Flechas Negras Mixed Brigade Explained

In 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, Italians from the Corpo Truppe Volontarie began to serve in mixed Italo-Spanish Flechas (Arrows) units where the Italians provided the officers and technical personnel, while the Spanish served in the rank-and-file. One, the Flechas Negras Mixed Brigade "Black Arrows" first served in Vizcaya from April 1937.

Order of Battle, April 1937

• 3rd Regiment
  • 1st Battalion
  • 2nd Battalion
  • 3rd Battalion
  • Battery 65/17
• 4th Regiment
  • 1st Battalion
  • 2nd Battalion
  • 3rd Battalion
  • Battery 65/17
• Assault Battalion
  • 1st Company
  • 2nd Company
• Artillery Group
  • IVº Grupo de 75/27
  • Grupo de 100/17
  • Grupo de 105/28
  • Battery 20mm AA
• Engineer Company
• Intendencia Section
• Sanitation Section

Order of Battle, Battle of Santander August 1937

Flechas Negras Brigade - Col. Sandro Piazzoni

• 3rd Regiment
  • 1st Battalion "Monte Jata"
  • 2nd Battalion "Bermeo"
  • 3rd Battalion "Munguia"
  • Battery 65/17
  • Engineer Section
• 4th Regiment
  • 1st Battalion "Peña Amarilla"
  • 2nd Battalion
  • 3rd Battalion "Algorta"
  • Battery 65/17
  • Engineer Section
• Assault Battalion
• Artillery Group
  • Group 75/27
  • Battery 149/12
  • Antitank Battery 37mm
  • Battery 20mm AA
• Engineer Company
• Division Truck Unit

The Flechas Negras Brigade was later expanded to form the Flechas Division.

See also

• Flechas Azules Mixed Brigade

Sources

• de Mesa, José Luis, El regreso de las legiones: (la ayuda militar italiana a la España nacional, 1936-1939), García Hispán, Granada:España, 1994