Battle of Belchite (1937)
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| Spanish Civil War |
|---|
| Alcázar – Mérida – Badajoz – Sierra Guadalupe – Cape Espartel – Madrid – Corunna Road – Málaga – Jarama – Guadalajara – Guernica – Brunete – Belchite – El Mazuco – Cape Cherchell – Teruel – Cape Palos – Ebro Chronology: 1936 1937 1938-9 |
Prelude
After failed attempt to capture Brunette republican military leadership decieded to try new offensive to slow down nationalist offensive in northern zone and decieded to pull another offensive in Aragon. Decision wasn't only made because of purely military reason but also political cause central government seen that as way to decrease anarchist and POUM influence in the region by bringing in communist troops and incorporating three anarchist division into newly designated Army of the East under command of general Sebastian Pozas. Another objective of the planned offensive was to take Zaragoza, capital of Aragon only few kilometers behind enemy lines. Capturing regional capital offered more than symbolic significanse because it was also the communication center of whole Aragon front. The first year of the war in this part of Spain had emphasized that the possession of key town was of far greater importance than the control of wide areas of open countryside. The Nationalist had only three divisions 51st, 52nd and 105th spread across the 300 kilometers of front, with the majority of their troops concetrated in towns. General Pozas and his chief-of-staff Antonio Cordon set up their headquarters in Bujaraloz. Their plan was to break through at seven different points on the central 100 kilometre strech between Zuera and Belchite. The object of spliting their attacking forces was to divide any Nationalist counter-attack and to offer fewer targets for bombing and stafing shuttles than at Brunette.
Republican offensive
Republican Army of East together with XI and XV international brigade started its offensive with 80,000 men, three squadrons of republican aviation with Polikarpov I-16 (moscas), Polikarpov I-15 (chatos) (90 planes in total) and 105 T-26 tanks in three main and 5 secondary directions on 100 kilometre stretch between Zuera and Belchite. On first two fronts (north and center) republican managed to take only vacant territories. On southern portion of the front republican army took village of Mediana immediately and Quinto was taken on fourth day of offenssive. In village of Codo there were three Carlist companies that tied two republican brigades. Most fierce resistense was encoutered in Belchite where 7,000 nationalist defenders resisted till September 7 in surrounded town when it was taken by republicans. These delays gave time to nationalist to bring reinforcements and full scale offensive to Zaragoza failed.
Nationalist counteroffensive
With five nationalist divisions of which two were retreated from Madrid front, artillery and 65 Fiat CR.32, Heinkel He-46, Savoia Sm-49 and Messerschmitt Bf-109 nationalist counter offensive started on August 30 and ended on September 6. Only nationalist success was shoting down 5 I-15, and nationalist were not able to break republican lines.
Aftermath
Although republicans gained some initial success and managed to push the front line 10km deeper into enemy lines, both main objectives of offensive failed, nationalist didn't postpone their big offensive on north, like they did before during Battle of Brunete and the capture attempt of Saragossa didn't succeed.
References
- Anthony Beevor, The Spanish Civil War,
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