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Period: to
Background to the Rif War and Origin
France and Spain received permission to establish a protectorate in Morocco, while Germany received other territories in Africa,although they disagreed with the Final Resolution.In 1909, the Rif attacked Spanish miners at the iron mines of the Rif,their territory.This prompted the Spanish army to go to Morocco,to establish peace in the violent territories, such as Yebala and Larrache,a process that lasted from 1911-1919.In 1912,after the Treaty of Fez,Morocco was protected by Spain and France. -
Larache landing (first years of war)
In June 1911, Spanish troops led an operation to capture the town of Larache, in Morocco. This event marked the beginning of the Rif War, although conflict with the Moroccans had begun several years before Larache landed. -
Treaty of Fez
In 1912, France and Morocco signed the Treaty of Fez, making the African country a protectorate of France. Spain, eager to recover from the loss of their last colonies in the Americas and Asia, received a small territory in the north of the country, including the Rif mountains. In addition, Spain hosts southern Morocco. -
Abd el Krims
Spain was frustrated with the number of uprisings happening on their territory. Because of this, the government asked Dámaso Berenguer (high commissioner) to try to bring many of the protectorate's territories under Spanish control.
In the same year, Abd el Krims, an important family of Beni Urriaguel who had always helped Spain and the Melilla government, discovered the Spanish army's plan to occupy and dominate their group. . Their friendly relationship ended. -
Mohammed Abd al-Krim
After the death of his father (Abd al Karim El Khattabi) in 1920, the head and organizing body, Mohammed Abd al Krims, along with his brother and other family members, began to lobby his party and neighbors. themselves against the Spanish advance. -
Annual Disaster
In 1921, Abd el Krim's forces staged a revolution with a series of guerrilla raids in the region Annually. They are pushing the Spanish forces back to Melilla. Unfortunately for Spain, they suffered a great disaster and lost most of their territory and had a lot of deaths. In the end, the Spaniards had to retreat. -
The aftermath of the annual disaster
The aftermath of the annual disaster was a political crisis that erupted after the Picasso Dossier. As well as a military crisis that led to Berenguer's removal as high commissioner, and ultimately the ascension of Primo de Rivera in 1923, as it was assumed he would end the situation. -
Alhucemas' Landing
The Alhucemas landings were the first step to victory for Spain. It was an operation that took place in Alhucemas by the Spanish army and the Algonia navy along with its French allies. It consisted of sending about 13,000 soldiers transported from Ceuta and Melilla by a combined Spanish-French naval fleet, and there they would fight. The operation was successful. -
End of the Rif War (Surrender of Abd-el-Krim)
After the Battle of Uarga and the landings of Alhomecas, the territory was pacified and in July 1927, the leader of the Rif rebels, AbdelKrim, was forced to surrender. -
Consequences
In Spain, the Rif War was very serious. Most of the soldiers who went there were young men doing mandatory military service, and many wealthy families paid the government to keep their sons out. This makes the difference between rich and poor families even more obvious. -
Consequences
Also was the dissolution of the Rif Republic and the re-establishment of Franco-Spanish colonial rule. The deaths of about 25,000 Spanish soldiers, 27,000 French and about 30,000 Rifois. Furthermore, part of Spanish society was annoyed and did not understand the need for such a war, the society was divided.