Ortiz Column

The Ortiz Column (Spanish: Columna Ortiz), later known as the South Ebro Column (Spanish: Columna Sur-Ebro), was a column of the confederal militias that fought in the Spanish Civil War. It was the second militia column established by anarchists in Catalonia that was sent to fight on the Aragon front. Led by Antoni Ortiz, the column quickly captured Casp and Quinto on the south bank of the Ebro river. They then besieged Belchit, but were unable to capture the town from the Nationalists. The front lines held by the column remained largely stagnant, until the outbreak of the Battle of Belchit in 1937. During this time, the column published its own newspaper and magazine, and participated in the establishment of the Regional Defence Council of Aragon. In early 1937, the column was militarised into the 25th Division of the Popular Army of the Republic. Ortiz came into conflict with his superior command and was later transferred to the 24th Division.