in december 1936, queipo de llano launched an offensive in order to occupy andújar and relieve the shrine, but the offensive was stopped at lopera in january 1937 (20 milles away from andújar). in april 1937, the republican government decided to crush the resistance of the rebels and sent a large force (20,000 men), led by communist major martínez cartón. the republican forces split the rebel enclave in two and conquered the encampment of lugar nuevo. franco then gave permission to cortés to evacuate women and children and to surrender should resistance become impossible, but cortés rejected the evacuation of the women and children. on april 30, cortés was wounded and on may 1, the republicans broke into the sanctuary.