Today, the Pinell de Brai fallen houses are an evident reminder of four months of fighting and bombing over the village during the spanish civil war. When their neighbors, nearly 1.800 in 1938, returned to their homes after a long period of evacuation they found a village in ruins. Today, the ruins of approximately ten of these houses have been turned in one of the most significative historical sites of the battle of the Ebro.

One of the chosen points for the republican troops to cross the river Ebro night of 25th July 1938 was nearby Miravet. After occupying this little town, main force of Republican troops went to Pàndols ranges across a road between Miravet and Pinell de Brai. The republican troops occupied Pinell de Brai at 9 o’clock in the morning of 25th July without finding any resistance. During next four months, until its occupation by Franco troops, on 3th November, Pinell de Brai became an area of republican rearguard where there were installed health services, intendency and others services. For this reason, it was one of the objectives of Franco artillery and, also, of his airforce. 17 people died because of bombing and 76 houses were collapsed.

The fallen houses area is located on the high area of Pinell de Brai’s old quarter. Several balconies, one of them dedicated to the ‘Lleva del Biberó’, offers an excellent vision of Pàndols and Cavalls ranges. Several explanatory panels explain the facts happened in the village during the long battle. An itinerary allows visit all the space.

The Testimony
Interview made by Andreu Caralt in Diari of Tarragona 10th August, 2007 to Josep Borràs, neighbor of Pinell de Brai that was evacuated of his village during the battle of the Ebro.

‘When Franco troops conquered the village of Pinell de Brai on 4th November 1938, inside the village only just were living some old men who would not or could not to escape of bombing attacks. Seventy-five houses had stopped existing. A days later, like as other neighbors, Josep Borràs and his family returned to the village. Fortunately, his house was intact, but empty. «There was nothing inside our home, only four walls. We begin of nothing. We buy some ‘alpargatas’, a dish and a spoon». During many months, the Franco regime, via General Management of Devastated Areas, cleaned a lot of rubbles of many houses demolished by his own airforce during the battle of Ebro. In 1941, the fascist regime began the construction of new buildings, a new Pinell de Brai with schools, a new town hall, a Guardia Civil barrack and twelve new houses that had to accommodate, on the role, the neighbors who had lost their homes during the battle.

The republican bombings over the village occupied by Franco in spring 1938 compelled the Borràs family, and a lot of another people, to quit their homes. «I had 13 years old, my family found a refuge in Cavalls range, in a country house, like other families», explains Borràs, today 82 years-old man. The situation turned around unbearable when knew news about the beginning of the battle of the Ebro, on 25th July. «We did not know to where to go, but we had to go to wherever». The village of Maella, in Aragon and, therefore, inside national troop area, was the chosen destination. There, listening day a day news about war, Borràs knew the republican complete defeat. In mid-november returned to Pinell de Brai, a village in ruins, «I only found four old men». To eating, during a lot time, he had only a dish of semolina and sweet potatoes, because «not everybody had figs and almonds». In those times, meat was an authentic luxury. Borràs picked up shrapnel to survive. At the age of 15 years he began to work inside mines that existing in the area. «There were very hungry», remembers Borràs. «I had more hunger than sleep».