The battle of Ebro, which lasted 116 days, was the longest and cruellest of the Spanish civil war (1936-1939). This offensive, launched by the Republican army, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Modesto, took place between July and November 1938, with fighting mainly concentrated in two areas on the lower course of the Ebro River.
In this piece Núria, almost 80 years later revisits, through fabric and stitch, the bombardment and shortages suffered during this traumatic period: “Sourcing food and other basic needs in the areas of Pàndols and Cavalls was very difficult because the air force bombed up to 24 hours a day. Transporting these supplies was the job of ‘Cuerpo de Automobilismo / Self Mobilization Group’. If they brought water up during the day they were shot dead. In these circumstances they did it during the night, without lights and with a soldier on the roof of the van who indicated whether to turn right or left.”
She recalls the difficulty in tending the wounded: “During the day ambulances could … pick up the wounded but they could not bring them down [the mountains]. If they were packed they were also bombed. The ambulances were covered internally with mattresses so that the wool could stop the bullets.”
Both sides suffered heavy losses in this battle. Estimates of casualties for the Republicans are as high as 75,000, including wounded and captured with a slightly lower figure of 60,000 for the Nationalist side, who retained control of the contested territory.
Major Battles of the Spanish Civil War (2010)
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