In July 1937, the Republicans mounted their only large scale offensive on the Madrid front, it took place at Brunete 15 miles west of the capital. They were beaten back , losing 23,000 of their 80,000 men, 140 of their armoured vehicles and 100 of their 300 aircraft. This battle offers the first large appearance of the Me109 in combat, which gave the Condor legion air superiority for the first time. It also provides several very good examples of the effective use of "islands of defence "in depth by the Nationalist armed forces.

The top of Mosquito Ridge provides a dominant viewpoint from which can be seen in the west, the whole panorama of the battle and, in the foreground the scene of the British Battalion's reduction to 45men in 10 days of fruitless assaults on the Ridge. On its slopes George Nathan, perhaps the best British soldier on the Republican side, fell mortally wounded and the Nationalist trenchline can still be clearly seen snaking along the summit.

A Battlefield Tour of the Madrid Front

Introduction
Siege of Alcazar
Battle for Madrid
Battle of Jarama 1937
Battle of Guadalajara 1937
Battle of Brunete 1937
Other Places of Interest