Invasion of Val d'Aran facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Invasion of Val d'Aran |
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| Part of Aftermath of the Spanish Civil War | |||||||
 Grave of the soldiers of the Francoist army killed during the invasion, cemetery of Vielha. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
.svg){kind=small} Spanish State |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| José Moscardó Rafael García Valiño Juan Yagüe |
Vicente López Tovar | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 50,000 men | 4,000 to 7,000 men | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 248 dead |
588 dead 800 captured |
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The Invasion of Val d'Aran was a military event that happened in October 1944. It was also known as Operación Reconquista de España, which means "Operation Reconquest of Spain". This operation was started by a group called the Unión Nacional Española (UNE).
At this time, the Spanish Civil War had ended. Also, World War II was still happening, and the Axis powers (like Germany) were losing. Because of this, some Spanish fighters who were against the government of Francisco Franco saw a chance. They wanted to take over Val d'Aran in Catalonia, Spain.
Their main goal was to set up a temporary government there. This new government would be loyal to the old Republic. They hoped this would be the first step to overthrowing Franco's dictatorship. A dictatorship is when one person has all the power and controls everything.
The invasion was led by Vicente López Tovar. He was a communist and had also fought in the French Resistance against the Nazis. His fighters managed to capture some small towns and outposts. These were in the higher parts of Val d'Aran.
However, the Francoist army quickly fought back. General José Moscardó led them. He was famous for defending the Alcázar during the Civil War. Moscardó set up his main base in Vielha, the biggest town in the valley.
The Francoist army had strong artillery, which are big guns. This made it impossible for the invaders to move forward. They couldn't get past the Port de la Bonaigua into the lower areas. The fighters were also defeated at Salardú and suffered many losses. In the end, the invasion was stopped by the Francoist army.
What Was the UNE?
The UNE was a large group that brought together many different people. It included Communists, Socialists, Republicans, and Anarchists. These people all wanted to fight against the dictatorship. They joined the UNE because their own groups were scattered or their leaders were silent. The UNE was the main group fighting against the dictatorship at that time.
In Movies
- "The Silent War" (2019) is a Spanish movie. Its original title is Sordo. This film was directed by Alfonso Cortés-Cavanillas.
See Also
In Spanish: Invasión del Valle de Arán para niños
