Balaguer Offensive facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Balaguer Offensive |
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| Part of the Spanish Civil War | |||||||
 Aerial view of Balaguer and the Segre River |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Spanish Republic |
 Nationalist Spain |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| high | moderate | ||||||
The Balaguer Offensive was a series of attacks by the Spanish Republican Army during the Spanish Civil War. It happened around the town of Balaguer in Catalonia, Spain, in the spring and summer of 1938.
This offensive was an attempt by the Republic to fight back after they had suffered big losses in the Aragon Offensive. However, the Balaguer Offensive did not succeed. It ended up costing many lives and a lot of military equipment for the Republic.
Contents
The Story of the Offensive
General Vicente Rojo Lluch planned the Balaguer Offensive. He hoped it would help the Republican soldiers feel more confident after their defeats in Aragon. This battle was actually part of a larger fight known as the Battle of the Segre.
Balaguer Falls
The town of Balaguer was taken by the Nationalist forces very quickly. This happened between April 5 and 6, 1938. The Nationalists then captured the important bridge over the Segre River on April 10. The Republican Army had to pull back to the other side of the river.
Republican Counterattacks
The Republican Army wanted to take back the area on the left side of the river, especially the bridgehead (a strong position held by an army in enemy territory). So, three divisions – the 27th, 60th, and 72nd – attacked between April 12 and 15.
Many of these Republican soldiers were very young, some just 17 years old. They had been quickly recruited and were not well-trained. Even with their strong spirit, they could not win.
Another attempt to recapture the Balaguer bridgehead happened between May 22 and 29. These attacks also failed. The Republican units had to retreat because the enemy was much stronger. Many soldiers were injured or died.
Final Attempts
After nearly three months, the Republicans tried again to take the bridgehead at Balaguer. This happened between August 9 and 11, as part of the bigger Battle of the Ebro. But once more, the Republican forces were defeated. They faced very strong firepower from the Nationalist lines and could not break through.
See also
- Battle of the Segre
- Eastern Region Army Group
- List of Spanish Nationalist military equipment of the Spanish Civil War
- List of Spanish Republican military equipment of the Spanish Civil War
