Madrid 1936 - part 1 - Setting the scene

 

For the first outdoor game of 2021 (and indeed 2020!) I finally presented the battle for the University City area of Madrid.  Being restricted to gatherings of no more than six people I had duly invited five players to share the experience. The report of the game will run to several posts.  This first will present the briefings and set the scene.  The second post will include the individual briefings for the main Republican characters and subsequent posts will gradually reveal the whole sordid tale of the battle.

The photo above shows the field of battle from the Nationalist end.  I have found that in outdoor games, no matter how many buildings you have, they soon disappear into the space available.  To get round that issue I decided that roads aside, if a paving stone had a terrain piece, it was assumed to cover the whole stone.  The largest of the stones is 3 feet across.  

After a cold week, the forecast for Der Tag was dry but predictably as soon as I'd laid out the terrain the rain started.  Happily it didn't last - nor did a further shower early in the afternoon.  Some of the players were surprised by how relaxed I was about the precipitation but that's why the toy soldiers get two coats of varnish!

Martin and Simon were the Nationalists, Lloyd, Jerry and Russell the Republicans.

All photos in this series by me unless stated - my thanks to the others for allowing me the use of their camera work.

All players were given the same general briefing:

THERE IS NO FRONT – MADRID IS THE FRONT(1)

 “Here in Madrid is the universal frontier that separates liberty and slavery.  It is here in Madrid that two incompatible civilizations undertake their great struggle: love against hate, peace against war, the fraternity of Christ against the tyranny of the church… This is Madrid.  It is fighting for Spain, for humanity, for justice, and, with the mantle of it’s blood, it shelters all human beings!  Madrid!  Madrid!”(2)

 The liberation of the capital is near.  Madrilenos should keep to their houses which “our noble and disciplined troops will respect.  We shall know the guilty and only upon them will fall the full weight of the law.”(3)

 It is November 1936.  Nationalist forces have advanced to the north-western outskirts of Madrid and are pushing through the University City area.

 The Nationalists must seize and hold as much of the city as possible.  The divided Reds will soon collapse in the face of your professional forces.

 The Republicans must expel the fascists while holding together a united – would it be tempting fate to say ‘popular’ front.

(1)        NKVD representative Orlov, 6 November 1936
(2)        Republican deputy Fernando Valera, Radio Madrid broadcast, 8 November 1936
(3)        General Franco, 4 November 1936

photo by Martin Rapier

Republican Order of Battle (battalion sized units unless stated):
Battalion de Commune de Paris, XV International Brigade
Columna Motorizada, Milicias del POUM (Marxist (anti-Communist) militia)
3^rd Regiment, Lenin Division (POUM Militia)
Columna Durutti (Anarchist militia)
Sección Móvil de Choque (Mobile Shock Section - company-sized militia unit in truck)
Asalto Company
NKVD Detatchment in a closed van
Soviet staff group
Tank Battalion (Russian)
Artillery battery (Russian)
Air Support:  Really?  You want to bomb your own city? No….
Assessment of enemy forces:  A weak brigade.  There are rumours of tanks being present in some numbers.  And of course the famous ‘Fifth Column’ in the city itself….

Republican troops massing for battle - both these photos by Martin Rapier

Nationalist Order of Battle

1 Bandera of Foreign Legion
1 Tabor of Regulares
1 Battalion of Falangists
1 Company of Guardia Civil
1 Tank Company (German)
1 Tankette Company (Italian)
2 Motorised AT battery (German)
Transport to lift 1 battalion
Staff groups with officers and motor cars
Air Support:  1 leaflet raid – turn number and flightpath to be determined before the game.
Assessment of enemy forces: Approximately two brigades, with Russian tanks and artillery.

Guardia Civil and Moroccans - photo by Martin Rapier