The area was the scene of fierce fighting during the
Spanish Civil War -especially in November 1936, during the
Battle of Madrid, when Nationalist troops tried to fight their way into the area. Unaccustomed to street fighting, they took heavy casualties. For the remainder of the
Siege of Madrid, the front lines ran through the streets of Carabanchel, until Republican Madrid fell in March 1939. It was home of Spain's most notorious prison (
Carabanchel Prison), which housed many
political prisoners during the
Franco era. The prison was closed in 1998. Carabanchel is among the most diverse neighborhoods in the country, with a large population of
immigrants, mostly from
North Africa but also some from
South America and
Eastern Europe, as well as native-born Spaniards. The
Gómez Ulla Military Hospital, formerly known as
Hospital de Carabanchel, is located in the area. == Sports ==