26th Division (Spain)

The 26th Division was a military unit of the Spanish Republican Army during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). It was primarily active in the Aragon front, particularly in the Huesca sector. The division was formed and led by Gregorio Jover Cortés, a prominent figure in the Catalan Solidaridad Obrera trade union affiliated with the anarchist CNT (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo). Consequently, the 26th Division was often referred to as the "Jover Column" or the "Jover Division," reflecting its origins in the militia columns that formed the early Republican forces.

The division's composition was diverse, drawing heavily from anarchist and socialist militias in Catalonia. It participated in numerous offensives and defensive actions along the Aragon front, attempting to break the Nationalist lines and relieve pressure on other areas. However, like many Republican units on the Aragon front, the 26th Division suffered from logistical difficulties, internal divisions, and a general lack of heavy weaponry and air support, factors which significantly hampered its operational effectiveness.

While the 26th Division maintained a presence on the Aragon front throughout much of the war, it was ultimately unable to prevent the Nationalist advance. Following the Nationalist breakthrough in Aragon in 1938, the division was pushed back and suffered considerable losses. Like other Republican units, the 26th Division was eventually dissolved or integrated into other formations as the war drew to a close with the Republican defeat in 1939.