Memorial of the Battle of the Ebro

The Memorial of the Battle of the Ebro, known locally as the Monumento conmemorativo de la Batalla del Ebro, stands as a striking and evocative landmark in the heart of Tortosa, Spain. This towering monument, rising from the waters of the Ebro River, is a poignant reminder of one of the most significant and brutal battles of the Spanish Civil War. Designed by the sculptor Lluís Maria Saumells i Panadés, the memorial was commissioned in November 1962, completed by November 1964, and inaugurated on June 26, 1966, by General Franco himself in a grand ceremony.

A Symbol of Conflict and Remembrance

The Memorial of the Battle of the Ebro has been the subject of much debate and interpretation over the years. While some view it as a monument to Francoist victory, others see it as a tribute to the last major Republican offensive or as a broader commemoration of all those who lost their lives in the Battle of the Ebro. Stripped of its overt Francoist symbols, it is also appreciated as a significant work of art, embodying Saumells' unique spiritualist expressionism. Indeed, it is considered one of Saumells' most ambitious and grandiose works, making him a prominent figure in the artistic landscape of Tarragona.

Architectural and Artistic Features

The Memorial of the Battle of the Ebro is composed of a concrete pillar serving as a pedestal, from which two tall, hollow iron spires rise in a pyramidal shape. Originally intended to be made of concrete, the spires were ultimately constructed from steel following the advice of engineers. The tallest spire, standing at 26 meters, features a large Cross of St. James attached to one of its angles, opposite the bridge. At its pinnacle, a statue represents a soldier, a figure interpreted in various ways: some see him placing a star in the celestial vault, while others view him as being guided by the star, his right arm raised in a gesture of aspiration or hope. Near the base, irregular holes symbolize shrapnel marks, gradually transforming into engraved crosses and other symbols as one moves upward, culminating in colorful stained glass at the top.

The smaller spire, reaching 16 meters, is crowned by a figure of an eagle with outstretched wings. This eagle is crafted from combined metal plates, while the soldier's statue receives a more volumetric treatment. The stained glass windows (concrete glass) were the work of Francesc Fornells i Pla, designed to shine with nighttime illumination provided by an underwater cable. The metal structures were created by Hijo de Miguel Mateu from Barcelona, and the bronze figure of the soldier was cast by the Artistic Foundry Vilà from Valls.

Historical Context and Controversy

The site of the monument holds historical significance, as it was once traversed by the old pontoon bridge, which was burned down in 1892. The monument's base is one of the pillars that supported the Pont de la Cinta, built to replace the pontoon bridge. The project for the bridge was commissioned in 1895, with Josep M. Cornet serving as the director of works. The bridge was blown up by Republicans in April 1938.

The memorial was driven by the civil governor Rafael Fernández Martínez, the president of the Diputación, Antoni Soler Morey, and the mayor of Tortosa, Joaquim Fabra, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Battle of the Ebro in 1964 and the end of the Civil War, referred to by Francoist propaganda as the 25 Años de Paz (25 Years of Peace). The monument's conception was entrusted to Lluís Maria Saumells i Panadés, who had a preliminary model ready by December 1962. The monument was completed on November 13, 1964, and inaugurated in 1966 by General Franco.

Debates and Decisions

With the restoration of the party system, the Tortosa City Council removed some of the most overtly Francoist elements from the monument, such as the Víctor inscription held by the eagle in its talons. However, parts of the civil society have called for the removal of the monolith, while others defend its preservation for its artistic value and potential for reinterpretation.

There have been two attempts to promote local referendums to decide the monument's fate. In 2010, municipal groups from CiU and PP blocked the initiative. On January 12, 2015, a motion by the ICV municipal group to reconsider the consultation was rejected by the CiU, PP, and PxC municipal groups. In early March 2016, the Catalan Parliament passed a vote urging the Tortosa City Council to immediately remove the memorial to the Battle of the Ebro. On May 28, 2016, a non-binding popular consultation was held to decide the future of the controversial Francoist monument. The result saw 68.36% of residents voting to keep the monument, with a participation rate of 29.3% (8,464 people). Of the 28,466 eligible voters, 31.25% (2,631 votes) chose option A (removal), while 68.36% (5,755 votes) opted for option B (retention).

In March 2017, a Tarragona court ruled that the Tortosa City Council lacked the authority to act on the monument, requiring the council to compile a catalog of Francoist vestiges in compliance with the Historical Memory Law. Two years later, in March 2019, the Tortosa City Council submitted the catalog to the court, including the Memorial of the Battle of the Ebro.

On November 16, 2020, the monument ceased to be considered an Integral Asset of Catalan Cultural Heritage by the Urban Planning Commission of the Terres de l'Ebre (CUTE). The monolith was no longer included in any of the three protection categories under the Catalan Cultural Heritage Law, and with the definitive modification of the Tortosa POUM, its catalog entry (0154) was removed from the city's catalog of historic, artistic, and environmental buildings and urban and rural ensembles. Following this preliminary step of decataloging, the Generalitat de Catalunya announced the monument's removal in the summer of 2021, leaving only the pillar and the inscription below.

However, on July 9, 2021, the Tarragona Administrative Court No. 2 ordered the suspension of the monument's removal. The court upheld the request for precautionary measures by the Collective for the Reinterpretation of the Memorial to the Battle of the Ebro (Corembe), which advocated for its preservation and reinterpretation, arguing that dismantling the monument would make its restoration impossible or very difficult. The judge added that there was no urgency to dismantle the monolith, given the various appeals against the works.

Today, the Memorial of the Battle of the Ebro stands as a testament to the complex and multifaceted history of Tortosa and the broader region. Whether viewed as a symbol of victory, a tribute to the fallen, or a significant work of art, it continues to provoke thought and reflection among those who visit.