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Origin
The Rif War was a confrontation caused by the uprising of the Rif tribes, a mountainous region in northern Morocco.
It all started with The Landing of Larache, initiated with the French occupation of Fez and a few weeks later the Spanish occupation of the Moroccan city of Larache by a Spanish marine infantry force. -
First fights I
The Spanish troops, in the process of colonizing the northern part of Morocco, encounter several pockets of resistance. There are pockets of resistance, especially in Yebala led by Ahmed al-Raisuni. -
First combats II (General Fernández Silvestre)
By Royal Decree this date is named Manuel Fernández Silvestre
as a division general for the command of the General Command of Melilla, who manages to beat the pockets of resistance and reach Annual later. Silvestre was obsessed with the conquest of the Bay of Alhucemas. -
First combats (Forts on the way to tetouan)
Having few troops to ensure control of the area and also the supply lines, about four hundred small forts or blockhouses are built that cover the road to Tetouan, through the upper valley of the Martín River and towards the sea through the valley. of the Lau. -
Annual campaign (New foci of rebellion arise)
As soon as the Raisuni rebellion had been liquidated through negotiations, new foci of rebellion rose up against the colonial troops by the tribes of the central Rif commanded by Abd el-Krim. -
Annual Disaster.
On June 1, 1921 Silvestre ordered to occupy the position of Monte Abarrán. The occupation of this strategic position does not last long because the native Moroccan troops of the Spanish army desert and join the Moroccan guerrillas.
After different incidents of attacks by the Rif people, the order for the Spanish withdrawal is given but they are pursued by the Rif people and the thirteen thousand soldiers of Annual and General Fernández Silvestre are massacred in the road to Melilla. -
Republic of the Rif
The total, absolute, unmitigated failure of the Spanish army is for the Rif people the victory of Annual, which gives rise to the beginning of independence in the form of a republic: the Republic of the Rif. -
Recovery of territory
Abd el-Krim's army cornered the Spanish troops more and more, but a harsh counteroffensive began from Melilla that allowed part of the lost territory to be recovered, the Dar Drius line was recovered, on the river Kert, Nador, Zeluán and Monte Arruit . -
Primo de Rivera
Captain General Miguel Primo de Rivera rebels against his command and against the government, with the backing of the king, he seizes power through an uprising, implanting a dictatorship whose main objectives were to end the war in Africa. -
The landing of Alhucemas
The Alhucemas landing was a military landing carried out in Alhucemas by the Spanish Army and Navy and a French allied contingent, which would lead to the definitive Allied victory, and the end of the Rif War.
The landing consisted of 13,000 Spanish soldiers transported from Ceuta and Melilla, commanded by General Miguel Primo de Rivera, landing on the beaches of the Bay of Alhucemas and this provided the definitive Allied victory, and the end of the Rif War. -
Consequences III
However, this crisis was one of many that
there was in the monarchy of Alfonso XIII and that at the turn of a decade would cause his fall. -
Consequences I
The war in Morocco caused major conflicts in society. There was an idea "the children of the poor were sent to die in Morocco" because they were allowed to do a reduced military service and in the regiment of their choice in exchange for a payment of money. -
Consequences II
The Annual disaster had important consequences. The Minister of War ordered the creation of an investigation commission, directed by General Juan Picasso. He prepared the report known as the Picasso File, in which multiple military errors were pointed out, but he did not get to the bottom of the political responsibilities and even of the king himself.