The Bielsa Pocket

The winter and spring of 1938 were disastrous for the Republic. The final defeat in the brutal Battle of Teruel in February was followed by the disaster at the Alfambra River, where thousands of men perished or were taken prisoner, and large amounts of military equipment lost. Without giving the Popular Army any time to breathe, Francoist troops launched the Aragón offensive in early March, breaking through the front and splitting Republican territory in two when Franco's forces reached the Mediterranean at Vinaroz on 15 April. This left Catalonia isolated and poorly defended. In a surprising strategic move, Franco decided not to conquer Catalonia but instead redirected his troops southward to Valencia. However, his forces became bogged down and suffered heavy losses against the well-designed defenses to the north and east of the city. This delay allowed the Popular army to regroup in Catalonia and prepare the offensive that led to the crossing of the Ebro River in July.

Amid the Republican military disaster, a small miracle emerged: the Bielsa Pocket (14 April to 15 June 1938). The 43rd Division of the Popular Army entrenched itself in this Pyrenean valley, bravely and effectively resisting the attacks of the vastly superior rebel forces. The division consisted of around 7,000 men, led by militia major Antonio Beltrán, known as "El Esquinazao," against 14,000 enemy troops with strong air support aviation under the command of General José Solchaga. 

However, by late May, it became evident that resistance could not continue due to the enemy's increasing reinforcements and their own critical shortages of weapons and ammunition. A staggered retreat to France was organized that saved the entire besieged division along with some 4,000 civilians. 

Republican propaganda placed great importance on the feat, a consolation amid the catastrophe. It also highlighted that in the referendum organized by the French authorities among the retreating troops, only 411 soldiers and 5 nurses chose to return to Franco's Spain. In contrast, 6,889 soldiers voted to continue fighting and thus crossed the border again at Port Bou to join the forces defending Catalonia.

All this is told in the Republican propaganda newsreel “Heroes of Spain: the 43rd division” that can be seen above.