Battle of Guadarrama
The Battle of Guadarrama was a battle involving troops loyal to the Second Spanish Republic in the Guadarrama Range at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.History
On 18 July 1936, at the time of the coup of the pro-Fascist generals, rebel General Emilio Mola developed a plan to take Madrid by storm sending troops from Navarra at great speed across the Somosierra Pass.
The battle took place on 24 July when the rebel troops formed by Carlist and Falangist units, the former led by Colonel Ricardo Rada, reached the area and occupied the village of Braojos and the Villavieja railway station. But towards the heights of the range they were fought back by loyalist troops commanded by Captain Francisco Galán.
After fierce battles, the Republican troops, which included different militias, as well as the newly formed Fifth Regiment, were finally successful in repelling the attempted invasion of the capital.
