Lleida will host a conference on Catalonia's military occupation during the Spanish Civil War's final phase. Historian Josep Maria Solé i Sabaté will deliver the talk on 12 May 2026, as part of the 'Debates de Memoria' series.
The event starts at 19.00 in Sala Jaume Magre, located at Carrer del Bisbe Torres, 2. Solé i Sabaté will detail the advance of Francoist troops from March 1938, following the Aragon front's collapse, until Catalonia's fall in February 1939.
Analysing Occupation and its Impact
The session will look at both the military aspects and the social and human consequences of the occupation. This includes the bombing of the population, the fate of republican institutions, and the 'Retirada', which saw hundreds of thousands flee to France. The conference will also address the immediate deployment of Francoist repression across the occupied territory.
Solé i Sabaté will reflect on how this period has shaped the country's collective memory. The aim is to offer a rigorous yet accessible perspective on a defining episode in Catalonia's contemporary history.
About Josep Maria Solé i Sabaté
Josep Maria Solé i Sabaté, born in Lleida in 1950, is a well-known historian specialising in the Spanish Civil War and the Franco regime. He holds a doctorate in History from the University of Barcelona and teaches Contemporary History at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
He was the first director of the Museum of History of Catalonia from 1996 to 2000. Solé i Sabaté has also participated in key projects for documentary and heritage recovery, such as retrieving Catalan documentation from exile between 1985 and 1991. He served as general coordinator of the Consortium Memorial of the Ebro Battle Sites and director of the Institute of Ilerdenses Studies.
Solé i Sabaté has authored many books and studies on the war, repression, exile, and Catalan political history. He has also directed reference works, including the 'History of the Generalitat de Catalunya and its Presidents'. His career includes extensive public engagement in radio and television, particularly on Catalunya Ràdio. He currently combines research with teaching and regular participation in conferences and public outreach activities across Catalonia.
