A total Republican Victory at Brunete

As you can see, the Brunete offensive in July 1937 almost reached the 'Nacional' base camp near Madrid. However, a later counter-attack in which the Condor Legion played a major part was able to drive the Republicans back, leaving them with minimal gains.

Battle_of_Brunete.png


I think this POD could be useful in a TL where there is a SCW more or less like the one of OTL but with none or less German support. This, combined witha bit more of luck in the part of the Republicans, could let them smash the rebel lines near Madrid and lift the siege around the capital.

The result, aside of eliminating the direct menace over Madrid would be a massive moral boost for the Republicans and might lead to a complete change of the rebel plans. If I'm not wrong by this time the "facciosos" are just penetrating into the Basque Country so there could be some divisions moved from the Northern Front to the south, in order to prepare a new offensive against Madrid. Meanwhile, the Cantabrian coastline is partially relieved and might prolongue its agony longer, perhaps even to 1938.

The question is obvious: How much does this change the whole development of the SCW, and how much does it have an influence in the road to WW2?
 
Hmm... could they then have relieved (what looks like) the creeping encirclement of Madrid, by coming in behind the Nationalists from the West? Or was that sort of maneuver beyond the Republican forces at this point?
 
A republican victory in Brunete could have meant a lot.
Most important, the perception abroad that the Republic can win. If the french open the border to war supplies, the republican army would be in much better shape in the months to come. If the french actually send arms to Madrid, then the situation is much more different from OTL.
In OTL, as a result of Brunete and the diversion of Franco's troops, the Basque country got some extra weeks. In TTL it could last on the republican side until the end.
The republicans had more men and much better tanks (soviet T-26) in Brunete. Their air force was substantial, too, but proved inferior to the german planes. But what really failed was coordination and the lack of professional officers on the ground, specially coordination between tanks and following infantry. Courage is no substitute to tactical skills.
 
Hmm... could they then have relieved (what looks like) the creeping encirclement of Madrid, by coming in behind the Nationalists from the West? Or was that sort of maneuver beyond the Republican forces at this point?

Well, that's exactly what I'm pointing out. That the offensive succeeds, and the Reps reach Fuenlabrada and save Madrid as a result.
 
Tocomocho said:
I think this POD could be useful in a TL where there is a SCW more or less like the one of OTL but with none or less German support.

Removing German intervention butterflies away pretty much all of the OTL campaign in my opinion. Without German aircraft, the Army of Africa (the only half-decent unit in the Spanish Army) isn't going to make it across the straits of Gibraltar as quickly (if at all), which gives the Republicans more time to organise their defences before the initial advance on Madrid in 1936.
 
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