On 6th July 1937, the Popular
Front government launched a major offensive in an attempt to relieve
the threat to Madrid. General Vicente
Rojo sent the
International Brigades to Brunete,
challenging Nationalist control of the western approaches to the capital.
The 80,000 Republican soldiers made good early progress but they were
brought to a halt when General Francisco
Franco brought
up his reserves.
Fighting in hot summer
weather, the Internationals suffered heavy losses. Three hundred were
captured and they were later found dead with their legs cut off. In
retaliation, Valentin González
(El Campesino), executed an entire Moroccan battalion of some 400
men. All told, the Republic lost 25,000 men and the Nationalists 17,000.
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