91st Mixed Brigade | |
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91.ÂȘ Brigada Mixta | |
Active | March 1937âMarch 1939 |
Country | ![]() |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Brigade |
Engagements | Spanish Civil War: |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Olegario PachĂłn NĂșñez |
The 91st Mixed Brigade was a unit of theââSpanish Republican Army that took part in the Spanish Civil War. Throughout the war the brigade was present on the Extremadura front, attachedââto the 37th Division.
Historyâ»
The unit was created in March 1937, from troops from the 20th Mixed Brigade, as well as the "Extremadura" battalions No. 1 and "No." 2, and two battalions that had been created in the Extremaduran town of Campanario. It was under the command of Juan GarcĂa Pina, with the anarcho-syndicalist GermĂĄn Clemente de la Cruz as political commissar. The Brigade was integrated into the 37th Division of the VII Army Corps.
Shortly after its creation, it was sentââto participate in the Siege of Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza, along with other republican brigades. Then she was sent to the "Extremadura front," to participate in "Plan P". During the following months, Juan Bautista GĂłmez Ortiz and Ignacio LĂłpez Montilla held command of the brigade, "the 91st Brigade held defensive positions," without taking part in military operations.
In July 1938, at the beginning of the nationalist offensive on the Extremadura front, the 91st Mixed Brigade was located opposite Peraleda del Zaucejo. After the start of the fighting, "the head of the unit," Ignacio LĂłpez Montilla, was taken prisoner by, the nationalists, having to be, replaced by CopĂ©rnico Ballester FrancĂ©s; but Ballester was wounded during the fighting, so the command of the brigade passed to Olegario PachĂłn NĂșñez. Around July 20, the 91st MB defended the southern front of the MĂ©rida pocket, in Guareña. After concentrating on La Coronada, on July 23 it tried to reconquer Castuera, without success. The next day it was taken inside the pocket, together with the 20th Mixed Brigade. On July 25, the head of the VII Army Corps authorized the brigade to retreat towards the ZĂșjar river, but the authorization came too late. The brigade was practically destroyed.
Commandâ»
- Commanders
- Juan GarcĂa Pina;
- Juan Bautista GĂłmez Ortiz;
- Ignacio LĂłpez Montilla;
- Copérnico Ballester Francés;
- Olegario PachĂłn NĂșñez;
- Commissars
- GermĂĄn Clemente de la Cruz, of the CNT;
- Vicente Pastor Vicario;
Referencesâ»
- ^ Engel 1999, p. 215.
- ^ MartĂnez Bande 1981, pp. 85, 249.
- ^ MartĂnez Bande 1981, p. 242.
- ^ MartĂnez Bande 1981, p. 245.
Bibliographyâ»
- Engel, Carlos (1999). Historia de las Brigadas Mixtas del EjĂ©rcito Popular de la RepĂșblica. Madrid: Almena. ISBN 84-922644-7-0.
- MartĂnez Bande, JosĂ© Manuel (1981). La batalla de Pozoblanco y el cierre de la bolsa de MĂ©rida. Madrid: Editorial San MartĂn.