Battle of Irún

Part of the Spanish Civil War

Date	August 19 - September 5, 1936
Location	Gipuzkoa, Spain
Result	Decisive Nationalist victory

Belligerents

Spanish Republic

Nationalists

Commanders and leaders

Antonio Ortega

Manuel Margarida Valdes

Lt. Colonel Alfonso Beorlegui Canet †

Strength

over 2,000-3,000

over 2,000
a battery of 155 mm guns
some Ju 52 bombers
some tanks Panzer Mark I

Casualties and losses

The Battle of Irún was the critical battle of the Campaign of Gipuzkoa prior to the War in the North, during the Spanish Civil War. The Nationalist Army, under Alfonso Beorlegui, captured the city of Irún cutting off the northern provinces of Gipuzkoa, Biscay, Santander, and Asturias from their source of arms and support in France.

Irún is located on the northeastern coast of Spain, between the French border and the city of San Sebastian. Navarre, a Carlist stronghold, was taken over by the Requetés in late July, followed by brutal mass-repression against blacklisted civilians. In early August, the Carlists Colonel Jose Solchaga Zala and Colonel Alfonso Beorlegui under the orders of General Mola commanded large numbers of Requetés down the north of Navarre towards Irun.

Colonel Beorlegui's force was smaller, but it included 155 mm artillery, German light tanks, Junkers Ju 52 bombers, and a 700-man bandera from the Spanish Foreign Legion. It also included Italian aircraft. Both Germans and Italians carried out heavy air strikes over Irun and Hondarribia (Fuenterrabía) on a daily basis, at the same time dropping pamphlets over the towns threatening to repeat the massacres of Badajoz.

The town was defended by 3,000 Republicans, including CNT militia, Asturian miners, Basque nationalists, and French communist volunteers. However, they were poorly armed and lacking in proper military training.

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