16th Division (Spain)

16th Division 16.ª División March 13, 1937 February 1939 Spanish Republic Spain Spanish Republic Republican faction 20px Spanish Republican Army Infantry Division Spanish Civil War: Aragon Offensive Battle of Lleida Battle of the Ebro Battle of the Segre Manuel Mora Torres The 16th Division was one of the divisions of the Spanish Republican Army that were organized during the Spanish Civil War on the basis of the Mixed Brigades. It had an outstanding participation in the Battle of the Ebro. History The division was created on March 13, 1937, formed by the 23rd, 66th and 77th mixed brigades; Zaragoza 1983 55 Martínez Bande 1981 77 its first commander was Ernesto Güemes Ramos. Engel 1999 206 Initially assigned to the IV Army Corps, in May 1937 it became part of the III Army Corps, on the Madrid front. Engel 1999 206 For several months the division was stationed there, limiting itself to garrison work and not intervening in relevant military operations. In the spring of 1938, when the Aragon Offensive took place, the division was sent to try to reinforce the republican defenses. Meanwhile, its 24th Mixed Brigade took part in the Battle of Lleida, in support of the 46th Division. Months later, the 23rd Mixed Brigade participated in the Balaguer Offensive. Engel 1999 38-39 Battle of the Ebro Subsequently, the division was assigned to the XII Army Corps, Martínez Bande 1978 70 in the Battle of the Ebro. The anarchist Manuel Mora Torres assumed command of the unit. Martínez Bande 1978 70 On July 28, the 16th Division crossed the river, heading towards Gandesa in support of the republican units that were already deployed there. The division was later located in the central sector of the Republican zone, under the command of Pedro Mateo Merino. Martínez Bande 1978 154 Along with the 35th Division and members of the 46th Division - reinforced with armored forces - it participated in the Republican assaults against Gandesa, which resulted in failure. Cabrera Castillo 2002 232 At the beginning of August it was assigned to the XV Army Corps of Manuel Tagüeña. On August 22, a nationalist attack against the 16th Division's positions caused their disbandment, Martínez Bande 1978 198 including the commander of the unit, who was promptly fired. Manuel Mora was unaccounted for, for several hours, until he reported to the command post of the 124th Mixed Brigade and communicated [falsely] to Juan Modesto that the nationalist advance had already reached the Ebro river. Corral 2007 202 Mora was abruptly dismissed and replaced by Sebastián Zamora Medina. Cabrera Castillo 2002 462 n. A day before, the largest of the Mora militias signed an order that read: "Whoever leaves their post, they will suffer and the just punishment to which they are creditors will be applied, in whose application this Command will be inflexible." Corral 2007 202 Front of the Segre Later the division returned to the rear. In November, it participated in the failed Serós offensive together with troops from the 34th Division. Martínez Bande 1978 285 At the beginning of the Catalonia Offensive the division had a poor performance, giving up its positions in the Battle of the Segre. Martínez Reverte 2006 53, 63 According to Jorge Martínez Reverte, at that time the unit was very demoralized. Martínez Reverte 2006 61 During the rest of the battle for Catalonia, the 16th Division played an irrelevant role. Command Commanders Ernesto Güemes Ramos; Domingo Benages Sacristán;Martínez Bande 1981 126 Manuel Fresno Urzáiz;Alpert 1989 370 Manuel Mora Torres; Sebastián Zamora Medina;Besolí Sesalí Hernández Íñiguez 2005 190 Commissars Ernesto Antuña García, of the PSOE;Álvarez 1989 188 Chiefs of Staff Manuel Pérez Cabello; Order of battle Date Attached Army Corps Integrated Mixed Brigades Battle front May–June 1937 III Army Corps 23rd, 66th and 77th Center December 1937 III Army Corps 23rd, 66th, 77th and 1st Cavalry Brigade Center June–July 1938 XII Army Corps 23rd, 24th and 149th Reservation August 1938 XV Army Corps 23rd, 24th and 149th Cabrera Castillo 2002 462 Ebro Notes n. References Bibliography Alpert Michael El Ejército republicano en la guerra civil Siglo XXI Editores 1989 es Santiago Álvarez Los comisarios políticos en el Ejército Popular de la República Ediciós do Castro 1989 es Andreu Besolí David Sesalí Xavier Hernández David Íñiguez Joan Carles Luque Ebro 1938 Inedita Editores 2005 Barcelona 84-96364-27-5 es Francisco Cabrera Castillo Del Ebro a Gandesa. La batalla del Ebro, julio-noviembre 1938 Almena 2002 es Pedro Corral Desertores. La Guerra Civil que nadie quiere contar DeBolsillo 2007 978-84-8346-258-4 es Engel Carlos Historia de las Brigadas mixtas del Ejército Popular de la República 1999 Almena Madrid 84-922644-7-0 es José Manuel Martínez Bande La Batalla del Ebro San Martín Madrid 1978 es José Manuel Martínez Bande La batalla de Pozoblanco y el cierre de la bolsa de Mérida San Martín Madrid 1981 es Jorge Martínez Reverte La caída de Cataluña 2006 Crítica Barcelona es Ramón Salas Larrazábal Historia del Ejército Popular de la República La Esfera de los Libros 2006 84-9734-465-0 es Cristóbal Zaragoza Ejército Popular y Militares de la República, 1936-1939 Ed. Planeta Barcelona 1983 es expanded Category:Military units and formations established in 1937 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1939 Category:Divisions of 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 Category:1937 establishments in Spain Category:1939 disestablishments in Spain