With Bilbao fallen and the Basques effectively knocked out of the war, the Republic was desperate to stall the final collapse of their enclave on the northern coast of Spain. Two large offensives were launched with the intent of drawing Franco's attentions south, but their failures only minimally delayed the final result for their isolated comrades.  Bibliography for this episode:  Jackson, Gabriel The Spanish Republic and the Civil War, 1931-39 Princeton University Press 1965Preston, Paul The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution, and Revenge Harper Perennial 2006Thomas, Hugh The Spanish Civil War Modern Library 2001Beevor, Antony The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 Penguin Books 2006 Preston, Paul A People Betrayed: A History of Corruption, Political Incompetence, and Social Division in Modern Spain 1874-2018 William Collins 2020 Questions? Comments? Email me at [email protected]