Torres-Benedito Column

The Torres-Benedito Column was a militia column that operated at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.

Torres-Benedito Column
Columna Torres-Benedito
Active1936 - 1937
Disbanded1937
Country Spanish Republic
Branch Confederal militias
TypeMilitia
RoleHome defense
Size4,100
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Domingo Torres,
José Benedito Lleó

History

The column was created in Valencia shortly after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. It was made up of soldiers from the former regiments of the region, as well as volunteers from the CNT, UGT, POUM, Syndicalist Party and Valencian Left.[1] In total, it grouped 3,180 troops,[2] of whom 842 were military and 2335 were militiamen. [1] The leadership of these forces was in the hands of the anarchist Domingo Torres and the artillery lieutenant José Benedito Lleó, a member of the Valencian Left and a war delegate in the Popular Executive Committee of Valencia; while Torres acted as a kind of "political" delegate, Benedito performed the functions of military adviser. [3] Politically, the column had a partially anarchist preponderance. [4]

The column left Castellón on August 18, crossing the province of Teruel until they reached the Francoist lines around the city of Teruel, [5] taking positions in Villalba Baja and Corbalán. [6] During its existence it operated on the Teruel Front, [7] constituting one of the most important columns operating in the sector. [8] Later it was reinforced by the Iberia Column and the CNT 13 Column, leaving all these forces under the command of Jesús Velasco Echave - who replaced Benedito in September. [3] Later the column forces reached a total of 4,100 troops. [9]

It came to have its own publication, "Victoria", a newspaper that was published in Alfambra. [10]

In the spring of 1937 it was militarized and transformed into the 81st Mixed Brigade, [3] a process that arrived after some internal opposition. [11]

References
  1. Mainar 1998, p. 41.
  2. Maldonado 2007, p. 65.
  3. Gabriel 2011, p. 334.
  4. Martínez Roda 1998, p. 211.
  5. Martínez Bande 1970, p. 72.
  6. Gabriel 2011, pp. 334–335.
  7. Martínez Roda 1998, p. 440.
  8. Martínez Bande 1970, p. 101.
  9. Maldonado 2007, p. 100.
  10. Navarro 2004, p. 210.
  11. Martínez Bande 1970, p. 202.

Bibliography
  • Gabriel, Pere (2011). History of UGT IV. A trade union at war (1936-1939). 21st century Spain Editors.
  • Mainar, Eladi (1998). From militiamen to soldiers. The Valencian columns in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). University of Valencia. ISBN 84-370-3349-7.
  • Maldonado, José M.ª (2007). The front of Aragon. The Civil War in Aragon (1936–1938). Mira Editores. ISBN 978-84-8465-237-3.
  • Martínez Bande, José Manuel (1970). The Invasion of Aragon and the landing in Mallorca. Madrid: Ed. San Martín.
  • Martínez Roda, Federico (1998). Valencia and the Valencias: its contemporary history (1800-1975). Fundación Univ. San Pablo.
  • Navarro, Francisco Javier (2004). To the revolution for culture. University of Valencia. ISBN 84-370-5866-X.
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