The Quick Guide
to the Spanish Civil War

Pre-War Spanish Military:
Peninsular Army

by Greg Novak

The Spanish Army of 1936 was based on that of France in terms of its basic makeup as well as its actual organization. To begin with, there existed a Peninsular Army made up of eight infantry divisions, as well as one cavalry division. Units were organized on a geographical basis and were designed to be expanded in the event of war by calling up the recent conscripts to fill out the existing formations. All conscripts were called by class and were to serve two years with the army.

The officers were drawn from the middle class and educated at military schools. There was a limited NCO pool, as the best members of that class were drawn off for service in the different internal security forces. In the event of war, the existing troops would allow the formation of four infantry corps, complete with supporting units. Units of the Peninsular Army could not be sent out of the country without permission of the government.

The Army of Africa was a colonial volunteer army modeled on the French colonial system. This resulted in a force which was a mixture of Spanish volunteer units, locally raised native units and even a Spanish Foreign Legion (most of whom were Spanish). The area known as Spanish Morocco had not been brought under Spanish control until the mid- 1920s, which meant that the Army of Africa had seen recent combat experience.

Neither branch of the army was thinking of modern warfare in the 1930s. The Peninsular Army looked at the lessons of World War I and studied that conflict for lessons in static warfare. The Army of Africa, used to running small-scale colonial actions, studied the lessons taught by the French Army in Africa on such a war. With the end of the Riff War in Morocco, warfare now consisted of putting down revolts before they started by swiftly moving lightly armed columns into the area. Speed was considered far more useful then firepower.

At the start of the war, the Spanish Army was organized on paper as follows. (Units were garrisoned about the city listed as the divisional headquarters.)

The Spanish Peninsular Army

The proclamation of the Republic in 1931 had some effect on the Peninsular Army, most of which was considered beneficial by the military. The number of infantry divisions was cut from a paper 16 to a more realistic 8. The number of general officers was cut back, and infantry regiments lost their traditional names. Some effort was made to upgrade the army, but little was done other than purchase some heavy (155mm) artillery from France, as well as some steel helmets.

A request to draw up a plan for the creation of a small force to serve under the control of the League of Nations resulted in the paper organization of what was called a "mixed brigade." This was to be an all- arms force able to act independently of a parent division. Though never formed, it was seen as the future of the Spanish Army.

With the call-up of the class of 1935, added to the already serving class of 1934, the Spanish Army mustered on paper some 117,500 officers and men. However, due to budget problems and tradition, members of the class of 1934 were often placed on furlough several months before their time in service was officially up, so the number of troops on actual service would be several thousand less than indicated.

Troop Quality: Trained
Morale: 7

1st Infantry Division

(HQ Madrid), with:

Divisional Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand, 1 car, 1 staff telephone wagon

Divisional Services, with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      2 support stands
      2 baggage wagons

    Repair Depot, with:

      1 mounted command stand
      2 support stands
      2 baggage wagons

    Divisional Supply Troops, with:

      3 Supply Columns, each with:
        1 mounted command stand
        2 support stands
        3 general supply wagons

1st Infantry Brigade, with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 command stand
      1 car
      1 staff telephone wagon

    1st Infantry Regiment, with:

      Regimental Headquarters, with:
        1 mounted command stand
        1 staff telephone wagon (M)

      Regimental Trains, with:

        1 mounted command stand
        1 baggage wagon
        1 general supply wagon
        1 field kitchen wagon
        1 support stand

      Regimental Weapons Company (M), with:

        1 AT gun
        1 gun crew stand
        1 limber
        1 81mm mortar stand (ds)
        1 wagon

      1st Infantry Battalion, with:

        Headquarters, with:
          1 command stand
          1 baggage wagon
          1 general supply wagon
          1 field kitchen wagon
          1 support stand

        4 Infantry Companies, each with:

          1 command infantry stand
          2 infantry stands

        1 Machine Gun Company, with: 4 MMG stands

      2nd Infantry Battalion, with: as 1st Infantry Battalion
      3rd Infantry Battalion (M), with: as 1st Infantry Battalion

    2nd Infantry Regiment, with: as 1st Infantry Regiment above

2nd Infantry Brigade, with:

    Headquarters Company, with: as 1st Infantry Brigade above
    3rd Infantry Regiment, with: as 1st Infantry Regiment above
    4th Infantry Regiment, with: as 1st Infantry Regiment above

Divisional Artillery, with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 command stand
      1 car
      1 staff telephone wagon

    1st Light Artillery Regiment, with:

      Regimental Headquarters, with:
        1 mounted command stand
        1 staff telephone wagon (M)

      Regimental Trains, with:

        1 mounted command stand
        1 baggage wagon
        1 general supply wagon
        1 field kitchen wagon
        1 support stand

      1st Light Artillery Battalion, with:

        Headquarters, with:
          1 mounted command stand
          1 mounted spotter stand
          1 ammo wagon

        3 Firing Batteries, each with:

          1 gun crew stand (ds) 1 75L27 field gun
          1 limber

      2nd Light Artillery Battalion, with:

        Headquarters, with:
          1 mounted command stand
          1 mounted spotter stand
          1 ammo wagon

        3 Firing Batteries, each with:

          1 gun crew stand (ds)
          1 105L20 field gun
          1 limber

      3rd Light Artillery Battalion, (M), with: as 1st Light Artillery Battalion

    2nd Light Artillery Regiment, with: as 1st Light Artillery Regiment above

1st Sapper Battalion, with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      1 baggage wagon
      1 general supply wagon
      1 field kitchen wagon
      1 support stand

    4 Sapper Companies, each with:

      1 command engineer stand
      3 engineer stands
      1 supply wagon

Notes

1. Units marked with an (M) were to be mobilized at the start of the war.

2. Companies of a type are numbered in order throughout the formation. Thus, the lst Infantry Battalion had the 1st to 4th Infantry Companies, while the 2nd Battalion had the 5th to 8th Infantry Companies. Specialized formations, like the Machine Gun Companies, were referred to by the name of their parent formation, i.e., the Machine Gun company of the 1st Battalion. Artillery Regiments would have the 1st to 3rd Battery in the 1st Battalion, and the 4th to 6th Battery in the 2nd Battalion.

3. The Regimental Weapons Company existed only on paper. The Spanish Army had purchased a limited number of Brandt 81mm mortars, but had not formally issued them to units. Likewise, while a need for a AT weapon existed, the actual weapon had not been chosen in 1936.

4. While the paper TO&E is shown above, actual strength was far lower. The following is what the Spanish Infantry Battalion of 1936 did have:

    Infantry Battalion, with:
      Headquarters, with:
        1 command infantry stand
        1 baggage wagon (M)
        1 general supply wagon (M)
        1 field kitchen wagon (M)
        1 support stand

      4 Infantry Companies, each with:

        2 infantry stands

      1 Machine Gun Company, with:

        2 MMG stands

    The remaining Infantry Divisions were organized as above. Their unit makeup and location are as follows:

2nd Infantry Division (HQ Seville), with:

    Divisional Headquarters

    Divisional Services

    3rd Infantry Brigade, with:

      5th Infantry Regiment
      6th Infantry Regiment

    4th Infantry Brigade, with:

      7th Infantry Regiment
      8th Infantry Regiment

    Divisional Artillery, with:

      3rd Light Artillery Regiment
      4th Light Artillery Regiment

    2nd Sapper Battalion

3rd Infantry Division (HQ Valencia), with:

    Divisional Headquarters
    Divisional Services
    5th Infantry Brigade, with:
      9th Infantry Regiment
      10th Infantry Regiment

    6th Infantry Brigade, with:
      7th Infantry Regiment
      8th Infantry Regiment

    Divisional Artillery, with:
      5th Light Artillery Regiment
      6th Light Artillery Regiment

    3rd Sapper Battalion

4th Infantry Division (HQ Barcelona), with:

    Divisional Headquarters
    Divisional Services
    7th Infantry Brigade, with:
      13th Infantry Regiment
      14th Infantry Regiment

    8th Infantry Brigade, with:
      15th Infantry Regiment
      16th Infantry Regiment

    Divisional Artillery, with:
      7th Light Artillery Regiment
      8th Light Artillery Regiment

    4th Sapper Battalion

5th Infantry Division (HQ Saragossa), with:

    Divisional Headquarters
    Divisional Services
    9th Infantry Brigade, with:
      17th Infantry Regiment
      18th Infantry Regiment

    10th Infantry Brigade, with:
      19th Infantry Regiment
      20th Infantry Regiment

    Divisional Artillery, with:
      9th Light Artillery Regiment
      10th Light Artillery Regiment

    5th Sapper Battalion

6th Infantry Division (HQ Burgos), with:

    Divisional Headquarters
    Divisional Services
    11th Infantry Brigade, with:
      21st Infantry Regiment
      22nd Infantry Regiment

    12th Infantry Brigade, with:
      23rd Infantry Regiment
      24th Infantry Regiment

    Divisional Artillery, with:
      11th Light Artillery Regiment
      12th Light Artillery Regiment

    6th Sapper Battalion

7th Infantry Division (HQ Valladoid), with:

    Divisional Headquarters
    Divisional Services
    13th Infantry Brigade, with:
      25th Infantry Regiment
      26th Infantry Regiment

    14th Infantry Brigade, with:
      27th Infantry Regiment
      28th Infantry Regiment

    Divisional Artillery, with:
      13th Light Artillery Regiment
      14th Light Artillery Regiment

    7th Sapper Battalion

8th Infantry Division (HQ Galicia), with:

    Divisional Headquarters
    Divisional Services
    15th Infantry Brigade, with:
      29th Infantry Regiment
      30th Infantry Regiment

    16th Infantry Brigade, with:
      31st Infantry Regiment
      32nd Infantry Regiment

    Divisional Artillery, with:
      15th Light Artillery Regiment
      16th Light Artillery Regiment

    8th Sapper Battalion

Mountain Brigades

There were two Mountain Brigades with the following paper organization:
Troop Quality: Trained
Morale: 7

Mountain Brigade

with:

Brigade Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand
    1 car
    1 staff telephone wagon

Brigade Services, with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      1 support stand
      1 baggage wagon

    Repair Depot, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      1 support stand
      2 pack mule stands

    Supply Column, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      2 support stands
      6 pack mule stands

4 Mountain Infantry Battalions, each with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      2 pack mule stands

    3 Infantry Companies, each with:
      1 command mountain infantry stand
      2 mountain infantry stands

    Infantry Company (M), with:
      1 command mountain infantry stand
      2 mountain infantry stands

    Machine Gun Company, with:
      3 MMG stands
      1 MMG stand (M)

Mountain Artillery Regiment, with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 command stand
      1 car
      1 staff telephone wagon

    Regimental Trains, with:

      1 mounted command stand
      1 baggage wagon
      2 pack mule stands
      1 field kitchen wagon
      1 support stand

    1st Mountain Artillery Battalion, with:

      Headquarters, with:
        1 mounted command stand
        1 mounted spotter stand
        2 pack mule stands

      2 Firing Batteries, each with:
        1 gun crew stand (ds)
        1 70/08 mountain gun
        2 pack mules

      Firing Battery (M), with:
        1 gun crew stand (ds)
        1 70/08 mountain gun
        2 pack mules

    2nd Mountain Artillery Battalion, with: as 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment

1st Mountain Sapper Group, with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 mounted command stand 2 pack mule stands 1 field kitchen wagon
      1 support stand

    2 Sapper Companies, each with:
      1 command engineer stand 3 engineer stands 2 pack mule stands

Notes

1. The 1st Mountain Brigade had the 1st to 4th Mountain Infantry Battalions, and the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment and Sapper Group. The 2nd Brigade had the 5th to 8th Mountain Infantry Brigades, and the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment and Sapper Group.

2. Units marked with an (M) were to be mobilized at the start of the war.

3. While the paper TO&E is shown above, as with the infantry units, actual strength was far lower.

The following is what the Spanish Mountain Infantry Battalion of 1936 did have:

    Mountain Infantry Battalion, with:
      Headquarters Company, with:
        1 mounted command stand
        1 support stand
        2 pack mule stands

      3 Infantry Companies, each with:

        1 command mountain infantry stand
        1 mountain infantry stand

      1 Infantry Company (M), with:

        3 mountain infantry stands

      1 Machine Gun Company, with:

        2 MMG stands
        1 MMG stand (M)

Cavalry

In wartime, the Cavalry Division was to be formed with the following units. During peace time, these units were garrisoned across Spain.
Troop Quality: Trained
Morale: 8

Cavalry Division

, with:

Divisional Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand
    1 car
    1 staff telephone wagon

Divisional Services, with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      2 support stands
      2 baggage wagons

    Repair Depot, with:

      1 mounted command stand
      2 support stands
      2 baggage wagons

    Divisional Supply Troops, each with:

      3 Supply Columns, each with:
        1 mounted command stand
        2 support stands
        3 general supply wagons

2 Cavalry Brigades, each with:

    Headquarters Squadron, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      1 staff telephone wagon

    3 Cavalry Regiments, each with:

      Regimental Headquarters, with:
        1 mounted command stand

      Regimental Trains, with:

        1 mounted command stand
        1 baggage wagon
        1 general supply wagon
        1 field kitchen wagon
        1 mounted support stand

      3 Sabre Squadrons, each with:

        1 command cavalry stand
        1 recon cavalry stand
        1 cavalry stand

      Sabre Squadron (M), with:

        1 command cavalry stand
        2 cavalry stands

      Machine Gun Squadrons, each with:

        4 pack MMG stands

Horse Artillery Regiment, with:

Regimental Headquarters, with:

    1 mounted command stand
    1 staff telephone wagon (M)

Regimental Trains, with:

    1 mounted command stand
    1 baggage wagon
    1 general supply wagon
    1 field kitchen wagon
    1 support stand

1st Horse Artillery Battalion, with:

    Headquarters, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      1 mounted spotter stand
      1 ammo wagon

    2 Firing Batteries, each with:

      1 gun crew stand (ds)
      1 75L27 field gun
      1 horse artillery limber

    1 Firing Battery (M), with:

      1 gun crew stand (ds)
      1 75L27 field gun
      1 horse artillery limber

2nd Horse Artillery Battalion, with: as 1st Horse Artillery Battalion

1st Mountain Sapper Group, with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      2 pack mule stands
      1 field kitchen wagon
      1 support stand

    2 Sapper Companies, each with:

      1 mounted command engineer stand
      3 mounted engineer stands
      2 pack mule stands

Notes

1. Units marked with an (M) were to be mobilized at the start of the war. There were a number of permanent garrison formations guarding specific coastal and island locations. These units were as follows:

Baleares Garrison

(HQ Palma se Majorca), with:

Garrison Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand
    1 car
    1 staff radio truck

Garrison Services, with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      2 support stands
      2 baggage wagons

    Repair Depot, with:

      1 command stand
      2 support stands

    2 Supply Columns, with:

      1 mounted command stand
      2 support stands
      3 general supply wagons

36th Infantry Regiment, with: as 1st Infantry Regiment above
37th Infantry Regiment, with: as 1st Infantry Regiment above
4th Coastal Artillery Regiment, with: see notes below
1st Independent Artillery Group, with: as 1st Light Artillery Regiment
1st Independent Sapper and Signal Group, with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      1 baggage wagon
      1 general supply wagon
      1 field kitchen wagon
      1 support stand

    2 Sapper Companies, each with:

      1 command engineer stand
      3 engineer stands
      1 supply wagon

    1 Signal Company, each with:

      2 staff radio wagons
      1 staff cable stand
      1 maintenance van
      1 support stand
      1 supply wagon
2nd Independent Sapper and Signal Group, with: as 1st Independent Sapper and Signal Group:

Notes

1. The 4th Coastal Artillery Regiment manned the fixed coastal weapons at Port Mahon. The 1st Independent Artillery group manned a mixture of light, medium and mountain artillery throughout the islands.

2. The Sapper and signal groups were responsible for maintaining the inter-island communications net, as well as communications back to the Spanish mainland.

Canarias Garrison

(HQ Stana Cruz), with:
    Garrison Headquarters, with: as above
    Garrison Services, with: as above
    38th Infantry Regiment, with: as 1st Infantry Regiment above
    39th Infantry Regiment, with: as 1st Infantry Regiment above
    2nd Independent Artillery Group, with: as 1st Light Artillery Regiment
    3rd Independent Artillery Group, with: as 1st Light Artillery Regiment
    3rd Independent Sapper and Signal Group, with: as 1st Independent Sapper and Signal Group
    4th Independent Sapper and Signal Group, with: as 1st Independent Sapper and Signal Group

Notes

1. The Independent Artillery Groups not only manned a mixture of light, medium and mountain artillery throughout the islands, but dealt with coastal artillery works as well.

2. The Sapper and Signal groups were responsible for maintaining the inter-island communications net, as well as communications back to the Spanish mainland.

Cadiz Garrison

(HQ Cadiz), with:
    Garrison Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 car
      1 staff telephone wagon

    Repair Depot, with:

      1 command stand
      2 support stands

    33rd Infantry Regiment, with:

      as lst Infantry Regiment above

    1st Coastal Artillery Regiment, with:

      see notes below

    Notes

    1. The Cadiz Garrison was in charge of security for the Naval Dockyard at Cadiz.

    2. The 1st Coastal Artillery Regiment manned the fixed defense of the port.

Cartagena Garrison

(HQ Cartagena), with:
    Garrison Headquarters, with: as above
    Repair Depot, with: as above
    34th Infantry Regiment, with: as 1st Infantry Regiment above
    3rd Coastal Artillery Regiment, with: see notes below

Notes

1. The Cartagena Garrison was in charge of security for the Naval Dockyard at Cartagena.

2. The 3rd Coastal Artillery Regiment manned the fixed defense of the port.

El Ferrol Garrison

(HQ El Ferrol), with:
    Garrison Headquarters, with: as above
    Repair Depot, with: as above
    35th Infantry Regiment, with: as 1st Infantry Regiment above
    2nd Coastal Artillery Regiment, with: see notes below

Notes

1. The El Ferrol Garrison was in charge of security for the Naval Dockyard at El Ferrol.

2. The 2nd Coastal Artillery Regiment manned the fixed defense of the port.

Gijon Garrison

(HQ Gijon), with:
    40th Infantry Regiment, with: as 1st Infantry Regiment above

The following formations were considered as either Corps- or Army-level formations. In the event of war, four corps were to be formed, each having 1 Machine Gun Battalion, 1 Heavy Artillery Regiment, and 1 Cavalry Regiment assigned. (The Corps Cavalry Regiments had the same organization as those in the Cavalry Division.)
Troop Quality: Trained
Morale: 7

4 Heavy Artillery Regiments, each with:

    Regimental Headquarters, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      1 staff telephone wagon (M)

    Regimental Trains, with:

      1 mounted command stand
      1 baggage wagon
      1 general supply wagon
      1 field kitchen wagon
      1 support stand

    1st Heavy Artillery Battalion, with:

      Headquarters, with:
        1 mounted command stand
        1 ammo wagon

      3 Firing Batteries, each with:
        1 gun crew stand (ds)
        1 weapon
        1 limber

      2nd Heavy Artillery Battalion, with: as 1st Heavy Artillery Battalion
      3rd Heavy Artillery Battalion (M), with: as 1st Heavy Artillery Battalion

Notes

1. The Heavy Artillery Regiments were numbered I to 4.

2. Though the Schneider 155L15 Model 17 howitzer was tobe the weapon of the Heavy Artillery Regiments, prewar returns show units with Krupp 15OL17 Model 1913, British 203L19" howitzers Model 1917, and assorted other weapons.

3. Units marked with an (M) were to be mobilized at the start of the war.

4 Machine Gun Battalions, each with:

    Headquarters, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      1 baggage wagon
      1 general supply wagon
      1 field kitchen wagon
      1 support stand

    4 Machine Gun Companies, each with:

      3 MMG stands
      1 MMG stand (M)

    Notes

    1. The Machine Gun Battalions were numbered 1 to 4.

2 Antiaircraft Artillery Groups , each with:

    Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 car
      1 staff telephone truck (M)
      1 baggage truck
      1 general supply truck
      1 field kitchen truck
      1 support stand

    3 Heavy Batteries, each with:

      1 gun crew stand (ds)
      1 751-A2 AA gun
      1 medium truck

    Notes

    1. The AA Groups were numbered 1 and 2.

1 Autocannon Group, with:

    Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 car
      1 staff telephone truck (M)
      1 baggage truck
      1 general supply truck
      1 field kitchen truck
      1 support stand

    3 Light Batteries, each with:

      2 gun crew stands
      2 light trucks
      2 20L60 AA guns

Cyclist Battalion, with:

    Headquarters, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      1 baggage wagon
      1 general supply wagon
      1 field kitchen wagon
      1 support stand

    4 Infantry Companies, each with:

      1 recon bicycle infantry stand
      1 bicycle infantry stand
      1 bicycle infantry stand (M)

    Machine Gun Company, with:

      3 bicycle MMG stands
      1 bicycle MMG stand (M)

Presidential Battalion (Madrid), with:

    Headquarters, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      1 band
      1 baggage wagon
      1 general supply wagon
      1 field kitchen wagon
      1 support stand

    3 Infantry Companies, each with:

      1 command infantry stand
      2 infantry stands

Bridging Battalion, with:

    Headquarters, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      1 baggage wagon
      1 general supply wagon
      1 field kitchen wagon
      1 support stand

    4 Bridging Companies, each with:

      1 command engineer stand
      2 engineer stands
      2 pontoon wagons
      2 wagons
      1 class IV bridge

2 Tank Regiments, each with:

    Regimental Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 car
      1 staff telephone truck (M)
      1 baggage truck
      1 general supply truck
      1 field kitchen truck
      1 support stand

    3 Tank Companies, each with:

      3 FT-17 light tanks

    Notes
    1. The Tank Regiments were numbered 1 and 2.
    2. In 1936, each regiment would have only 1-2 platoons still in operating order in the entire regiment.

Quick Guide to the Spanish Civil War

Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Quarterly # 7
To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues
To MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 1994 by Greg Novak.
This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com