The Kert campaign (Spanish: campaña del Kert) was a conflict in northern Morocco between Spain and insurgent Riffian harkas led by Mohammed Ameziane, who had called for a jihad against the Spanish occupation in the eastern Rif. It took place between 1911 and 1912.
Kert Campaign | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Spanish-Moroccan conflicts and Scramble for Africa | |||||||||
![]() Spanish camp near the Kert River in October 1911. | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Belligerents | |||||||||
![]() |
![]() | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() | ||||||||
Units involved | |||||||||
Spanish Army Regulares | Riffian harkas | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
500 killed 1,900 wounded | Unknown |
History
editThe campaign saw the introduction of the tropas regulares indígenas ("native regular troops"), created by Dámaso Berenguer on 30 June 1911.
The campaign followed a revolt initiated by Mohammed Ameziane, caïd of Segangan, who had called for a jihad and had attacked both Spanish and tribes friendly to them.[1][2] After an attack on a group of Spanish military personnel undertaking topographic works at a position near Ishafen (near the river Kert) the Spanish campaign formally started on 24 August.[3] A Spanish column had been however already shot on 30 June.[4]
Following a visit to Melilla, Spanish War Minister Agustín Luque took control of the operations on 7 October, and the struggles brought numerous losses to both sides, 64 death and 204 wounded on the Spanish side.[5] On 14 October 1911 General Salvador Díaz Ordóñez was killed in action and a column commanded by General Navarro had 33 deaths and 105 wounded.[5]
The Spanish forces took the position of Al Aaroui (Monte Arruit) on 18 January 1912.[6]
The Spanish ended the campaign following the killing of Ameziane by native regulares on 15 May 1912.[1][7] The Spanish losses by that time amounted to about 500 killed and 1,900 wounded.[8] The Spanish control line was extended to the Kert River and the new boundaries for the Spanish-occupied territory entailed the annexation of the Berber cabiles of Ait Sidel and Ait Bu-Gafar.[9]
See also
editCitations and references
editCitations
edit- ^ a b León Rojas (2018), p. 52.
- ^ Requejo Gómez (2017).
- ^ Ramos Oliver (2013), p. 176.
- ^ Gajate Bajo (2012), p. 267.
- ^ a b Barrio Jala (2002), p. 45.
- ^ Barrio Jala (2002), p. 46.
- ^ Macías Fernández (2013), p. 61.
- ^ Gajate Bajo (2012), p. 268.
- ^ Martínez Antonio (2006), p. 224.
References
edit- Barrio Jala, Manuel del (2002). "Nuestros Generales en el Norte de África" (PDF). Ejército. LXIII (732). Madrid: Ministry of Defence: 41���51. ISSN 0013-2918.
- Gajate Bajo, María (2012), Las campañas de Marrueco y la opinión pública. El ejemplo de Salamanca y su prensa (1906-1927) (PDF), Madrid: Instituto Universitario General Gutiérrez Mellado, ISBN 978-84-615-9842-7
- León Rojas, José (2018). "Tarifa y las Campañas de Marruecos (1909-1927)". Aljaranda. 1 (92). Tarifa: Ayuntamiento de Tarifa. ISSN 1130-7986.
- Macías Fernández, Daniel (2013). "Las campañas de Marruecos (1909-1927)". Revista Universitaria de Historia Militar. 2 (3).
- Martínez Antonio, Francisco Javier (2006). "Tangerian Ghosts and Riffian Realities: The Limits of Colonial Public Health in Spanish Morocco (1906–1921)". In Nelson, M.C. (ed.). Occupational Health and Public Health: Lessons from the Past, Challenges for the Future (PDF). Sweden: National Institute for Working Life. pp. 180–250. ISBN 91-7045-810-3. ISSN 0346-7821.
- Ramos Oliver, Francisco (2013). "Las guerras de Marruecos" (PDF). Entemu. Gijón: UNED Centro Asociado de Asturias: 165–185. ISBN 978-84-88642-16-5. ISSN 1130-314X. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-08-27.
- Requejo Gómez, José Antonio (2017). Los Regulares en la Guerra de África. Valencia: Real Acadèmia de Cultura Valenciana.