Its first commander was Infantry Colonel Carlos Amores Cantos, who was succeeded by Militia Major Andrés Nieto Carmona.

At the onset of the Civil War Amores was Commander at the Nr 10 Mobilization and Reserve Center (Centro de Movilización y Reserva n° 10) at Calatayud and happened to be in Madrid.

On 21 December the 87th Mixed Brigade attacked the city from the left sector of the right flank, arriving the next day to the Torico Square in the center and taking over the Guardia Civil headquarters and the Cathedral.

On 25 January it tried to conquer the El Muletón —an emblematic hill that rises above the Alfambra River valley, but its effort ended in failure and the unit was relieved by the 222nd Mixed Brigade.

At the end of the war and the surrender of the Spanish Republic, the 87th Mixed Brigade was part of the reserve of the Levantine Army.