First phase A unit known as
Brigada Móvil de Puertollano was established towards the end of 1936 led by Infantry Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Martín del Castillo. It was organized with two
Carabineros battalions from
Requena and
Castellón, the 'Pablo Iglesias nr 2 Battalion' from
Valencia and another
Carabineros battalion that joined the unit in
Linares. The leader of the new unit was Italian Militia Major
Aldo Morandi, who was replaced as head of the 20th International Battalion by Mexican Colonel
Juan Bautista Gómez, with German Major
Fritz Schiller as Chief of Staff. On 22 August the brigade was badly shattered at
Puerto de San Vicente. Between 18 and 20 October it took part in the defense of the
Sierra de la Noria. In December it was made part of the
63rd Division of the
8th Army Corps and again it suffered a lot of casualties during the attack against
Granja de Torrehermosa, so that it was relieved of its duties and sent to
Villanueva de Córdoba in order to be reorganized. At this time there were numerous desertions among the remaining members of the wrecked brigade.
End of the unit In its last phase the 86th Mixed Brigade was initially led by Militia Major
Lino Carrasco Ortiz, who was replaced by Militia Major
Ramón Lleida Gómez after only a month. The unit saw little action in the intervening months until the final defeat and surrender of the Spanish Republic in March 1939. ==See also==