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 (November 8-9, 1936 ). Santiago Carrillo has often been claimed responsible for the massacre, though this claim remains controversial.
The Jarama was also the scene of fierce fighting in 1937. Nationalist forces crossed the river in an attempt to cut the main Madrid -to- Valencia road and isolate the Republican capital. Nacionalist forces led by Spanish Legionnaire s 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 nacionalists were stopped short of their objective. A period of Trench Warfare followed before the "Internationals" were withdrawn.
|
