,P>T #c1 ,*APT] #ah 
,! ,CROSS+ ( ! ,MANZAN>ES ,RIV] 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ABEL ,PAZ 

,TEXT 3 

,*,A,P,T,] ,X,V,I,I,I4 ,! CROSS+ ( ! MANZAN>ES RIV] 

  

,9 ?IS *APT]1 LIKE MANY O!RS1 WE MU/ CONFRONT CONTRADICTORY ACC\NTS ( ,DURRUTI'S ACTIVITIES4 ,! FIR/ DIFFICULTY >ISES :5 WE TRY TO E/ABLI% EXACTLY :5 ! ,DURRUTI ,COLUMN REA*$ ,MADRID4 ,! CLAIM ?AT ! ,DURRUTI ,COLUMN 5T]$ ,MADRID ON ,NOVEMB] #ac IS V]Y IMPORTANT = ?OSE :O >GUE ?AT ! FASCI/S W]E ABLE TO SET FOOT 9 ,MADRID'S ,UNIV]SITY ,CITY BECAUSE ! ,DURRUTI ,COLUMN C[]$ BE=E ! 5EMY AVALAN*E & ALL[$ !M TO PASS4 ,FROM ?AT1 IT IS ONLY NATURAL TO CONCLUDE ?AT 0,C,N,T MILITIAS CONTRIBUT$ NO?+ TO ! DEF5SE ( ,MADRID & ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY WAS RESPONSIBLE = ! RESI/ANCE40 ,ONE CAN F9D ?IS \TL&I% ASS]TION 9 ! N[ 0CLASSIC0 WORKS ( 5DLESS 0IMP>TIAL0 HI/ORIANS4 ,BUT :AT IF ! ,DURRUTI ,COLUMN ACTUALLY >RIV$ 9 ,MADRID ON ,NOVEMB] #a#f8 ,?AT SIMPLE FACT W\LD OBLIGE HI/ORIANS--! HONE/ ONES1 AT LEA/--TO REVISE MU* ( :AT HAS BE5 WRITT5 AB\T ! MATT] & TO BURD5 O!R P>TIES ) ! NATIONALI/'S 5TRANCE 9TO ! ,UNIV]SITY ,CITY4 ,?IS W\LD PUT ,G5]AL ,KLEB]'S 0H]OIC LEG5D0 9 D\BT AS WELL AS ! 9ORD9ATE IMPORTANCE GIV5 TO ! SQUADS ( ! ,FIF? ,REGIM5T4 .<#f#h#a.> ,9DE$1 HI/ORIANS W\LD HAVE TO FOCUS MORE ON ! ANONYM\S ACTIVI/S ( ! ,CON/RUCTION ,WORK]S' ,UNION1 :O W]E ! REAL H]OES ( ,MADRID'S RESI/ANCE4 ,= \R SAKE1 AS ICONOCLA/S1 WE %ATT] MY?S4 

,ON ,NOVEMB] #c1 ,YAGUE'S ,REGUL>S 7ONE ( ! REBEL COLUMNS ATTACK+ ,MADRID7 OCCUPI$ ,GETAFE1 ?IRTE5 KILOMET]S \TSIDE ! CAPITAL1 & ADVANC$ UP TO ! BUILD+S 9 ! \T] P]IMET] ( ,C>ABAN*EL ,ALTO4 ,L>GO ,CABALL]O DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE ,MADRID )\T FIR/ IMPLICAT+ ! ,C,N,T 9 ! GOV]NM5T4 ,HE >GU$ ) & ALMO/ IMPOS$ HIMSELF ON ,MANUEL ,AZANA 9 HIS EF=T TO GET HIM TO ALL[ ! ,C,N,T TO JO9 ! GOV]NM5T4 ,F\R ,C,N,T M9I/]S 5T]$ ,L>GO ,CABALL]O'S SECOND GOV]NM5T ON ,NOVEMB] #d4 ,! NEXT DAY1 ,L>GO ,CABALL]O >GU$ ?AT ! GOV]NM5T %\LD LEAVE ,MADRID & ALL ! M9I/]S TOOK (F = ,VAL5CIA ON ,NOVEMB] #f4 ,G5]AL ,MIAJA RECEIV$ ORD]S TO DEF5D ! ,SPANI% CAPITAL & ?AT NI<T MADE ,LIEUT5ANT ,COLONEL ,VIC5TE ,ROJO ,*IEF ( HIS ,G5]AL ,/AFF4 ,HE BEGAN TO ORGANIZE ! CITY'S DEF5SE & PREP>E TO FI<T ! ASSAIL+ COLUMNS ) ANY MEANS POSSIBLE4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 ! PEOPLE ( ,MADRID ROSE UP H]OICALLY & AID$ ! SOLDI]S4 

,IT IS AT ?IS JUNCTURE ?AT ! MY? BEG9S1 AS ONE CAN APPRECIATE 9 ! FOLL[+ ACC\NT3  
  

,G5]ALS ,V>ELA & ,YAGUE ATTACK$ AT DAWN ON ,NOVEMB] #h3 ,AS5SIO1 ,CA/EJON 7:O WAS 9JUR$71 & ,DELGADO ,S]RANO'S ,COLUMNS ALL W5T 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! ,CASA DE ,CAMPO4 ,TELLA & ,B>RON PRESS$ T[>D ! ,TOL$O & ,SEGOVIA BRIDGES 9 A DIV]SION>Y MOVEM5T4 ,MEAN:ILE1 ! ,X,I ,9T]NATIONAL ,BRIGADE P>AD$ ALONG ! ,GRAN ,VIA TO DELIRI\S *E]S4 ,IT WAS COMPOS$ ( ! ,$G> ,&RE1 ,P>IS ,COMMUNE1 & ,DOMBR[SKI BATTALIONS 7,G]MAN1 ,FR5*1 & ,POLI%1 RESPECTIVELY74 ,G5]AL ,KLEB] L$ ! ,BRIGADE & ,NICOLETTI .<,DE ,VITTORIO.> S]V$ AS ITS ,COMMISS>4 ,!RE W]E AB\T TWO ?\S& M54 ,! ,BRIGADE TOOK ITS POSITION 9 ! ,P>QUE DEL ,OE/E1 BUT SOME ( ITS UNITS W5T 9TO ACTION 9 ! ,CASA DE ,CAMPO4 ,! 5EMY ATTACK WAS EXTREMELY 9T5SE !RE1 & ITS AIR =CE BOMB$ ,MADRID M]CILESSLY4 ,BUT ,V>ELA'S ATTACK FAIL$2 ALL HE MANAG$ TO DO WAS P5ETRATE ! ,CASA DE ,CAMPO4 

,MOLA TOOK *>GE ( ! :OLE SECTOR ! FOLL[+ DAY4 ,HIS =CES OCCUPI$ ! /RATEGIC ,G>ABITAS ,HILL & M\NT$ !IR >TILL]Y ON IT SO AS TO FIRE ON ,MADRID4 ,!Y CAME CLOSE TO ! ,MANZAN>ES ,RIV] NE> ! ,LOS ,FRANCESES ,BRIDGE4  
  

,TUNON DE ,L>A .<#f#h#b.> DID NOT 9V5T ! PREC$+ CLI*E2 HE JU/ COPI$ IT FROM O!RS1 AS O!RS WILL SURELY COPY IT FROM HIM4 ,?IS IS H[ AU?ORS WILL CONT9UE TO DESCRIBE ! FIR/ =TY-EI<T H\RS ( ,MADRID'S RESI/ANCE4 ,! ACC\NT IS CORRECT 9 G5]AL & ONLY 9ACCURATE ) RESPECT TO ! ,I,X ,9T]NATIONAL ,BRIGADE4 ,=TUNATELY1 ,LIEUT5ANT ,COLONEL ,VIC5TE ,ROJO GIVES US AN EXACT ACC\NT ( :]E ,KLEB] & HIS M5 W]E AT ! TIME3 ,ONE CAN BE SURE ?AT !Y'LL SAY :AT !Y WANT1 ALL ?OSE BOOKS ?AT RELATE ! EV5T 9 ?OSE OR SIMIL> T]MS1 AS WELL AS ! BRILLIANT J\RNALI/S :O ANN\NC$ ! CITY'S IMM95T FALL ?AT DAY FROM !IR P>APETS 9 ,MADRID'S HOTELS4 ,KLEB] & HIS M5 7:O F\<T VALIANTLY & EFFICI5TLY SOME DAYS LAT]1 ALONG ) ! TW5TY OR TW5TY-FIVE ?\S& O!RS :O H]OICALLY DEF5D$ ! CAPITAL7 W]E SIMPLY SUNBA?+ SOME:]E 9 ! ,TAJO OR ,TAJUNA VALLEY1 :]E !Y C\LDN'T EV5 HE> AN E*O ( ! FI<T+4444 & HE DIDN'T MEET ) ,B]Z91 ,KLEB]1 & ,G5]AL ,MIAJA1 AS IS (T5 CLAIM$1 ON ,NOVEMB] #h1 #a1 R #ab 7DATES ?AT ,HU< ,?OMAS M5TIONS7 OR ANY O!R DAY TO F9D \T :]E ! ATTACK ON ! CAPITAL WAS GO+ TO BE REPEAT$4 .<#f#h#c.> 

,! ,X,I ,9T]NATIONAL ,BRIGADE W5T 9TO ACTION ON ,NOVEMB] #ab &1 DESPITE FI<T+ BRILLIANTLY1 LO/ GR\ND 9 ! >EA ?AT W\LD BECOME ! ,A*ILLES HEEL ( ! ,UNIV]SITY ,CITY3  
  

,! 5EMY ,COLUMN MANAG$ TO S9K ITS FIR/ E*ELON 9TO ! ,MANZAN>ES ON ,NOVEMB] #a#c1 BETWE5 ! ,LOS ,FRANCESES ,BRIDGE & ! ,HIPPODROME4 ,IT E/ABLI%$ A FRONT ( APPROXIMATELY ONE ?\S& MET]S 9 L5G?1 AL?\< IT DID NOT CROSS ! RIV]4 ,= ITS P>T1 ,COLUMN #d MOV$ 9 AN EA/W>D & NOR!RN DIRECTION1 BUT )\T REA*+ ! WALL4 ,! ,X,I ,9T]NATIONAL ,BRIGADE F\<T BRILLIANTLY4.<#f#h#d.>  
  

,! ,X,I ,BRIGADE F\<T BUT GAVE GR\ND4 ,?AT W\LD BE A S]I\S *>GE IF ONE W]E SPEAK+ ( TROOPS FROM ANO!R POLITICAL SECTOR4 ,:AT DO ! HI/ORIANS SAY AB\T ! ,DURRUTI ,COLUMN'S FIR/ /EPS 9 ,MADRID8 ,ROB]T ,G4 ,COLODNY DESCRIBES IT V]Y COLORFULLY3  
  

,ON ,NOVEMB] #a#d1 ! ,DURRUTI ,COLUMN ( ,CATALAN AN>*I/S REA* ,MADRID1 & ITS #c1 M51 WELL >M$1 WE>+ BEAUTIFUL GRE5 UNI=MS1 P>AD$ UP ! ,GRAN ,VIA1 !IR M>TIAL DISPLAY EVOK+ ! SAME WILD ACCLAIM AS ?AT :I* GREET$ ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,BRIGADE SIX DAYS PREVI\SLY4 ,ROJO & ,MIAJA W]E ELAT$ ) ! >RIVAL ( ! T\<-LOOK+ FI<T]S FROM ,CATALONIA1 LITTLE REALIZ+ ?AT ! ,CATALANS W\LD SOON CANCEL ! H>D-WON GA9S ( ! ,MADRID MILITIA & ! ,9T]NATIONAL BATTALIONS4 

,G>CIA ,OLIV]1 ! AN>*I/ ,M9I/] ( ,JU/ICE1 ACCOMPANI$ ,DURRUTI TO ! ,W> ,M9I/RY = AN 9T]VIEW ) ,G5]AL ,MIAJA & ,LT4 ,COLONEL ,ROJO4 ,! AN>*I/ *IEFTA9S DEM&$ ?AT ! ,DURRUTI ,COLUMN BE GIV5 AN 9DEP5D5T SECTOR ( ! FRONT 9 ORD] ?AT !IR A*IEVEM5TS NOT BE CLAIM$ BY O!R UNITS4 ,MIAJA AGRE$ & ASSIGN$ ,DURRUTI ! KEY SECTOR 9 ,CASA DE ,CAMPO4 

0,WE WILL SAVE ,MADRID & !N RETURN TO ! WALLS ( ,Z>AGOZA10 SAID ,DURRUTI1 AS HE AGRE$ TO ATTACK 9 ! MORN+ & DRIVE ! REBELS FROM ! >EAS !Y /ILL HELD 9 ! P>K4 ,! AN>*I/ COMM&] ASK$ = AN ADVIS] FROM ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,BRIGADES & WAS GIV5 0,SANTI0 FROM ! /AFF ( ,G5]AL ,GORIEV4 

,ON ,NOVEMB] #a#e1 ,DURRUTI DEM&$ ALL ! AVIATION & >TILL]Y 9 ! CITY AS SUPPORT = HIS COLUMN4 ,>TILL]Y WAS CONC5TRAT$ FROM ALL ! CITY SECTORS & ! FEW TACTICAL PLANES AT ! DISPOSITION ( ! ,G5]AL ,/AFF FLEW OV] ! ,CATALANS1 BUT ! MA*9E-GUN FROM ! REBEL L9ES DEMORALIZ$ ! AN>*I/S & !Y REFUS$1 DESPITE ! ?REATS ( !IR VALIANT COMM&]1 TO GO 9TO BATTLE4.<#f#h#e.> 

,DURRUTI1 FURI\S & A%AM$1 PROMIS$ ,MIAJA ?AT ! ATTACK W\LD BE REPEAT$ 9 ! MORN+4 ,! ,PRESID5T ( ! ,MADRID ,JUNTA ( ,DEF5SE !N MADE A TRAGIC BLUND]4 ,HE LEFT ! ,CATALANS 9 ! ,CASA DE ,CAMPO1 9 ! >EA DIRECTLY 9 FRONT ( ! ,UNIV]SITY ,CITY4.<#f#h#f.>  
  

,ROB]T ,G4 ,COLODNY IS WRIT+ SCI5CE FICTION H]E1 AS HE ADAPTS HIMSELF TO ,KOLTSOV'S 0BIBLE0 & CONFUSES & DELIB]ATELY MIXES UP PEOPLE & EV5TS4 ,IT WAS ! ,P,S,U,C'S ,LIB]TAD-,LOPEZ ,TI5DA ,COLUMN M>*+ 9 ! MILIT>Y P>ADE ?AT HE DESCRIBES4 ,AL?\< !Y W]E ,CATALAN1 !Y W]E NOT ! ,CATALANS ( ! ,DURRUTI ,COLUMN1 :O W]E /ILL 9 ,B>CELONA ON ,NOVEMB] #ac 7AS WE WILL %[ 9 ! FOLL[+ *APT]74 ,& ! ,CATALANS :O W]E SOON GO+ TO 0CANCEL ! H>D-WON GA9S ( ! ,MADRID MILITIA & ! ,9T]NATIONAL BATTALIONS0 W]E NOT ! ,CATALAN AN>*I/S BUT ! ,P,S,U,C ,M>XI/S4 

,WE PREVI\SLY NOT$ ?AT ! ,G5]ALITAT'S ,M9I/RY ( ,DEF5SE CALL$ A MEET+ ( ,COLUMN LEAD]S TO DISCUSS ,MADRID'S DEF5SE4 ,AT ?AT MEET+1 !Y DECID$ ?AT ,DURRUTI W\LD ADDRESS ! ,SPANI% WORK]S BY RADIO4 ,DURRUTI GAVE ?IS SPEE* ON ,NOVEMB] #d & !N RETURN$ TO ,>AGON4 ,! ,G5]ALITAT'S ,M9I/RY ( ,DEF5SE HELD ANO!R MEET+ ( ,COLUMN LEAD]S ON ,NOVEMB] #a#a1 :I* WE WILL DISCUSS 9 ! FOLL[+ *APT]4 ,BUT IMPORTANT ?+S HAPP5$ 9 ! 9T]IM1 EV5TS 9 :I* WE F9D ALL ! BIAS$ 0MISUND]/&+S0 AB\T ! 0CROSS+ ( ! ,MANZAN>ES ,RIV]40 ,UND] ! ,G,P,U'S WISE C\NSEL1 ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY 7! ,P,S,U,C1 9 ,CATALONIA7 W5T TO W> AGA9/ ! ,C,N,T4 .<#f#h#g.> ,ONE ( ! ,G,P,U'S RECOMM5DATIONS WAS TO SPE$ UP ! %IPM5T ( TROOPS TO ,MADRID4 ,!IR GOAL WAS TO C\NT]ACT ! EFFECT ?AT ! POSSIBLE >RIVAL ( ,DURRUTI & HIS M5 C\LD HAVE 9 ! CAPITAL4 .<#f#h#h.> ,! ,P,S,U,C ?US ?REW TOGE!R A ,COLUMN1 :I* IT NAM$ ,LIB]TAD-,LOPEZ ,TI5DA4 ,A MEMB] ( ?IS ,COLUMN WILL HELP US UND]/& ! =MATION3  
  

,9 RESPONSE TO ! REQUE/ = MORE TROOPS FROM ,MADRID'S ,DEF5SE ,M9I/RY1 ! ,LIB]TAD-,LOPEZ ,TI5DA ,COLUMN WAS HURRI$LY ORGANIZ$ 9 B>RACKS CONTROLL$ BY ! ,U,G,T-,P,S,U,C4 ,IT LEFT ,B>CELONA = ,MADRID ON ,NOVEMB] #i & WAS COMPOS$ PRIM>ILY ( ! FOLL[+ ELEM5TS3  

,A MAJORITY W]E ,M>XI/S 7OR AT LEA/ 9DIVIDUALS ) ,U,G,T OR ,P,S,U,C MEMB]%IP C>DS74  

,REMNANTS ( ,M>XI/ ,COLUMNS ?AT HAD BROK5 UP ON ! ,>AGON FRONT1 :OSE MEMB]S HAD RETURN$ TO ,B>CELONA & JO9$ ! NEW ,COLUMNS4 ,TROOPS FROM ! #aice DRAFT :O C\LD NOT GO BACK TO !IR RESID5CES AFT] ! DISSOLUTION ( ! >MY 9 #aicf & :O W]E ROAM+ >\ND ,B>CELONA4 

,!Y ALSO SIGN$ UP1 9 P>T1 BECAUSE !Y'D HE>D ?AT ! CONSCRIPTS W]E GO+ TO BE MOBILIZ$ & HAD DISCOV]$ SOME ( !IR OLD (FIC]S 9 ! ,COLUMN4  

,A GR\P ( PR(ESSIONAL SOLDI]S 444 :O JO9$ BECAUSE ( ! DANG] ( CIRCULAT+ ?R\< ,B>CELONA ) MILIT>Y ID5TIFICATION PAP]S ALONE 7NOT V]Y WELL SE5 !N74 ,! ,U,G,T1 = ITS P>T1 DID NOT /OP !M FROM 5LI/+1 EI!R BECAUSE !Y W]E NE$$ OR BECAUSE ,LOPEZ ,TI5DA1 :O HAD A C]TA9 PRE/IGE AMONG !M1 IMPOS$ IT4  
  

,AS NOT$1 ! ,COLUMN WAS PUT TOGE!R QUICKLY & DIVID$ IT 9TO ,BATTALIONS4444 ,!RE W]E MORE ?AN #b1#e M5 9 TOTAL4 ,PR(ESSIONAL SOLDI]S COMM&$ ALMO/ ALL ! ,BATTALIONS1 ,C5TURIAS1 & ,SECTIONS4 

,! M5 DID NOT RECEIVE ANY MILIT>Y TRA9+1 AL?\< !Y W]E EQUIPP$ & UNI=M$ 9 A REGUL> 5\< WAY4 7,!Y W]5'T >M$1 BUT RECEIV$ WEAPONS ON ! WAY TO ,MADRID47 ,IT WAS ! FIR/ UNIT--! ONLY ONE1 ,I ?9K--9 :I* ! COMM&]S WORE 9SIGNIA 9DICAT+ !IR RANK 7?AT IS1 ! />S74.<#f#h#i.>  
  

,! ,COLUMN RECEIV$ ,CZE* WEAPONS & A SMALL QUANTITY ( AMMUNITION 9 ,VAL5CIA4 0,!Y CONT9U$ M>*+ TO ,ALBACETE :]E1 AS 9DICAT$ TO ,LOPEZ ,TI5DA 9 ,VAL5CIA1 ! ,COLUMN W\LD BE >M$ COMPLETELY40  
  

,ACCORD+ TO ?IS WITNESS1 !Y RECEIV$ NO?+ 9 ,ALBACETE1 AL?\< ! (FIC]S W]E OBLIG$ TO EX*ANGE ! />S = ! 0B>S10 ! EMBLEM DESIGNAT+ COMM&]S 9 ! >MY ?AT WAS BE+ =M$4 ,!RE W]E SEV]AL 9CID5TS DUR+ ! M>* FROM ,ALBACETE TO ,MADRID & P>T ( ! ,COLUMN GOT LO/4 

,LOPEZ ,TI5DA1 ! (FIC]S >\ND HIM1 & ,MIAJA & ,ROJO W]E 9 CON/ANT CONTACT4 ,! FOLL[+ DAY1 ON ! MORN+ ( ,NOVEMB] #a#c1 ! ,COLUMN P>AD$ ON ,MADRID'S ,GRAN ,VIA TO ! CR[D'S *E]S = ! 0,CATALANS COM+ TO DEF5D ,MADRID60 444 ,9 ! E>LY AFT]NOON1 ! ,COLUMN TOOK ITS POSITIONS 9 ! UPP] P>TS ( ! ,MONCLOA-,P>QUE DEL ,OE/E1 P>TICUL>LY 9 ! PREVI\SLY OP5$ TR5*ES ALONG ,MORET & ,ROSALES AV5UES4 

,! ,COLUMN WAS TOTALLY 9ACTIVE 444 DUR+ ! DAY ( ,NOVEMB] #a#d1 .<AL?\<.> ,LOPEZ ,TI5DA & HIS IMM$IATE COLLABORATORS W]E QUITE BUSY4 ,AS ,MR4 ,M>T9EZ ,B&E.<#f#i.> SAYS1 HE HAD BE5 ORD]$ TO PUT HIS ,COLUMN UND] ,DURRUTI'S COMM&1 :O HAD >RIV$ ) ! BULK ( HIS ,COLUMN 7MADE UP BY AN>*O-SYNDICALI/S7 FROM ! ,>AGON FRONT4 ,! ,PALACIOS ,COLUMN MU/ HAVE RECEIV$ ! SAME ORD]4 ,H[EV]1 ?IS ORD] NEV] EXI/$ MORE ?AN ON PAP]4 ,! ,LIB]TAD-,LOPEZ ,TI5DA ,COLUMN NEV] JO9$ ,DURRUTI'S =CES4444 ,LOPEZ ,TI5DA WAS P]SONALLY OPPOS$ TO PUTT+ HIMSELF UND] ,DURRUTI'S COMM& & C$+ HIS CONTROL OV] 0HIS0 ,COLUMN2 ! PR(ESSIONAL SOLDI]S ALSO DIDN'T LIKE ! IDEA ( REPORT+ TO A MILITIA LEAD]2 & ! ,COMMISS> & P>T ( ! ,COLUMN .<,M>XI/.> CATEGORICALLY REFUS$ TO FI<T UND] AN AN>*I/ LIKE ,DURRUTI4 ,SO1 ! COMM& NEV] TOOK EFFECT & ,LOPEZ ,TI5DA CONT9U$ TO RECEIVE HIS ORD]S DIRECTLY FROM ! ,DEF5SE ,C\NCIL3 ?AT IS1 FROM ,ROJO & ,MIAJA4.<#f#i#a.>  
  

,H]E WE MU/ 9T]JECT3 ,TO SAVE TIME1 ,DURRUTI LEFT HIS M5 9 ,VAL5CIA & TRAVEL$ TO ,MADRID ) ,MANZANA1 ,YOLDI1 & SURELY ,G>CIA ,OLIV]4 ,HE HAD TO TELL ,MIAJA & ,ROJO TO PREP>E = ! >RIVAL ( HIS ,COLUMN4 ,ROJO HAD PLANN$ A C\NT]-(F5SIVE = ! E>LY MORN+ H\RS ON ,NOVEMB] #ae &1 AS ,M>T9EZ ,B&E NOT$1 PUT ! ,LIB]TAD-,LOPEZ ,TI5DA ,COLUMN UND] ,DURRUTI'S COMM& ! PREVI\S DAY1 GIV5 ?AT HE HAD COME TO ,MADRID TO BE ! G5]AL LEAD] ( ! ,CATALANS4 ,LOPEZ ,TI5DA & ! ,M>XI/S 9 ! ,COLUMN REJECT$ ?IS ORD]4 ,AS WE WILL SEE1 ! ,DURRUTI ,COLUMN >RIV$ 9 ,MADRID 9 ! MORN+ ( ,NOVEMB] #ae & DID NOT 5T] ! BATTLE UNTIL ,NOVEMB] #a#f1 :I* MEANS ?AT NEI!R ,DURRUTI NOR HIS COLUMN HAD ANY?+ TO DO ) :AT TOOK PLACE ON ,NOVEMB] #a#e1 :I* WAS :5 ,G5]AL ,AS5SIO'S REBELS CROSS$ ! ,MANZAN>ES ,RIV]4 ,! FOLL[+ /ATEM5T ON ! ISSUE IS DEF9ITIVE3  
  

,ON ,NOVEMB] #a#e1 ,LOPEZ ,TI5DA GAVE ! ,COLUMN COMM&]S ! FOLL[+ ORD]3 0,ADVANCE & TAKE POSITIONS ALONG ! BANKS ( ! ,MANZAN>ES1 ESPECIALLY 9 FRONT ( ! ,LOS ,FRANCESES ,BRIDGE10 :]E ! NATIONALS W]E ATTACK+ FURI\SLY 9 AN EF=T TO E/ABLI% A BRIDGEHEAD ?AT W\LD 5ABLE !M TO 5T] ,MADRID4 ,! ORD] NOT$ ?AT !Y HAD AMASS$ L>GE NUMB]S ( A]IAL & BATTLE%IP =CES AS WELL AS ,MOROCCANS4 ,!Y MU/ NOT CROSS ! RIV] ANY:]E1 ESPECIALLY OV] ! BRIDGE4 

,! APPROXIMATE POSITIONS ?AT EA* ,BATTALION W\LD HAVE TO COV] & HOLD W]E M>K$ \T ON A MAP4 ,MILIT>ILY SPEAK+1 !Y CROSS$ ! ,P>QUE DEL ,OE/E 9 A LAU<ABLE & ABSURD WAY .<REMEMB] ?AT ! ,COLUMN LACK$ ALL MILIT>Y TRA9+1 DESPITE ! PRES5CE ( ! PR(ESSIONAL SOLDI]S.>4 ,?IS RESULT$ 9 \R FIR/ LOSSES1 EV5 BE=E WE TOOK ! DESIGNAT$ POSITIONS4 ,!RE IS NO D\BT ?AT ! NATIONALI/ =CES LAUN*$ A VIGOR\S ATTACK & ?AT ! ,REPUBLICANS HELD !IR GR\ND4 ,DYNAMITE HAD BE5 PLAC$ ON ! ,LOS ,FRANCES ,BRIDGE E>LI]1 & WE BLEW IT UP !N1 = FE> ?AT ! NATIONALI/S MI<T FI<T !IR AWAY ACROSS4 ,!RE W]E TWO TANKS & ,MOROCCAN TROOPS NE> ! MIDDLE ( ! BRIDGE :5 IT EXPLOD$4 ,!Y HAD ALMO/ =C$ ?R\<1 S9CE ! ,REPUBLICAN'S FIRE HAD DIM9I%$ AS A RESULT ( ! %ORTAGE ( WEAPONS & AMMUNITION1 & ALSO BECAUSE ! >TILL]Y WAS FOCUS$ ON ! =CES ON ! GR\NDS ( ! ,CASA DE ,CAMPO4 

,AS AN ANECDOTE1 9 AN 9T]VAL 9 ! FI<T+ %ORTLY BE=E WE BLEW UP ! BRIDGE1 A SMALL GR\P ( ,CIVIL ,GU>DSM5 OCCUPY+ AN >EA ON ! RI<T FLANK ( ! .<,LOPEZ ,TI5DA.> ,COLUMN LEFT ITS POSITION & APPROA*$ ! BRIDGE4 ,! NATIONAL =CES DID NO?+ TO /OP !M FROM CROSS+ ! BRIDGE .<HAD !Y BE5 TOLD TO EXPECT ?IS8.> & ! ,REPUBLICANS1 AL?\< SOME:AT SURPRIS$1 ALSO DID NO?+1 WOND]+ IF IT WAS A 0MANEUV] ORD]$ BY ! COMM&40 ,!Y BROKE 9TO PATRIOTIC *E]S ONCE !Y CROSS$ ! BRIDGE &1 JO9+ ! NATIONALI/S1 BEGAN TO %OOT AT !IR OLD POSITION4 

,!RE WAS SOME SUBSEQU5T FI<T+1 BUT IT LESS 9T5SE AFT] WE HAD DEMOLI%$ ! BRIDGE1 EXCEPT = SPORADIC & VIOL5T ATTACKS UND] ITS RU9S4 

,BUT ?IS IS ALL ,I CAN DESCRIBE AS AN EYEWITNESS4 ,I WAS W\ND$ 9 ! E>LY P>T ( ! AFT]NOON & VACAT$ FROM ! FRONT ) MANY O!RS4 ,I RECEIV$ EM]G5CY C>E1 !N ,I WAS HOSPITALIZ$1 & !N LAT] EVACUAT$4 ,?IS IS :]E MY RELATION%IP ) ! ,LIB]TAD-,LOPEZ ,TI5DA ,COLUMN & ! ,MADRID FRONT 5DS4 

,BUT1 0APP>5TLY10 FROM :AT 0,I HE>D0 BE=E ,I WAS EVACUAT$1 & :AT A MEMB] ( ! ,COLUMN 0TOLD ME0--SOMEONE ) :OM ,I WAS CONNECT$ ?R\<\T ! W>--! ,LIB]TAD-,LOPEZ ,TI5DA ,COLUMN EXI/$ ON PAP] ALONE AFT] ONLY =TY-EI<T H\RS ( OP]ATION4.<#f#i#b.>  
  

,GIV5 ?IS TE/IMONY1 ,VIC5TE ,ROJO'S EXPLANATION ( ! CROSS+ ( ! ,MANZAN>ES MAKES S5SE3  
  

,WE HAD TO /OP !IR ATTACK IMM$IATELY1 ) ALL ! RES\RCES ?AT WE HAD PLAC$ !RE DUR+ ! PREC$+ DAYS1 :I* W]E SUP]IOR TO ?OSE ?AT WE HAD ANY:]E ELSE4 ,BUT 9 ?IS CASE1 ! 5EMY APPLI$ EXTREME PRESSURE TO A V]Y N>R[ P>T ( ! FRONT4 ,!Y ALSO MANAG$ TO CAUSE ONE ( \R IMPROVIS$ UNITS TO PANIC4 ,?IS UNIT1 :I* HAD COME FROM O!R FRONTS & HADN'T EXP]I5C$ ! CITY'S REACTION TO ! CRISIS ON ,NOVEMB] #g1 HADN'T GRASP$ ! NATURE ! /RUGGLE 9 ,MADRID4 

,?AT UNIT )DREW 9 DISORD]1 :I* SPREAD TO \R O!R =CES4 ,! 5EMY WAS ?US ABLE TO OV]:ELM !M & 5T] ! ,UNIV]SITY ,CITY4 ,!Y OCCUPI$ V>I\S BUILD+S & GOT AS F> AS ! ,HOSPITAL ,CL9ICO4.<#f#i#c.>  
  

,OBVI\SLY1 ! ,DURRUTI ,COLUMN WAS NOT AN 0IMPROVIS$ UNIT10 S9CE IT HAD BE5 FI<T+ 9 ,>AGON S9CE ,JULY #b#e4 ,WE CAN ?US 9F] ?AT ,ROJO IS NOT REF]R+ TO ! ,DURRUTI ,COLUMN4 ,NONE!LESS1 HIS WORK IS CONFUS+1 P>TICUL>LY :5 HE MIXES UP ! 0,CATALANS40 ,=TUNATELY ,FRANCISCO ,HIDALGO'S 9SI/5CE ON ! IMPROVIS$ NATURE ( ! ,LIB]TAD-,LOPEZ ,TI5DA ,COLUMN CLE>S UP ANY AMBIGUITY4 

,ALC(> ,NASSAES WAS ONE ( ! FIR/ TO SEE ?IS MATT] CLE>LY4 ,HE WRITES3  
  

,TODAY WE KN[ ?AT ! ,ROM]O ,COLUMN DEF5D$ ! ,LOS ,FRANCESES ,BRIDGE1 :I* HAD ABSORB$ ! M5 ( ! OLD ,FRANCISCO ,GALAN ,COLUMN4 ,AT ITS RI<T !RE WAS ! ,I,V ,MIX$ ,BRIGADE ?AT ,>ELLANO L$1 :I* ,ROM]O TOOK OV] AFT] ,>ELLANO DI$ 9 ! ,UNIV]SITY ,CITY ?AT DAY4 ,!RE WAS ALSO ! ,CATALAN ,P,S,U,C ,LIB]TAD-,LOPEZ ,TI5DA ,COLUMN4 ,WE S9C]ELY BELIEVE ?AT !SE LA/ TWO UNITS W]E RESPONSIBLE = ! PASSAGE ( ! NATIONALI/ =CES TO ! O!R SIDE ( ! RIV]4 ,BUT1 !N1 :]E WAS ! ,DURRUTI ,COLUMN8 ,V]Y POSSIBLY 9 RES]VE 9 ,MADRID4 ,IT DIDN'T 5T] 9TO BATTLE UNTIL ?AT NI<T4.<#f#i#d.>  

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a1 #bba 3 ,P>T #c1 ,*APT] #ah -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #a#g1 #bbb 3 ,P>T #c1 ,*APT] #ah -- ,UPDAT$4 

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