Auts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Auts
Highest point
Elevation	434 m (1,424 ft)
Listing	List of mountains in Aragon
Geography
Auts Location in Spain
Location	Bajo Cinca (Aragon)
Geology
Mountain type	Sedimentary rock
Climbing
First ascent	Unknown
Easiest route	Drive from Mequinenza

Auts (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈawts]) is a group of mountains found in Spain. It is located near the town of Mequinenza, close to the Ebro River. This area is part of the Bajo Cinca region in Aragon. The highest point of Auts is 434 meters tall.

History of Auts

These dry mountains were the site of a very tough battle. It was part of the Battle of the Ebro during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).

On July 25, 1938, soldiers from the Spanish Republican Army crossed the Ebro River here. They took control of the Auts mountains. At first, this was seen as a big win for the Second Spanish Republic. They hoped it would help them win the war.

But soon, two groups of soldiers, the 226th and 227th brigades, were surrounded. They were attacked by General Franco's Nationalist forces. Many soldiers were lost in the fighting at Auts. The few who survived had to cross back over the Ebro River.

There is a special monument at the foot of the mountains. It is near the road to Mequinenza. This monument honors the many soldiers who died in the Auts area.

The Auts Monument

Sixty years after the battle, on August 8, 1998, a group of survivors gathered. These survivors were known as the "Quinta del Biberón" (Baby Bottle Draft). They were very young soldiers during the war.

They opened a monument on the hillside of Alto de los Auts. This spot was very important during the battle. It was the highest point and strongly defended by the Republican soldiers.

The monument was designed by Javier Torres. It has two plaques, one in Catalan and one in Spanish. There are also two helmets on each side. The plaque says: "To all those who lost, who were all."

About 250 "biberones" and their families attended the event. They placed flowers at the monument. The veterans remembered how thirsty, hot, and sick they were during the battle in those mountains.

Origin of the Name Auts

The name "Auts" likely comes from an old Catalan word. This word meant "heights." In modern Catalan, it is "alts." This name was used to describe hills or high places. For example, the writer Ramon Llull used a similar word in his texts.

See also

In Spanish: Auts para niños

• Battle of the Ebro
• La Franja

Images for kids

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  A map showing the Battle of the Ebro.