| "El Valle del Jarama" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Language | Spanish |
| English title | Jarama Valley |
| Published | 1938 |
| Composer(s) | Traditional (music from "Red River Valley") |
| Lyricist(s) | Alex McDade |
"Jarama Valley" also known as "El Valle del Jarama" is a song from the Second Spanish Republic. Referring to the Spanish Civil War Battle of Jarama, the song uses the tune of Red River Valley.
The battle was fought from 6–27 February 1937, in the Jarama river valley a few kilometres east of Madrid. The seasoned troops of Franco's Army of Africa assaulted positions held by the inexperienced volunteers of the International Brigades, in particular the British and the Dimitrov battalions. It ended in stalemate, with both sides entrenching. At the end of three weeks, in particular after a counter-attack on what became known as "Suicide Hill", the death count was high. The British Battalion lost 225 of its 600 men[1] and the Lincoln Battalion lost 125 out of 500.[1]