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The "War in the North" began in mid-March, with the [[Biscay Campaign]]. The Basques suffered most from the lack of a suitable air force.{{sfn|Beevor|2006|pp=223–229}} On 26 April, the Condor Legion bombed the town of [[Guernica]], killing 200–300 and causing significant damage. The destruction had a significant effect on international opinion. The Basques retreated.{{sfn|Beevor|2006|pp=231–233}}
April and May saw the [[May Days]], infighting among Republican groups in Catalonia. The dispute was between an ultimately victorious government—Communist forces and the anarchist CNT. The disturbance pleased Nationalist command, but little was done to exploit Republican divisions.{{sfn|Beevor|2006|pp=263–273}} After the fall of Guernica, the Republican government began to fight back with increasing effectiveness. In July, it made a [[Segovia Offensive|move to recapture]] [[Segovia]], forcing Franco to delay his advance on the Bilbao front, but for only two weeks.
Mola, Franco's second-in-command, was killed on 3 June, in an airplane accident.{{sfn|Beevor|2006|p=235}} In early July, despite the earlier loss at the [[Battle of Bilbao]], the government launched a strong counter-offensive to the west of Madrid, focusing on [[Brunete]]. The [[Battle of Brunete]], however, was a significant defeat for the Republic, which lost many of its most accomplished troops. The offensive led to an advance of {{convert|50|km2|mi2}}, and left 25,000 Republican casualties.{{sfn|Beevor|2006|pp=277–284}}
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