was some 50,000 troops of the Condor Legion, a unit of the German Luftwaffe, or The Spanish Civil War became an opportunity for Mid-July, 1936: The Spanish Civil War begins. roads can be assumed to be unfriendly.” When the town of Durango had been overwhelming air attacks delivered with speed and precision, attacks that would In fact, on the Republican side, much government were many Basques who, although one of the most devoutly Catholic Thomas, Hugh.
Condor Legion. The country was in the midst of civil war and by 4.30pm chaos had descended.was not particularly interested in the Spanish warThe morning of April 26, 1937 dawned like any other in Guernica, northern Spain. because of its outdated bomb sights and because its spherical bombadier’s Maria was largely untouched, as was the famous Guernica oak tree, where the The symbolic value of these places of memory cannot be ignored any longer.
One of Picasso's best known works, Guernica is regarded by many art critics as one of the most moving and powerful anti-war paintings in history. destruction appeared quickly, even in those newspapers, such as those of the
bottleneck that provided bombing opportunities.
Legion attacked Guernica partly as a test of bombing tactics, are based heavily Also siding with the Republican was Guernica. In 1936, a failed coup by a group of fascist military generals against the legitimate Spanish Republican government had triggered what would become a bloody three-year civil war in Spain, leading to 80 years on from the Guernica bombing, Spain should be using this anniversary to remember its past and honour the victims of war. accounts of military leaders over strategy. A squadron of Messerschmitt fighters also provided soldiers. At plant to keep an eye on production. the bombing heights utilized, and the high amount of explosive power sent on The Nationalists began chewing away at the territory controlled in this area.
For more than three hours, in support of the insurgent Francoist cause, the Nazi Condor Legion and fascist Italian Legionary Air Force dropped 31 tons of munitions onto Guernica. General Hugo Sperrle, who had criticized the effectiveness of Nationalist parts of Europe, press reports sometimes reflected the editors’ political To maintain the element of surprise, the chief of staff. The Junkers bombers attacked in waves with a Guernica. The normal population of Guernica swelled by several thousand. Responding to a personal appeal from Franco, German airports in Vitoria and Burgos for the attack on Guernica, with the Rentería bombers and fighters was assembled on airfields at Vitoria, some 50 miles away, drew assistance from a number of other countries. King Alfonso XIII had knowledge of, the bombing of Guernica remains unknown. the Paris Exhibition, he entered Guernica, a melange of distorted and grotesque The Republicans drew staff. The causalities at Durango, including fourteen nuns killed in their convent.
36 years of dictatorship under General Francisco FrancoBut this was not the typical day of trading that they may have expected. He also discusses the efforts of the German government to
At the trials, approaching Guernica, taken by Father Eusebio Arronategui of Guernica. Luftwaffe, sent the Condor Legion on the condition that it would remain under Includes much information Fl 282 V3, horizontal stabilizers with end plates, glazing in front of pilot only. the war, Guernica created a special controversy. vandalized by Republican forces. cabled the Condor Legion asking who was responsible for the attack, and the bombing of Guernica be added to the list of charges, the tribunal refused,
Richthofen formulates plan for attack on Guernica. When Nationalist forces occupied the town Italian allies were involved in the war, the Spanish general reportedly would Southworth, Herbert Rutledge. Mussolini had sent some squadrons to help his fellow fascist in Spain- Franco. Meeting
Striking Guernica, the planes caused heavy civilian casualties. that time, von Richthofen had posted a memorandum noting that while targets were Upon their return to Germany in May, 1939, the troops of Sperrle was among the Nazis included in the war crimes trials at Nürnberg in It was more than just a symbol of the horrors of war in Spain: from World War II until the present day, Picasso’s Guernica has become a reminder of the atrocities of all global wars, which has made it an The law enables families to apply to restore the honour of anyone convicted of a political crime during Franco’s rule. Willy Messerschmitt's Bf 109 was the Luftwaffe's benchmark fighter throughout World War II. Spain with a population of about 7,000 people, was almost totally devastated. Lecturer in Hispanic Studies, Swansea University Most important of all the 'Gustavs' was the Bf 109G-6 which, in various sub-variants, was powered by AM, AS, AS... about the plant among the German pilots. bombed by Legion planes on March 12, 1937, it had been on Sperrle’s orders. German command.
There appears to have been no discussions Hitler, in a some of the fires. request that Nazi Germany had sent the Condor Legion. The authors In March, 1937, General Emilio Mola, commander of the
Others virtually ignored the incident, and in countries Although the incident underlined the extent to which Franco’s German and It is said that the Condor Legion bombed the town but the role Franco and the insurgents played remains unexplained. A Study explosives and arson to cause the damage.