on october 29, 1936, the spanish republican army launched an attack against the nationalist-held town of seseña. the republicans attacked with a force of 15 t-26 tanks, armed with a 45mm cannon, led by a lithuanian tank specialist, captain paul arman, and driven by soviets with spanish gunners, and the 1st mixed brigade, a newly established mixed brigade led by enrique líster. opposing them, the nationalists had a force of cavalry led by colonel monasterio, moroccan "regulares" and some italian tankettes. the soviet tanks were mased together for a shock attack and entered in seseña. arman claimed that the soviet tanks destroyed two infantry battalions, two cavalry squadrons, ten 75 mm guns, two tankettes and 20-30 trucks. the tanks crossed seseña and reached esquivias, nevertheless, the mixed brigade of lister never entered into the town and the tank force had to retreat. mikhail koltsov, a russian journalist at seseña said: "lister...explained, a grimace upon his face, that his units, had been moving well at first, but after 1,500 metres, they had felt tired and sat down...". furthermore, the nationalists managed to destroy three russian tanks and damage three more with molotov cocktails and artillery fire. the same day, the republican army, led by colonel ildefonso puigdendolas, launched another assault against the nearby town of illescas, but the attack was beaten off and puigdendolas was killed in action.