After the fall of Caspe, the Nationalists troops continued their advance towards Catalonia with the support of the Legion Condor and the Aviazione Legionaria.

The XV International Brigade had been retreating since the Aragón Offensive began, and the republican lines collapsed.

[1][2] The battle followed the decision of the XV International Brigade to dig in and hold the town of Gandesa in an effort to slow down the Francoist troops, which had been advancing steadily since the beginning of the offensive.

The Nationalists attacked with troops of Mario Berti's CTV and Monasterio's Army Corps.

[4] However, the resistance of the XV Brigade allowed the Republican troops to regroup and to withdraw some material across the Ebro River.