The Basque Government set up the Basque Army to combat the Franco army. Nationalists had the largest number of battalions, and they also had battalions of communists, socialists, anarchists and republicans. 40,000 soldiers and 1,000 sailors met in 79 battalions and the highest power was held by lehendakari José Antonio Agirre. II. The Gernika Battalion of the Basque Army fought during the World War. They were Basque warriors, and that's the title of their hymn.