Military engagement that took place during the Spanish Civil War in July 1938 in La Serena zone of Badajoz Province.
Notable as a rare example of pincer strategy in the Spanish Civil War, where most offensives relied on frontal assault.
Key Facts
- Duration
- 5 days
- Nationalist divisions
- 7 infantry divisions
- Republican divisions
- 4 divisions
- Territory seized
- approximately 5,000 sq km
- Province
- Badajoz Province, Extremadura
- Concurrent battle
- Battle of the Ebro began simultaneously
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A large Republican salient in the La Serena zone of Badajoz Province threatened the only railway line connecting Nationalist-held León and Andalusia. The Nationalist command determined that eliminating this salient was necessary to secure their logistical network, prompting the planning of a coordinated offensive against Republican forces holding the area.
Nationalist forces executed a pincer movement, grouping seven infantry divisions against four Republican divisions. The operation was completed in five days without a major pitched battle. One Republican division was trapped in the resulting pocket while several others suffered significant losses, and the Nationalists successfully closed the salient.
The Nationalists removed the threat to their rail logistics and seized approximately 5,000 square kilometers of territory. However, the engagement did not produce a decisive breakthrough in the war. Its strategic relevance was quickly overshadowed by the Battle of the Ebro, which began simultaneously and became the largest battle of the entire Spanish Civil War.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent