I am interested in two shipments of weapons and military equipment from Polish sources to Spanish Republican territory and would like to know where they were landed.
The first was in the Azteca in September 1936 and the second in the Silvia in October 1936.
Can anyone help?
Polish arms shipments
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Ironmachine
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Re: Polish arms shipments
The Azteca docked in Santander. The Silvia (or Sylvia, sources differ on the spelling of the name) was on her way to Cartagena when on 18 October she was captured by the gunship Cánovas del Castillo near Ceuta.
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Spearfish
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Re: Polish arms shipments
Ironmachine, once again very many thanks for the prompt response. I had always assumed the Sylvia had reached a Republican port.
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Ironmachine
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- Joined: 07 Jul 2005 10:50
- Location: Spain
Re: Polish arms shipments
No, the Sylvia never reached Republican territory. As a matter of fact, the 4,541 Chauchat light machine-guns she carried were a blessing for the rebels, as they were was a severe lack of automatic weapons.
The whole Sylvia affair is rather murky. Did you know that, together with the weapons bought by the Republicans, she also carried a cargo of weapons for the Nationals? The ship had been chartered by both sides simultaneously!
The whole Sylvia affair is rather murky. Did you know that, together with the weapons bought by the Republicans, she also carried a cargo of weapons for the Nationals? The ship had been chartered by both sides simultaneously!