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Spring 1938.The Spanish civil war 1936-1939 is about to
finish. Franco has defaetedthe Aragon front reaching the Mediterranean
through Vinaros and Alcanar, dividing the republican territory in two.
The Second republic government, with the firm and desperate purpose to
tight for the Catalan County, promoted a wide and deep reorganisation
of the military units present in Catalonia.
Starting from April of 1938 the new front folows the
line of the rivers Ebre, Segre and Noguera Pallaressa from he sea till
the French border, with some national bridgeheads on the left river
banks in Tremp and in Balaguer. Low moral was very present at all
levels in the Catalan rearguard.
During the spring of 1938 The XVIII Army contingent
arrives in Pujalt to create the popular army Training Base.
The training base is planned like a military
installation of new plant with the logistical supports and
organisational that Pujalt village can offer, which at the time has
electric energy, telephone and buildings that can be used immediately,
etc. The election of this location also is due to the proximity of
water and a good communication network from Cervera to Calaf.
Pujalt is halfway between the front ( 60 km9) and the
big cities of the Catalan rearguard.
The main facilities (living quarters, toilets,
underground air-raid shelters, tents, homes, kitchens, antiaircraft
defences, theatre...) are found in the forest of the "Obacs" in
"La Muntada". The base also had a wide and well equipped sport
area with a soccer pitch, a running truck ans showers; in the "Tusquella"
area there were the laundries with a 50 metre canal; and in the
south-east two km away we can see what the shot field was like. It
still preserves the trenches of the targets.
It is not known exactly many soldiers used those
facilities: we can estimate from about 8.000 to 10.000 and with to
capacity of 1.200 soldiers. The camp was fully in use before and while
the battle of the Ebro was taking place.
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