Battle of Gandesa
{{About|the first battle of Gandesa of the Spanish Civil War|the second battle|Siege of Gandesa (1938)}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Battle of Gandesa
|image=
|caption=
|partof=the Spanish Civil War
|date=1–3 April 1938
|place=Gandesa, Catalonia, Spain
|result=Nationalist victory
|combatant1={{flagicon image|Flag of Spain 1931 1939.svg}}Spanish Republic
22px International Brigades
|combatant2={{flag|Nationalist Spain|1938}}
{{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} Corpo Truppe Volontarie
Aviazione Legionaria
{{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Condor Legion
|commander1=
|commander2=
|strength1=XV International Brigade
|strength2=
|casualties1= 140 prisoners
|casualties2=}}
{{Campaignbox Spanish Civil War}}
The Battle of Gandesa took place in April 1938 during the Spanish Civil War.
Background
After the fall of Caspe, the Nationalists troops continued their advance towards Catalonia with the support of the Legion Condor and the Aviazione Legionaria. By the end of February the nationalists had reached the outskirts of Gandesa. The XV International Brigade had been retreating since the Aragón Offensive began, and the republican lines collapsed.Salas Larrazabal, Ramón (2006); Historia del Ejército Popular de la República, La Esfera de los Libros, Madrid; {{ISBN|84-9734-465-0}}.Hugh Thomas (1976); p. 859 (Spanish edition).
The battle followed the decision of the XV International Brigade to dig in and hold the town of Gandesa in an effort to slow down the Francoist troops, which had been advancing steadily since the beginning of the offensive.Hugh Thomas (1976); p. 871 (Spanish edition)
=Battle=
The town of Gandesa was held by the XV International Brigade. The Nationalists attacked with troops of Mario Berti's CTV and Monasterio's Army Corps. Despite the prowess of the British troops, Gandesa fell on 3 April and 140 British and American members of the International Brigades were captured.Hugh Thomas (1976); p. 862 (Spanish edition). However, the resistance of the XV Brigade allowed the Republican troops to regroup and to withdraw some material across the Ebro River.Thomas, Hugh. (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.781
Cultural references
This battle is mentioned in the song Jamie Foyers, where the fictional hero is killed.
See also
References
{{Coord|41|3|N|0|26|E|display=title|type:mountain_region:IB}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gandesa 1938, Battle of}}
Category:Battles of the Spanish Civil War
Category:Spanish Civil War in Catalonia
{{SpanishCivilWar-battle-stub}}