ˈæftɚɹ ɐ fˈeɪld əfˈɛnsɪv ɪn noʊvˈɛmbɚ, ðə nˈæʃənəlˌɪsts sˈʌmənd ɐ fˈoːɹs ʌv sˈɛvəntˌiːn,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ mˈɛn, lˈɛd baɪ dʒˈɛnɚɹəl ˈɔːɹɡæz, wɪð fˈoːɹ mˈoʊbəl bɹɪɡˈeɪdz lˈɛd baɪ ɡˈɑːɹʃə ˈɛskeɪmˌɛz fɹænsˈɪskoʊ ɡˈɑːɹʃə ˈɛskeɪmˌɛz, bˈæɹən, sˈiːnts də bjˌʊɹɹuːˈɑːɡə ænd mˌɑːnɐstˈɪɹiˌoʊ, bˈækt baɪ hˈɛvi ɑːɹtˈɪlɚɹi ænd dʒˈuː fˈɪfti tˈuː bˈɑːmɚz.
After a failed offensive in November, the Nationalists summoned a force of 17,000 men, led by General Orgaz, with four mobile brigades (led by García Escámez Francisco García Escámez, Barron, Saenz de Buruaga and Monasterio), backed by heavy artillery and Ju 52 bombers.