Maroto Column
| Maroto Column | |
|---|---|
| Columna Maroto | |
| Active | 1936 |
| Country |  Spanish Republic |
| Allegiance |  CNT |
| Branch | Confederal militias |
| Type | Militia |
| Role | Home defense |
| Size | 1,000 |
| Garrison/HQ | Guadix |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Francisco Maroto del Ojo |
The Maroto column was a militia column that operated at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.
History
The column was founded in Alicante, in the summer of 1936, by the Granadin anarchist leader Francisco Maroto del Ojo.[1] At first it was made up of 270 anarchist militiamen.[2] After being formed, on August 6 the column left Alicante and headed for the Granada front; they managed to reach the town of Guadix, where they established their headquarters.[3] In this area they managed to recruit more volunteers, until the column reached a thousand troops.
Their military actions, however, were null. The Maroto column took part in the attack against the nationalist position at Güéjar Sierra, but it was never in a position to retake the city of Granada.[4] At the end of 1936, the attempts to militarize this militia met with the opposition of their commander, Maroto del Ojo.[5]
After its militarization the unit disappeared and its troops integrated into the 89th and 147th mixed brigades, on the Andalusian front.[3]
References
- ^ Gil Bracero 1998, p. 47.
- ^ a b Ramos 1972, p. 114.
- ^ Mainar 1998, pp. 95, 101.
Bibliography
- Gil Bracero, Rafael (1998). Revolutionaries without revolution. Marxists and anarcho-syndicalists at war: Granada-Baza, 1936-1939. University of Granada.
- Mainar, Eladi (1998). From milicians to soldats. The Valencian columns in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). University of Valencia. ISBN 84-370-3349-7.
- Ramírez Navarro, Antonio (2018). Although pain and death await us. History of the libertarian movement in Almería. Editorial Universitaria de Almería.
- Ramos, Vicente (1972). The Civil War (1936-1939) in the province of Alicante. Alicante Library.