Gandesa is the capital of the comarca of Terra Alta, in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. Gandesa was at the center of fighting during the Battle of the Ebro in the Spanish Civil War. In the summer of 1938, Republican forces crossed the Ebro in an attempt to throw back the Nationalist armies of Francisco Franco. The subsequent siege led to a Nationalist victory.
Gandesa in "The Hill of the Beast"[]
After successfully crossing the Ebro River in July, 1938, the Spanish Republicans slowly advanced to the outskirts of Gandesa. The Nationalists had a position on a hill, designated Hill 666 by the Republicans, which prevented the Republicans from reaching Gandesa. With the initial drive halted, the Abraham Lincoln Brigade were now tasked with taking Hill 666. One of its members, Moishe Leutner was familiar enough with the New Testament that he realized the significance of the number 666, and joked that they were tasked with taking "the Hill of the Beast".[1]
The Abe Lincolns were able to make their way up the hill for nearly three days.[2] However, at the stroke midnight on the third night, the Nationalists successfully summoned a shoggoth which immediately descended upon the Americans, forcing them to retreat back down the hill. Gandesa remained in Nationalist hands.[3]
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