The Mickiewicz Battalion was a volunteer battalion of the

International Brigades The International Brigades () were soldiers recruited and organized by the Communist International to assist the Popular Front (Spain), Popular Front government of the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. The International Bri ...

during the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...

. It formed part of the

XIII International Brigade The 13th International Brigade – often known as the XIII Dąbrowski Brigade – fought for the Spanish Second Republic during the Spanish Civil War, in the International Brigades. The brigade was dissolved and then reformed on four occasions. ...

from 27 October 1937 until 23 September 1938, when the

were disbanded. It was named after

Adam Mickiewicz Adam Bernard Mickiewicz (24 December 179826 November 1855) was a Polish poet, dramatist, essayist, publicist, translator and political activist. He is regarded as national poet in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus. He also largely influenced Ukra ...

(1798–1855), a Polish poet and patriot. In July 1938 The Battalion took part in the

Battle of the Ebro The Battle of the Ebro (, ) was the longest and largest battle of the Spanish Civil War and the greatest, in terms of manpower, logistics and material ever fought on Spanish soil. It took place between July and November 1938, with fighting mainly ...

crossing the river and initially advancing quickly attacking and capturing many Nationalist troops at La Venta de Camposines, before moving on to near Gandesa. By September 1938 they were dug in defending a difficult position on the road from

Corbera d'Ebre Corbera d'Ebre () is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of la Terra Alta in Catalonia, Spain. It is one of the 12 municipalities comprising the wine-growing region of the Spanish '' Denominación de Origen'' classification of the Spanish wine ...

under constant bombardment and machine gun fire, the only respite being at night. They continued to dig trenches and lay barbed wire. After an artillery bombardment, the Battalion continued a heroic defence against tanks and cavalry which saw many of their best men killed, before the order for withdrawal came.

Personnel

* Franciszek Księżarczyk - commander *Mieczyslaw SchleyenTremlett (2020) p.503 - political commissar * Zygmunt Mołojec * Bolesław Mołojec

References

Military units and formations established in 1937 Military units and formations disestablished in 1938 International Brigades Adam Mickiewicz Military history of the Second Polish Republic {{SpanishCivilWar-stub

Personnel

See also

References