The Guadalajara campaign ended in late March, 1937, with a defeat for the Italian army in Spain. Both sides were exhausted. But imagine that Loyalist forces pulled their resources together and launched a counter-attack towards Guadalajara itself. We present photos of our foray into alternate history. The battle was fought by the Gourmet Wargaming Club with 20mm figures, using the Hail of Lead homebrew rule set. Click here to download a PDF containing the order of battle.

Our battlefield lies just to the west of the town of Alcalá de Henares. The Rio Henares (larger river, at bottom) divides the rough, hilly country (bottom) from the open, undulating areas to the north. Lines of gravel represent crest lines that block line of sight.	The vanguard of each side meets at the conjunction of the Rio Henares and its tributary, the Rio Torote.	Italian motorized forces--tankettes, Bersaglieri motorcyclists, and a 47mm antitank gun--come under Republican artillery fire.	Part of Pavlov's armored brigade is at the point of the Republican attack.	Infantry of the International Brigades take up positions behind crestlines.
The battle on the Republican left flank begins with machine-gun fire against cavalry. Not very sporting, but c'est la guerre.	Nationalist infantry move up to pin down the Republican left.	The first aircraft of the day is a Nationalist CR-32 on combat air patrol mission.	Republican troops overwatch the central bowl-shaped area in the middle of the battlefield. Note the unlimbered horse-drawn 75mm field guns.	An Italian infantry gun company moves up to the crestline to discover that enemy tanks and artillery can see their movement. Scratch one company.
A canny Italian Lancia LZ armored car keeps out of sight as the enemy sallies into "the bowl."	Carlist militia makes its appearance on the Republican left flank.	The battle viewed from the Republican left. Most of the Loyalist units are hidden, represented by numbered markers (bottom). Two fighter aircraft dogfight above the field: a CR-32 versus an I-16. While they dueled, a bomber aircraft from each side prowled for targets.	Our patented method for choosing the target point for an air mission: drop a square piece of paper from a height of one meter; where the square lands is the target point.	A flight of Nationalist He 70 bombers finds the Red artillery park, and manages to wipe out a battery.
...While a flight of Republican R-5 bombers drops its load on Italian troops. The actual damage was negligible; it was the morale effect of being attacked that really hurt the Italian troops.	Surviving Insurgent cavalry move up to scout the enemy left flank.	International brigade infantry advance to take on the enemy tankettes.	Italian infantry appear, armed to the teeth with medium machine-guns and 45mm mortars.	Internationals advance!
Italian tankettes opposite an asalto unit (top) in snazzy blue uniforms.	"The bowl" has become the home for Loyalist armor. But its rim is ringed by Italian infantry.	Carlists (far left) attack the Republican left flank across open ground.	Part of a Falange militia battalion enters the battle.	The action at the center of the battle. This view is from behind the Italian lines. Note the new air attack from another group of R-5 biplane bombers. The red markers indicate losses and fear of tanks and aircraft. Most units pictured have bad morale from fear.
A Republican SB-2 bomber causes more anxiety among the Italians.	The Republican players sit opposite.	Nationalist and Italian players curse the enemy control of the air.	The birthday boy acts as assistant referee.	Nationalist infantry find themselves face to face with a very belligerent BA-6 armored car. At these odds--heavily in the infantry's favor--the vehicle will not be around long.
A spirited Nationalist attack--complete with supporting Panzer I tank--hits Anarchist infantry on a crestline.	Carlists loom in the background as Red troops come under artillery fire.	Loyalist troops continue their close-order battle with the tankettes, watched by the asaltos in blue.	A line of khaki-clad Italians hold the center firm.	Italians overwatching "the bowl" come under the scrutiny of the T-26 tanks. They are difficult to budge; the firepower of the T-26 is not great against infantry targets, and the Italians pass their morale rolls.
A venerable Potez 540 bomber of French origin makes a bombing pass for the Republicans. This hurts Italian morale further.	The battlefield as seen from the south. The battle ended with both sides exhausted and largely wrecked up in the north. In the south, the Italian infantry were intact but shaken; they would have likely faced a renewal of the enemy attack with a couple of tank platoons in support. Thus, the battle was called a draw in spite of the Nationalist success in halting the enemy drive.