The ruins of Belchite.
The Battle of Belchite was a pivotal and harrowing episode of the Spanish Civil War, fought between August 24 and September 7, 1937. Situated in the province of Zaragoza in northeastern Spain, Belchite became the focus of a Republican offensive aimed at diverting Nationalist forces away from their northern campaigns. The battle was characterized by intense urban warfare, relentless bombardments, and heavy casualties on both sides. What began as a strategic military operation ended in the near-total destruction of the town, leaving behind a legacy of devastation and a powerful symbol of the war's brutality. The ruins of Belchite stand today as a haunting reminder of the conflict and the deep divisions that scarred Spain during this turbulent period.
Old village of Belchite,
the young shepherds no longer roam there,
the jotas our fathers sang
will no longer be heard.
Written on the door of the San Martín de Tours church in Belchite in 1937 by one of the last victims of the battle.
