 Confined in the prison-ship "Uruguay" until January 24, 1939, he was taken for execution with about fifty other inmates to the Monastery of Santa Maria del Collell in Girona.The execution was carried out on January 30, but as the squad fired at the prisoners Sánchez Mazas leapt out of the group and escaped into the forest.A manhunt was organised and he was found hiding under some bushes shortly after.