13th Division (Nationalist Spain)

13th Division
Active	16 September 1936 – 20 August 1943
Country	Spain
Type	Infantry
Role	Shock troops
Part of	I Army Corps
Nickname	The Black Hand
Engagements	Spanish Civil War Battle of Brunete Battle of Lleida (1938)
Commanders
Notable commanders	Fernando Barrón

The 13th Division also known as The Black Hand was a Division of the Nationalist faction during the Spanish Civil War.

History

Spanish Civil War

The unit was formed on 16 September 1936 as the "Barrón Column". ^[1] It became the 13th Division in April 1937. ^[1]

During the Battle of Brunete, the 13th Division successfully pushed back the Republican 11th Division, capturing the town of Brunete on 26 July 1937. ^[2]

In 1938, during the Battle of Lleida, the 13th Division suffered a 10% casualty rate while inflicting a 40% casualty rate on the Republican 46th Division. ^[3]

After the Spanish Civil War

The 13th Division was disbanded on 20 August 1943 and replaced by Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete". ^[4]

References

1. Engel 2010, p. 47.
2. Thomas 1976, p. 770.
3. Sagués San José 2014, p. 36.
4. "BREVE HISTORIAL DE FUERZAS PESADAS [Brief History of the Heavy Forces]" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2013.

Bibliography

• Sagués San José, Joan (2014). La Lleida vençuda i ocupada del 1938 (in Catalan). Lleida: Pagès Editors. ISBN   978-84-9975-482-6.
• Engel, Carlos (2010). Historia de las Divisions del Ejército Nacional 1936-1939 (in Spanish). Almena, Madrid. ISBN   978-84-92714-17-9.
• Thomas, Hugh (1976). The Spanish Civil War. Barcelona: Ed. Grijalbo. ISBN   84-253-2767-9.