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What happened when Spanish forces withdrew from western Morocco in 1924?
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Rif War
Spanish artillery firing outside Melilla during the Rif War.
In September 1924, the Spanish government, led by dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera, ordered the evacuation of thousands of troops from hundreds of isolated positions in the western part of the protectorate to a fortified line located 6 miles (10 km) south of Tetuán.1
This strategic withdrawal had several significant consequences:
- Military and Political Discontent: The evacuation resulted in at least 2,000 Spanish soldiers being killed or reported missing. The decision caused deep resentment among the upper ranks of the colonial army, particularly among the so-called Africanista officers, including Francisco Franco, who was then commander of the Spanish Foreign Legion.1
- Expansion of the Rif Republic: Abd el-Krim and his forces moved rapidly to occupy the territory and power vacuum left by the retreating Spanish army. By early 1925, Abd el-Krim controlled approximately three-fourths of the protectorate, reaching the height of his power.12
- Reflecting War Weariness: The retreat underscored a growing sense of war weariness among the Spanish public and a realization that the conflict was placing an unsustainable burden on the national treasury.1