Battle of Albacete (1941) (World of Sultans)

The Battle of Albacate (Spanish: Batalla de Albacate) also known as the Battle of Al-Basit (Arabic: معركة الباسط) was a Spanish assault against important Andalusian military bases, that resulted in the encirclement of Andalusian troops within the vicinity of and in the city of Al-Basit or also known by its Spanish name Albacate.

The encirclement was one of the largest encirclements in Andalusian military history, and considered one of the Andalusian military's most humiliating loss up to date. It was part of the Spanish Operation Ferdinand and ran from August 7, 1941 to October 3, 1941. In Andalusian miltiary history, it was known as the Northern Strategic Defenisve Operation.

The city of Al-Basit contained some of Andalusia's most important military bases, as well as the forts where Andalusian military recruits were being trained. In addition, it is where many engineer corps of the Royal Andalusian Forces worked to invent and produce military technology for the Royal Andalusian Forces. It also contained many headquarters and bases of the Royal Army Scouts, responsible for giving the other branches of the military information and intel.

After defeating pockets of Andalusian soldiers around the city of Al-Basit, the Spaniards decided to go for a final push to northern Andalusia's "military city". General Antonio Cordón García decided to destroy the heart of the Andalusian military, by carrying out vicious lighting bull attacks against Andalusian barracks and firing ranges where unprepared soldiers slept and trained.

Due to the surprise and shock caused by the attack, General Abdullah al-Fasi ordered suicidal charges against the Spaniards, done by Andalusian soldiers without weapons, or in worst case scenarios, even those in sleeping attire due to the lack of time to get up and prepare.

The entire Al-Basit Battalion was essentially obliterated. At the end of the battle, approximately 10,329 Andalusian troops, including 104 officers, surrendered to the Spaniards and were captured as POWs. Another 10,344 Andalusian soldiers died in the battle, with an additional 9,420 injured.

The loss had initially destroyed half of the Northern Command of the Royal Andalusian Forces, since Al-Basit was the main and most important stronghold of the Northern Command. After losing Al-Basit, Sultan Omar II ordered the Northern Command's main center to be switched to Toledo, another very important city to the command.

After defeating the Andalusians, the Spaniards renamed Al-Basit to the Spanish trasnliteration Albacate, and planned to transform it into a Spanish military stronghold. In addition, a General Antonio Cordón García planned to build a palace and a church in the city sometime in the future, to symbolize the Spanish victory, not only in the city but in all of Al-Andalus as well. However, with the latter Andalusian victory and eventual decisive re-taking of the city, it never happened and the Andalusian troops destroyed the foundations to the palace and the church, leaving no remnants.