page_title: Tarna
section_title: The Republican Offensive of May, 1937
hierarchical_section_title: Tarna / Tarna in the Civil War / The Republican Offensive of May, 1937
caption_attribution_description: Español: Portada del diario Avance, Mayo de 1937, anunciando la ofensiva republicana en los puertos
context_page_description: Tarna is one of ten parishes in Caso, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.
  The population is 100.
context_section_description: Since the start of 1937, the Francoist army prioritized conquering Madrid. The city proved to be well-armed and fortified, making it impossible at the time. Franco decided to change strategy. He redirected his forces to attack the Cantabrian coast, starting with Euskadi.
  Franco's army began to concentrate its force against the Basque Country, the Republican side attempted an offensive from Tarna and Pajares that forced the enemy to divert forces. 
  Certain factors affected the present war:
  The Trubia Arms Factory remained in Republican power
  Russian weapons are unloaded in Santander
  The area has raw materials, such as steel and coal
  It is not possible to import weapons or ammunition from France to Asturias 
  The North Front is isolated and surrounded by land
  The Republican Fleet is in the Mediterranean protecting Soviet shipments and the Cantabrian Sea is almost in the hands of the Francoist navy
  The Francoists are greater in number, with 160,000 men compared to 120,000
  Franco received weapons from Hitler and Mussolini, in greater quantities than their enemy, with 400 artillery against 250, and 60 tanks against 40 
  Aviation forces between both sides are strongly skewed, with Franco's own 70 planes, 70 Italian planes and 80 German planes, compared to 70 Republican planes 
  Despite the odds, the Republican offensive was well-planned and started successfully, breaking the balance of forces that existed in the San Isidro-Tarna area. The Republicans advanced through the Cofiñal valley, conquering the Sierra de Rebollares and the opposite bank. They reached Puebla de Lillo. In response, the Francoist command sent 50 trucks with two tanks of regulars and other infantry, to block the advance.
  Immediately, from its base in León, the German Condor Legion,   tried to dislodge the Republicans by bombarding their positions, while Franco's artillery did the same from the ground. This combination wore them out for 20 days. According to some sources, on June 9th, Franco visited the area to give direct instructions. The Republican army suffered from its lack of supplies, and after almost three weeks of combat, it yielded, retreating to San Isidro-Isoba-Cofiñal-Puerto de Tarna.
  Tarna, which housed a headquarters and a field hospital for the Republicans, had a direct relationship with the front. The General Command made a request to collect milk from the neighbors for the field hospital from Villa Lucila. At the time, the mayor of the council sent a letter to Tarna asking the cow owners for cooperation: 
  On June 19, Bilbao fell. On the Tarna front, the “containment” fighting continued, without the line of fire moving until the end of September.
caption: 2017-09-29 Diario Avance portada
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