Author Description

At noon on April 1, 1959, Francisco Franco inaugurated the majestic basilica of the Valley of the Fallen, a monument that symbolized his absolute power. However, in the shadow of this event lurked a dark plan that could have changed the course of Spain. The Norwegian Communist Party, in collaboration with the clandestine CNT in exile, gave life to Operation Philistines. Its objective: to attack Franco and his government, challenging the tyranny of the Caudillo and the National Movement. An intrepid Norwegian sweeper was sent to Spain, with the mission of introducing dynamite cartridges through the maquis led by Quico Sabaté. His task was clear: to blow up the crag of Las Navas on the day of the inauguration of the basilica, and with it, put an end to an era. But fate is capricious, and the intuition of a police commissioner and luck conspired to avoid tragedy on that crucial day. Fifty years later, a young journalist delves into hidden memories and buried secrets to uncover the truth behind Operation Philistines, a failed attempt to end Francoism at the opening of that colossal mausoleum.