Was there armed resistance to Franco after the Republic surrendered?

[Donna Ferentes]

In the course of this discussion I came across this link which includes the following paragraph:

The valley used to be without direct communication with the south side of the mountains during winter, until the construction of the Vielha tunnel, opened in 1948. Spanish Republican guerrillas (supporters of the Second Spanish Republic, the losing side in the Spanish Civil War) controlled the area from the end of World War II until the opening of the tunnel.

Is that true? Republican guerillas "controlled" a valley for almost a decade after the Republic fell? What's actually meant here by "controlled"? Does it mean "controlled after dark", were able to set up checkpoints, shoot at soldiers and policemen, hold meetings etc?

If so, how much of this went on? I'd heard about the maquis, but how extensive were their operations and what did they consist of?

 

[guinnessdrinker]

It's definitely plausible, being next to France and inaccessible to the spanish army.

 

[haggy]

del torro's film 'pan's labrynth' is set in the mountains in 1944 with guerillas n fascists still battling it out. it's a fantasy film, natch, but the historical setting is accurate...

 

[CNT36]

Yeh there was. The last chapter of the spainish civil war by the guy whose name I forgot (the one who wrote stalingrad aswell and always get recommended on here .I will remember in a minute. Beevor or something?) Anyway he detailed some of the resistance that carried on including Basque nationalism leading onto the formation ETA if I remember correctly.

 

[rhys gethin]

Yeh there was. The last chapter of the spainish civil war by the guy whose name I forgot (the one who wrote stalingrad aswell and always get recommended on here .I will remember in a minute. Beevor or something?) Anyway he detailed some of the resistance that carried on including Basque nationalism leading onto the formation ETA if I remember correctly.

And I remember meeting a bloke in Bristol who, because he was ill I think, hadn't gone to carry explosives into Spain with Stuart (sp?) Christie. I take it they were taking them to somebody (bloke was an Anarchist. not a Basque) who planned to use them - and there was certainly one important Anarchist, whose name has fallen out of my ear, who was active in the North in the 40's and possibly the 50's too.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Thanks. Thomas stops (more or less) where the war stopped, so although there's a copy of his great book within arm's reach, it's not much use to me here.

There's an old lady in a village down the road who's occasionally mentioned the maquis to my girlfriend, but we don't know if she means during the War or after it. She's a good sort - still avoids the people in the village when they're going to church on a Sunday. There must still be plenty of older people round here who can remember who informed on who.

 

[keefor]

And I remember meeting a bloke in Bristol who, because he was ill I think, hadn't gone to carry explosives into Spain with Stuart (sp?) Christie. I take it they were taking them to somebody (bloke was an Anarchist. not a Basque) who planned to use them - and there was certainly one important Anarchist, whose name has fallen out of my ear, who was active in the North in the 40's and possibly the 50's too.

Sabate.

Google him and you'll find out more.

 

[rhys gethin]

Sabate.

Google him and you'll find out more.

Right - thanks!

 

[rhys gethin]

Keefor. Have looked him up. What a man! I'd say they'd broken the mould, except that people will always be better than we expect, if they believe something, so there'll be more surprises coming. I was told about Sabate when I was young, I now recall. Thanks for reminding me.

 

[jigotai]

you can still see the barracks to defend the south entrance to the tunnel, as the prisoners were used for labour.

 

[Fledgling]

I found this:

http://libcom.org/history/1939-1965-armed-resistance-to-franco


Clearly there were skirmishes, though I should probably dig deeper.


I'd add that Carrero-Blanco's assassination was a pretty good example of resistance though.


Couldn't find anything on the tunnel at all.

 

[Groucho]

Italy too. Many anti-Fascists took to the hills. Never give up!