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Elite 257
Spain had occupied parts of northern Morocco for centuries before this conflict broke out – Ceuta in the west and Mellila in the east – and indeed still holds both of those enclaves. However from 1912 until 1956 the Spanish also held a protectorate over the coastal area between Ceuta and Mellila. This was effectively given to them by the French, after France gained control of the Sultan of Morocco. However just being given this area didn’t actually give the Spanish control of it. The narrative part of the book thus starts with a look at Spanish efforts to expand the area they controlled, which came to a crashing end when they suffered a heavy defeat at Annual in 1921.
This led to the rise of the Republic of the Rif, led by Abd el Krim, which controlled the ‘Spanish’ part of the Rif Mountains for several years. The detailed part of the narrative looks at the Annual campaign, its aftermath, the brief period in which Abd el Krim was the effective rule of an independent state, and the step which led to his defeat. In 1925 he decided to attack into French Morocco, bringing a far more effective military into the fray. Although the initial French response wasn’t brilliant, in the summer of 1925 Petain took command. He had the political power to ensure he got the reinforcements he needed, and the well equipped French defeated Abd el Krim by May 1926.
This book combines a good narrative of this long running conflict with an overview of the three armed forces involved in the conflict. It is supported by a good selection of contemporary photographs, showing that war involved many of the techniques and technologies that came to the front during the First World War, including tanks and aircraft, while the rebels were fairly well equipped themselves, having captured a great deal of Spanish equipment.
Chapters
Historical Background
Spanish Forces, 1909-21
Operations, 1909-21
Annual, 1921
Aftermath, 1921-24
Abd el Krim’s Zenith, 1924-25
Abd el Krim’s Gamble, April 1925
Enter Petain, July-August 1925
Coordinated Operations, September-October 1925
The Final Offensive, May 1926
Author: Philip Jowett & Martin Windrow
Edition: Paperback
Pages:
Publisher: Osprey
Year: