Invasion of Val d'Aran

The Invasion of Val d'Aran, known under the code name Operación Reconquista de España ("Operation Reconquest of Spain"), was a military operation launched in October 1944 by the Unión Nacional Española (antifrancoist) [es] (UNE). In October 1944, with the Spanish Civil War over and the Axis powers in World War II in retreat, guerrilla fighters loyal to the Republic tried to conquer Val d'Aran in Catalonia and establish a provisional Republican government presided over by Juan Negrín in order to later overthrow the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. The invasion, led by communist militant and French resistance member Vicente López Tovar, managed to overrun a number of Civil Guard outposts and take over several hamlets in the high areas of Arán, but was eventually repelled by the Francoist army, led by General José Moscardó, the defender of the Alcázar during the civil war.

Invasion of Val d'Aran
Part of Aftermath of the Spanish Civil War and Spain during World War II
Grave of the soldiers of the Francoist army killed during the invasion, cemetery of Vielha.
Date 19–24 October 1944 Location Val d'Aran, Catalonia, Spain Result Francoist victory
Belligerents
Spanish State	Unión Nacional Española (sp) PCE PSUC CNT Republican Left PSOE
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[1]	588 dead[1] 800 captured

Moscardó established his headquarters at Vielha, the main administrative center of the valley, and, supported by heavy artillery, made it impossible for the insurgents to advance through the Port de la Bonaigua pass and onto the lowlands beyond. The guerrillas were also beaten off at Salardú, where they suffered a number of casualties.^[2]

According to historian Geneviève Dreyfus-Armand, the UNE was a "structure of a large alliance, (which) united not only Communists, but also Spaniards of different political alignments – Socialists, Republicans or Anarchists – who the dispersion of their organizations and the silence of their leaders pushed into joining the only fighting structure organised against Nazism".^[3]

Popular culture

• "The Silent War" (2019, original title: Sordo), Spanish movie by Alfonso Cortés-Cavanillas.

See also

• Spanish Maquis