Fall of Gijón

When Gijón is captured on 21 October 1937, the last bastion of the democratically legitimated Popular Front government in northern Spain falls into the hands of fascist insurgents led by General Francisco Franco. Shortly thereafter, the Popular Front government shifts its headquarters from Valencia to Barcelona. In case of an ultimate defeat in the struggle against the fascists, the border with France will provide the last escape route due to control of the sea route across the Mediterranean by German and Italian ships.

Source: Museo de la Solaridad Salvador Allende The fall of Gijón: the storefront of the Luarca de Gijón theater, October 1937, painting by Equipo Realidad, 1940/41