...or should that be five columns? For the first few turns both sides focussed on getting troops forward. I'll let the photos do most of the talking.
A Nationalist column advances - led by the mighty tankettes!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2ZMYUVAmuMsev0cqYhf_F5DVBrDkenlCG34nvbm5EcxC8p0Lfu-oTfvvCMrnd85r5aKnocenSe4ITXa7sVgoOO3k_eQLXAOHTFD_cngobR2XDUewTWFHR6F0mGu4fYUrwOWBjxFqej66/s320/IMG_20210409_104321_403.jpg) |
Foreign Legion with 'heavy tanks' courtesy of Condor Legion. Photo by Simon Wilson. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3j113GeXvqbBh6X_xr_VvJLVXrdb4ObjSNj9gBqAuTsnvZFtZkPkrgkbwZdqEgOkwU9GclrKJ2O5p7ANvw2vtfbkrAJPp2WF5TkjwWYjf2aNgLtVAsbod60N-8D0vYf-wz5SN3Kl4CEo/s320/thumbnail_image6.jpg) |
Moroccan Regulares advance. Photo by Russell King |
Republican backs to the wall - from left (obviously) - Russell, Lloyd, Jerry.
The kneeling photographer is none other then your humble correspondent.
Photo by Simon
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XKFISjeNIrjikr3ifw1FmPalm17k6KIEmen9hqZ2QjIBm6RlZ2nfc-gSRdw76rufI2C6pA_0OghjkRfymLEQac7bTlLPXEtenz96dBI0AvHF68XUWxRTEmQoKn10YGqN35D2lKqtS-8l/s320/IMG_7906.jpg)
The Paris Commune Battalion of the International Brigade advances accompanied by Russian tanks.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-I-ImiQu6XmUhx8UWnknObJMZlJnZHffRyUxyX6-8zevfMWND55LMDCj_4g8o34txDmu4FUX8Ntnkay0n8SjnQcRWZWrnbnbpmjuip5XIhEMLBe4yuxg_aAX09MLV3lW_aO4vU0fPHvG/s320/1.jpg) |
Another view of the International Bde. Photo by Russell |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0LEefi1ZIhljShjjLI32W4knVExpuSUfOdZH_T-krJjEuaCZfrNAxQMMfHUPd-uaMzcyQxifl0nnBs9mo1hnZ6sd0QDTh_YAsZcxlg4hGjdirtDZxCib22pmhJ_XwQbvQziuZaCverse/s320/IMG_7905.jpg)
POUM militia and Internationals advance.
Another view of the Nationalist motor column - note the Guardia Civil company in the background.
Despite inter-factional squabbles, the Republicans had assembled the appearance of a battle line...
...but so had the Nationalists
The Legion advances!
Tankettes to the front!
But where, I hear you ask, were the NKVD? Astonishingly, Comrade Orlov rolled a succession of ones, thus failing to activate even his own entourage for several turns.