Tacoronte Festival Closes with WWII Reenactments: "Operation Tacoronte" and "D-Day in Saint-Marcel"

On Sunday, November 16, at 1:00 PM, Tacoronte's streets will once again echo with the sounds of World War II as Allied forces and the French Resistance clash with Nazi Germany in a dramatic historical reenactment. This event marks the closing day of the fifth annual Tacoronte Historical Novel Festival, organized by the Tacoronte City Council's Culture Department with support from the Cabildo of Tenerife's Culture Department.

Part of the festival's "Live Chronicles" program, the reenactment aims to provide an immersive and historically accurate experience. Dozens of actors and extras, dressed in period uniforms and equipped with authentic weapons, military gear, and vehicles, will bring to life the harsh realities of the 20th century's most devastating war, the impact of which is still felt today.

The Cero Culture Association from Úbeda and Tenerife's Recon 25 are behind this realistic portrayal. They will recreate two significant Allied operations that helped defeat the German army and alter the war's outcome. One operation is based on actual events, while the other is fictional.

The day's events are split into two parts. The first, at 1:00 PM, is "Operation Tacoronte." This fictional story is set in 1941, during World War II. Although Spain was neutral, the Canary Islands were a crucial strategic point in the Atlantic. The British, concerned that Germany might use the islands to control shipping routes to America, planned a secret mission. A commando team was to infiltrate Tacoronte to disable a German listening post and prevent the islands from falling under enemy control.

The second part, at 5:30 PM, is "D-Day in Saint-Marcel." This reenactment, part of the "Live Chronicles" afternoon session, transports the audience to Saint-Marcel in Brittany, France. It depicts a real and pivotal battle that aided the Allied victory on D-Day. In this operation, the Maquis, the French Resistance, launched a sabotage mission to disrupt German forces and halt reinforcements heading to Normandy. This culminated on June 18, 1944.

On that day, over 2,000 Maquis fighters and Allied paratroopers engaged in a fierce battle against the Germans, despite being outnumbered. Although the Resistance was forced to retreat, the mission was a major success. It compelled the Germans to divert troops and vital resources to Saint-Marcel, which ultimately helped the Allies secure victory on D-Day.

This battle will be faithfully recreated in Tacoronte, with the audience playing a role in certain moments of the performance.