boat; these arrived in Menorca in late July. 

 

Captain Alberto Bayo

After a couple of weeks planning Bayo completed his palns for the landings the date chosen was August 16^th. The initial force had been swelled by additional volunteers from Menorca. A substantial naval force was assembled including two ex-British K-type landing barges (K-12 & K26) both of whom had participated in the landing s at Alhucemas Bay on September 8th 1925, during the Rif War. These craft were to carry the assault units ashore from the merchantmen. Under cover of an intense bombardment the mixture of militia, regulars, Civil Guards and naval marines pored ashore in Anguila Cove near Porto Cristo on the east coast of the island. The Nationalists faced with overwhelming odds withdrew in land, at this point confused by their sudden and unexpected success, the Republicans settled down on the beach without trying to exploit the situation. They did however unload vital supplies, vehicles (cars and various lorries) and some artillery – six 75mm and four 105mm guns.

Finally as the days passed, the Republican’s became bolder and began to advance in land a beachhead of 25 miles long by 8 miles deep. They formed columns which began to probe outward from this bridgehead, but as Nationalist resistance increased until these advances ground to a halt. Then on the 27^th things turned for the worse, Mussolini had promised military aid to the rebels and it started to arrive on the island in the form of three Italian SM81 bombers and three CR32 fighter planes. Until this point the Republicans had benefited from air superiority with Dornier Wal float planes and bombers flying from the mainland. The self-styled “Dragons of Death” quickly reversed this situation and gained complete control of the air, once this was achieved, they began strafing and bombing the republican troops too.

 Further infantry reinforcements were flown in including a force of Italian Black shirts, plus loads of much needed supplies. A counter-offensive commanded by Lt Colonel Garcia Ruiz was launched on the 3rd September under a sustained artillery barrage. Over 2600 Nationalist troops began a series of bold thrusts into the Republican enclave. At first, though shocked by the ferocity of the Rebel attack, the Republican militia retired in good order. However as the days wore on, casualties mounted. With no adequate medical supplies or field hospitals, harried from the air and under constant bombardment, an orderly retreat became an unnecessary rout. Despite a numerical superiority of nearly three to one the militia began to abandon their equipment and flee to the coast, the Nationalists close on their heels. No mercy was shown. A convent converted into a makeshift hospital was captured and all the militiamen therein were slaughtered. Many of the 400 militia women who fought alongside their male counterparts were abandoned to their fate in the rush to flee the island. These women were some of the few prisoners taken, all the men being shot out of hand. Much was later made of the abandoned 'milicianas' by Nationalist propaganda. By September 13^th it was all over and Italian Planes were already bombing Ibiza. The republicans so demoralized by the disaster on Majorca decided to abandon the islands and retreat back to the mainland.

 American defense attaché in Paris reported that the force "after an initial success, suffered disaster due to Italian bombing [which inflicted] heavy losses and finally forced a precipitate withdrawal."

 By the end of September all of the Balearic isles except Menorca were back under Rebel control. Menorca remained a part of the Republic until the end of the civil war, when it surrendered without a shot being fired. By 1938 Nationalist warships strategically based in Palma (Majorca) and aided by German and Italian aircraft had the Republicans effectively blockaded and they were an important factor in its defeat.

Republican forces

Catalan Expeditionary Force - Capt. Alberto Bayo

Organised in 4 groups:

Group 1

Baleares Militia – 2 battalions

Socialist Militia – 2 battalions

Red & Black Column – 2 battalions

Group 2

ERC Militia – 2 battalions

Libertad Column – 1 battalion

Menorca Militia – 2 battalions

Group 3

Tchapaiev company (100 foreign volunteers)

1 company of Civil Guard

1 company of Carabineros

1 company of Infanteria de Marina (naval marines)

2 batteries of 75mm guns (6), 1 battery of 105mm guns (4)

Air support

1 - Savoia-Marchetti S62 float plane

1 – Macchi M18 float plane

2 – Dornier DO15 Wal float planes

Naval support

Jaime I – Battleship (below)

Libertad – Cruiser

Miranda - Destoryer

Antequera – Destroyer

Valdes - Destroyer

J L Diez - Destroyer

3 x B Class Submarines (Nos 2, 3 & 4)

The gunboat: Shortstop 17

A Fleet tug

A Harbour tug 

Tug Cillope (Cyclops)

2 K-type landing barges (K-12 & K-26)

Transports:

Ciudad de Barcelona, Ciudad de Cadiz, Ciudad de Mahon, Ciudad de Tarragona, Isla de Tenerife, Unde Mendi

Ciudad de Cadiz

Ciudad de Tarragona

Motor vessels:

Mar Negro & Mar Cantabrico

Mar Negro

The liner Marques de Comillas was used as a hospital ship, this large passenger ship of 9,922 tons that was confiscated by Bayo himself to transform it into a hospital ship, an action that was quite easy for him since Bayo, in addition to being the head of the Naval Base, he was also the head of the port of Barcelona. He manned the vessel with civilian doctors and medical teams under the command of Commander Cabezón, these formed three surgical teams. The ship carried red cross insignia, but Bayo also made the ship his command and control vessel for the operation and transmitted signals and orders from her, she also carried weapons.

Marques de Comillas wearing her red cross colours in Barcelona
  

Jaime I 

Was of the Espana Class.  This was a pre-WWI ship and was one of the world’s smallest dreadnoughts with her sister Espana, displacing only 15,700 tons standard and mounting a main battery of 8 12”/50 cal. in two turrets fore and aft and two turrets amidships.  Twelve coal fired boilers gave them a speed of 19.5 knots on 20,000 HP.  Jaime I carried 20 4”/50cal. guns and some AA.  Both had belts of from 3 to 9 inches, deck armour of 1 to 2 inches and 10 inch turret armour. 

 Nationalist forces

Col. Garcia Ruiz

2^nd Palma Battalion – 4 companies (motorised)

2 companies of Civil Guard

5 companies of Carabineros

Legion de Majorca (Flangist Militia) – 4 companies

3 artillery batteries 75mm (motorised)

2 heavy artillery batteries (155mm)

4 companies of engineers

4 AA batteries

1 battery of mortars

6 coastal batteries

15 companies of Citizen Militia (Milicas Ciudadanas)

Force reserve

1st Palma Battalion – 4 companies (motorised)

Milicas Ciudadanas – 4 companies

4 artillery batteries (75mm)

Air support

3 – Savoia-Marchetti S81 bombers “Dragons of Death”

3 – Fiat CR32 fighters

1 – de Havilland DH82 “Tiger Moth”

1 – Macchi M41floatplane

1 – Savoia-Marchetti S55 seaplane

Captain Alberto Bayo Girot

Born in Cuba in 1892, served with distinction in the infantry during the Rif War where he lost an eye serving with indigenous troops. On July 18, 1936 he was serving as a liaison officer for Prat de Llobregat aviation squadron  and the general staff of 4th Division. On July 19, he had actively participated in the operations against the insurgents in Barcelona, ​​machine-gunning the artillery forces of the San Andrés barracks with the machines under his command when they came out to try to control the situation and then, at the head of a group made up of aviation soldiers and armed civilians managed to reduce the forces of sappers from the Gran Vía barracks and in collaboration with the Assault forces participated in the attack on the Atarazanas barracks, he proposed to his superior commander, Lieutenant Colonel Diaz Sandino,Minister of Defense of the Government of the Generalitat, to carry out a landings in the Balearic Islands in order to restore them into the Republic`s control. He offerred to lead said military expedition.

After the unsuccessful episode in Mallorca, Bayo participated in the battle of Brunete, rising to commander and later to lieutenant colonel. At the end of the war he went into exile in Mexico. There he published a book about the landing in Majorca, eventually ending up in Cuba, where he instructed Fidel Castro 's guerrillas in Sierra Maestra and directed a school of activists to operate in South America. He died in Havana in 1967.

Sources

Hugh Thomas - The Spanish Civil War (1961)

The Spanish Civil War by Antony Beever (ISBN 0-304-35840-1)

La Guerra Civil Espanola (Vol5) by Gabriel Cardona (ISBN84-96507-10-6)

Abanderado (vol6, issues 1, 2) “The Battle of Majorca 1936” by Brian Cunniffe

Revoluntionary Warfare: Spain 1936-37 by Christopher Hall

Viva la Muerte (Nationalist forces 1936-39) by Christopher Hall

http://www.revistanaval.com/armada/buques1/espagna.htm

http://html.rincondelvago.com/alberto-bayo.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/guerracivil/

http://shipbucket.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9820&start=110

https://www.amigosdelamili.com/cuarteles/barcazas-k-4-armada-desembarco-anfibio-clases-k-bdk-lct-y-otras?fbclid=IwAR3YNYnOxNx7DYkAD6NCRLv6HrUhozBfToAOf-2oLOI9MtwFaCCevz__32k

https://www.fideus.com/bayo%20deseado.htm

https://www.facebook.com/groups/946642695471243

https://www.griegc.com/2020/03/15/la-operacion-sobre-las-baleares-i-organizacion-de-la-operacion-y-la-toma-de-formentera-e-ibiza/?fbclid=IwAR1aPBLVPSx791mfcANQHFr7B0TgdbB_YetS1ZmNMc6IFbRdXP3mQrSE4P8

https://www.griegc.com/2020/09/15/las-operaciones-sobre-las-baleares-ii-el-papel-de-la-flota-republicana/?fbclid=IwAR1SLhY7k2NNaa14hqXujN17N-FS4wUgJhcIKqMyCze35oZaqnsC67MoXDU#

https://www.griegc.com/2021/07/01/las-operaciones-sobre-las-baleares-iii-las-columnas-republicanas/?fbclid=IwAR2Ivk-3nR8oIx-B1HBg2_uPGzrhnPRdW3BNEhvEiwIY6CFyXvvewhxCScc