XI Army Corps (Spain) explained

Unit Name:XI Army Corps
Native Name:XI Cuerpo de Ejército (Bando republicano)
Start Date:June 1937
End Date:February 1939
Country:Spanish Republic
Allegiance: Republican faction
Branch: Spanish Republican Army
Type:Infantry
Specialization:-->
Size:Army Corps
Garrison:Sariñena
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Battles:Spanish Civil War

The XI Army Corps was a military formation belonging to the Spanish Republican Army that fought during the Spanish Civil War. During the war it was deployed on the fronts of Aragon, Segre and Catalonia.

History

The unit was created in June 1937, within the Eastern Army. It was made up of the divisions 26th, 27th and 32nd, having its headquarters in Sariñena. It covered the front line that ran from the south of Huesca —in union with the X Army Corps – to the Ebro river – where, in turn, it united with the XII Army Corps. During the following months some of its forces intervened in the Zaragoza and Belchite offensives, which, however, did not bear the desired results.

In the spring of 1938, during the Aragon campaign, the forces of the XI Army Corps were unable to cope with the pressure of the nationalist units. By early April, the remnants of the army corps had established their positions along the defensive line of the Segre river. During the following months it did not take part in relevant military operations, reorganizing its battered forces after the withdrawal in Aragon. After the beginning of the Catalonia campaign, they maintained resistance in their defensive positions, some units managing to offer strong opposition —as was the case with the 26th Division. Despite this, the enemy pressure did not subside and at the beginning of 1939 the XI Army Corps was forced to withdraw towards the French border along with the rest of the Eastern Army.

Command

Commanders
Commissars
Chiefs of Staff

Order of Battle

Date Attached Army Integrated divisions Battlefront
June 1937 Aragon
October 1937 Eastern Army Aragon
December 1937 Eastern Army 26th and 32nd Aragon
April 19, 1938 Eastern Army 26th, 30th and 32nd Segre
September 3, 1938 Eastern Army Segre
December 1938 Eastern Army Segre
January 2, 1939 Eastern Army Segre

Bibliography