From February 3 to 8, 1937, combined Nationalist, Italian, and German forces captured the city of Málaga in Andalusia after a brief but brutal campaign that resulted in the complete rout of Republican forces. The battle involved the use of Italian tanks, German naval support, and Moroccan regulars, who overwhelmed the poorly organized Republican defenders. The fall of Málaga was followed by a massacre of Republican supporters, with thousands fleeing along the coast to Almería under constant aerial bombardment in what became known as the 'Desbandá' (the rout).

The fall of Málaga inspired the poetry of the 'Desbandá,' with writers chronicling the desperate flight of civilians along the coast. The massacre also featured in the anti-fascist poetry of international volunteers, who saw Málaga as another example of Nationalist brutality. The event underscored the growing involvement of Italian and German forces in the war, a theme that dominated the poetry of the International Brigades.