withdrawal, some forces of the 61st MB were isolated north of the Ebro River, although most of the unit became part of the 13th Army Corps. The unit continued to retreat towards the Maestrazgo, pursued by nationalist forces. By April 5, the brigade was located in Morella, where it established a defensive line together with the 52nd and 211st mixed brigades; however, one of the battalions of the 61st MB fled in disarray before the enemy attack, which led to the collapse of the entire front. This failure was mainly blamed on the 61st brigade. As a consequence, one of its officers was shot in the presence of the troops as a lesson. Levante Campaign In mid-April, after the Republican zone was cut in two, the 61st MB was dissolved. However, on April 30 it was re-founded, adding the new unit to the 8th Division of the 6th Army Corps. Once the restructuring was completed, it was assigned to the 65th Division, with which it left for the Levante front on May 13. By then, the leadership of the 61st MB was in the hands of Luis García Vega, with Pedro López Calle as commissioner. Initially concentrated in Liria, shortly thereafter it would be located between Puerto de Escandón and the Valbona river, south of Teruel. On May 28, it had to face a nationalist assault, which attacked the positions of Formiche Bajo and Loma del Erizal, where the 61st Brigade maintained strong resistance. However, due to enemy pressure, the brigade had to undertake a slow retreat until on July 21 its forces reached the defenses of the XYZ Line. It was briefly attached to the 68th Division in Chiva, in the Republican rear. Extremadura Front After the stabilization of the Levante front, the brigade was assigned to the 41st Division and sent as reinforcement to the Extremadura front. Later it became part of the 63rd Division of the 7th Army Corps. However, until the end of the war it did not take part in relevant military operations. Command Commanders Bernabé López Calle; Francisco García Lavid; Luis García Vega; Commissars Antonio Rodríguez Saravia; Pedro López Calle, of the CNT; See also Mixed Brigades Rosal Column Notes References Bibliography Military units and formations established in 1937 Military units and formations disestablished in 1939 Mixed Brigades (Spain) Militarized anarchist formations