the professional troops of the spanish army of africa had started their drive to madrid in august 1936. equipped with modern weapons they had received from germany and italy (ju 52 and savoia sm-81 planes, and italian tankettes), the nationalist troops, had defeated the government militias in the battles of mérida, badajoz, sierra de guadalupe and talavera de la reina, and had occupied toledo on september 27, 1936. in late october 1936 the nationalists took several towns near madrid (torrejon de velasco, seseña, torrejón de la calzada and griñon), breaking the first defensive line of madrid.