ORDER OF BATTLE // January 1, 1936
Battle of Lopera
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 5,000 estimated
Spanish Republic
3,000
Medium-confidence figure
Nationalist Spain
2,000
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of Lopera formed part of the Nationalist Aceituna offensive in late December 1936. The XIV International Brigade, numbering around 3,000 troops under Karol Świerczewski, launched an assault on the Nationalist-held town of Lopera but failed to take it after two days of fighting. Republican casualties were severe, reported between 300 and 600 killed or wounded against an estimated 200 on the Nationalist side. The failed attack demonstrated the limits of International Brigade offensive capacity during this phase of the war and left Lopera in Nationalist hands, sustaining the momentum of the Aceituna offensive.
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