Palafox Battalion

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Flag of the Interbrigades
Brigade soldiers

The Palafox Battalion was a largely Polish-Spanish battalion of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War . It was named after the Spanish general José de Palafox . The Palafox Battalion became part of the 150th Brigade along with the Polish Dąbrowski Battalion , the Hungarian Rákosi Battalion (Rakosi), and the Franco-Belgian André Marty Battalion . The battalion was formed from brigadists from Poland and the Soviet Union , as well as Spanish brigadists from the Pasionaria battalion on June 28, 1937. The Palafox Battalion was among his five companies of a purely Jewish company that Naftali Botwin Company . There was also a company in the Palafox battalion called Adam Mickiewicz . This company was the core of the Mickiewicz battalion formed in October 1936 . On August 4, 1937, the battalion was assigned to the 150th Brigade. It was named N o 40 .

The advance of Franco during the Aragon offensive to the Mediterranean in March 1938 divided the Spanish republic into two parts. For this reason the Spanish government decided to launch an offensive on the Ebro. The Battle of the Ebro began on July 25, 1938. The XIII. International Brigade Dąbrowski advances with the Palafox Battalion and the Dąbrowski Battalion from Ascó via the Venta de Camposines to Gandesa . The XIII. International Brigade Dąbrowski fought in this sector until July 26, 1938 and was relieved on August 7, 1938 after heavy fighting. From August 22nd, the XIII fought. International Brigade Dąbrowski again until August 24, 1938 in Vertex Gaeta to avoid defeat in this sector. Many of the brigadists in the Palafox battalion were killed and around 90 brigadists were captured. In contrast to the Spanish brigadists who were brought to prison camps, the brigadists of the Jewish faith of the Naftali Botwin Company were liquidated.

Companies of the battalion