The Battle of the Ebro was the last great offensive of the Spanish Republicans in the Spanish civil war.

Purpose

By 1938, the Second Spanish Republic was in dire straits. The Basque regions had fallen, the POUM had been destroyed by intra-Republican fighting, and many foreign governments felt it was only a matter of time before the question of who would rule Spain would be settled in favour of the Nationalists.

In response to the situation, the Spanish premier Juan Negrín approved a plan by Vicente Rojo Lluch to launch attacks against the main Nationalist forces advancing through Valencia.The purpose of the attacks was to relieve the pressure on Valencia and Catalonia. Another purpose of these actions was to show European governments that the Republican government was still a viable alternative.

The Battle

The Battle of the Ebro opened on July 25, 1938. Republican forces under Colonel Juan Modesto launched attacks across the Ebro river. The Republican forces were initially successful, but the Nationalist forces, who had superior air cover, eventually beat them back. The battle lasted until November 16, 1938.

The battle was fought by both sides as a World War I Western Front battle, with each side launching bloody frontal assaults on enemy positions. The attacks by both sides tended to fail, but not without inflicting severe losses on each of them.

The Battle was also the last action of the International Brigades, who were withdrawn midway through it.

Aftermath

This defeat destroyed the Republican Army as a fighting force. After this battle, the Republicans would continue to lose ground until April 1, 1939 when the war was declared over by Franco.

Sources

Spartacus Schoolnet- Battle of the Ebro -- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/SPebro.htm The Spanish Civil War by Gabriele Ranzato