145th Mixed Brigade

145th Mixed Brigade 145.ª Brigada Mixta May 1937 January 1939 Spanish Republic Spain Spanish Republic Republican faction 18px Spanish Republican Army Infantry Brigade Spanish Civil War: Zaragoza Offensive Aragon Offensive Battle of the Ebro Catalonia Offensive The 145th Mixed Brigade was a unit of the Spanish Republican Army created during the Spanish Civil War. Throughout the war, it operated on the Aragon, Segre and Catalonia fronts, although it did not play a relevant role. History The unit was created in Girona between May and June 1937, from troops from the old Mountain battalions. After completing the training period, the 145th Mixed Brigade was assigned to the 44th Division of the XII Army Corps and under the command of the militia major Álvaro Costea Juan, with Antonio Rodés Ballester as political commissar. Engel 1999 125 The brigade, located in the Híjar-Albalate del Arzobispo area, was deployed as a reserve force during the Zaragoza Offensive. Engel 1999 125 In the spring of 1938, during the Aragon Offensive, it did not play a prominent role. According to some authors, the brigade was briefly added to the so-called Autonomous Group of the Ebro. Engel 1999 180 Martínez Bande 1975 85 n. At the end of May, the 145th Mixed Brigade took part in the assault on the nationalist bridgehead of Serós. Martínez Bande 1978 30 In August it was one of the units selected to participate in the Vilanova de la Barca offensive. Martínez Bande 1978 275-276 On 9 August three of their companies crossed the Segre river through the Vilanova de la Barca area, together with other forces, managing to form a bridgehead in nationalist territory; the attempt, however, failed since this bridgehead only held out for three days. Engel 1999 126 Later it intervened in the Battle of the Ebro, in support of the republican forces deployed there. On 9 September it relieved members of the 16th Division in the Vilalba dels Arcs-La Pobla de Masaluca sector, a zone that it garrisoned until the beginning of October, when it was replaced and sent to the Coll del Coso sector. In this area, between La Fatarella and Venta de Camposines, the 145th Mixed brigade faced several nationalist attacks between 8 and 20 October; the brigade suffered a considerable number of casualties, also losing several strategic positions. On 12 November it had to cross the Ebro River by a footbridge north of Ascó. Engel 1999 126 During the Catalonia Offensive it participated in the defense of Juncosa Where it was sent by the Republican command to support the defense, together with the 144th Mixed Brigade. Martínez Bande 1979 108 n. and Santa Coloma de Queralt, Engel 1999 126 without having more news of its performance. Command Commanders Infantry Captain Fernando Olivenza Rodríguez; Militia Major Álvaro Costea Juan; Maldonado 2007 241 Militia Major Pedro Guardia Hernández; Commissars Antonio Rodés Ballester, of the CNT; Álvarez 1989 181 Víctor Torres Pereyra; Chief of Staff Militia Lieutenant Ángel Royo Royo; Notes n. References Bibliography Álvarez Santiago Santiago Álvarez Gómez Los comisarios políticos en el Ejército Popular de la República Ediciós do Castro 1989 es Engel Carlos Historia de las Brigadas Mixtas del Ejército Popular de la República 1999 Almena Madrid 84-922644-7-0 es Maldonado José M.ª El frente de Aragón. La Guerra Civil en Aragón (1936–1938) Mira Editores 2007 978-84-8465-237-3 es José Manuel Martínez Bande La llegada al mar Editorial San Martín Madrid 1975 es José Manuel Martínez Bande La Batalla del Ebro San Martín Madrid 1978 es Martínez Bande José Manuel La Campaña de Cataluña San Martín Madrid 1979 es expanded Category:Military units and formations established in 1937 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1939 Category:Mixed Brigades (Spain) Category:Military units and formations of the Spanish Civil War (Republican faction) Category:Military history of Spain Category:Armed Forces of the Second Spanish Republic