Spain, 1936. Nationalist (Insurgent) forces attack Madrid University with the intention of breaking through to the city itself. Republican (Loyalist) units move to occupy the formidable university buildings and save Madrid from capture. This scenario seeks to capture the spirit of the first day of fighting. The battle was fought by the Gourmet Wargaming Club at Richmond Game Central with 20mm figures, using our homebrew Hail of Lead rule set. Click here to download a PDF containing the order of battle and scenario rules.

The battle opens with units converging on the campus from all directions. (Units are represented by flocked rectangles until they are spotted and identified by the enemy.) The ground slopes gently downhill from west (right) to east.	A Nationalist tank company of Panzer I's emerges from the Park of the West (south of campus) and runs into a group of Anarchist "tiznaos" (homemade armored trucks). A Carlist (conservative Catholic) militia company is spotted in the woods--how could you miss those jaunty red berets?	The rest of the Anarchist militia--the famous Durutti Column (please ignore the name on the flag)--enter from the east. The red markers show they have taken casualties from Carlist machine-gun fire. An attached 75mm artillery battery sits in an overwatch stance on the hill, above.	Concentrated small arms fire puts an end to the ride of the tiznaos.	More Carlist militia are seen moving to occupy the Institute of Hygiene (left) and the Asylum of Santa Cristina.
The gang in action.	A Moroccan tabor (small battalion) takes positions in cover at the north end of campus. Note the 75mm field gun in position.	Near the Moors, the famous "Thaelmann" Battalion of the International Brigades enters from the northwest. This German unit shows off its heavy weapons.	The battle for the Clinical Hospital starts with the Carlists attacking the Durruti Column in flank. Note the 2 wrecked Panzer I's, who tended to attract a lot of fire when they sallied into view.	Quiet plotting on the sidelines begins as both sides identify their enemies.
Heavy armor! Well, okay, they're only Soviet-built T-26 tanks with 45mm cannon, but they're the heaviest armor to be found in Spain in 1936. A company of German Internationals from the Thaelmann Battalion assaults the Moors, but are soon driven back.	The Thaelmanns make a bee-line for the Hall of Chemistry, but are stopped cold by a dismounted Moroccan cavalry squadron that beat them to it.	The "Commune de Paris" International Battalion enters with a platoon's worth of French CA-1 tanks of WWI vintage. Simultaneously, a platoon of Panzer I's races out to try to overrun the field gun battery. The timing is not good, and the panzer soon redeploys rearward.	Anarchists and Carlists fight tooth-and-nail for the Clinical Hospital. The Carlists have the edge in training, but neither party is short of élan.	The Hall of Pharmacy is quickly occupied by a company of Assault Guard (Asaltos) for the Republicans. Nationalist infantry are ordered forward in the face of intense and accurate rifle and machine-gun fire. They will not make headway. Note the Bilbao armored car guarding the rear of the Asaltos.
Suddenly, a Nationalist tank company with Italian CV3/33 tankettes races out of cover and into the flank of the Commune de Paris Battalion. If only these had been tanks rather than tankettes. They have little offensive power.	The men accompanying the tankettes are Moroccan Regulares--this time in turbans instead of the red fez. Things are looking grim for Durruti's men.	A fresh battalion of PCE (Communist) militia occupies the Hall of Physics, right under the noses of the Moors in the Hall of Chemistry.	Scattered remnants of Nationalist infantry watch their comrades vainly attempt the storming of the Hall of Pharmacy. The Asaltos repelled them with the ease of veterans.	Combined fire from the tanks and infantry of the Commune de Paris Battalion has driven off the Italian tankettes.
It's a good thing those cavalry are dismounted inside an imposing university edifice, or the T-26's would eat them alive. Note the company of Spanish Foreign Legion veterans that have slipped in behind the Moors. The Hall of Chemistry will not be changing hands.	Falange (Phalanx) Fascist militia in their natty blue uniforms cautiously approach the Asaltos.	An overview of the action past the half-way mark in the game. Most buildings have been occupied by one side or the other, and it appears that the Nationalists (to the west, or left side) have the advantage.	The Moors in the north push forward and attempt to shatter the will of the Thaelmann Battalion.	Both sides settle into a useless slugfest in the adjacent Halls of Chemistry and Physics. The T-26 tanks can only do so much against the Moors and Legionaires in hard cover. The tanks cannot enter the buildings--and would be loath to do so even if they could.
Machine-gun platoons of the Foreign Legion occupying the Hall of Philosophy and Letters keep up a steady fire on the Communists in the Hall of Physics.	The broken Nationalist regulars have reformed under cover of their machine-guns and field guns. They have effectively shot their wad this day.	Catalan Socialist militia join the Asaltos in the defense of the Hall of Pharmacy. Nationalist infantry and Falangists have been successfully driven off.	Remnants of Nationalist armor skulk near the Asylum of Santa Cristina (bottom right). Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) occupy the Hall of Dentistry, and pour deadly fire into any Frenchmen or Catalans who get too close. Brave Republicans assault the surviving Panzer I.	After their failed assault, the Falangists rush back to take cover in the Hall of Agronomy. The Asaltos and their allies are too much for green militia.
Total carnage at the Clinical Hospital. The Durruti Column has been destroyed by the Carlists, who have taken a quite a few casualties themselves. Is there a doctor in the house?!	Chalk up a win for the Nationalist cause. This day they took the most buildings, but soon University City will become an a maze of trenches and strongpoints that will defy any offensive. Madrid will remain in Republican hands till the end of the civil war.	But enough of my yakking. A picture says a thousand words, don't you think?	Had to save the best for last. Chocolatey civil-war goodness!