Students
Gernika The bombing of
The lies and truths of the event Gernika Peace Museum (2021)
Index
Acknowledgements: To all the colleagues from the Gernika Peace Museum who have contributed to the creation and improvement of the work.
Foru Plaza, 1 48300 Gernika-Lumo (Bizkaia) Tel. +34 94 627 0213 www.museodelapaz.org E-mail: hezkuntza.museoa@gernika-lumo.net Gernika-Lumo, 2021
Introduction to the Spanish Civil War ............................4
Chronicle by George L. Steer ..........................................10
Introduction to the bombing of Gernika...........................6
Herbert Southworth, historian and writer...........14
Luis Iriondo, a witness of the bombing....................8
Spanish Civil War posters .......................................15
Letter from the President of Germany......................9
Webography...................... ....................................... 17 2
This magazine is a complement to the game-research on the Bombing of Gernika that we have created at the Gernika Peace Museum. "The bombing of Gernika" gameresearch: https://view.genial.ly/6166b45727f2b50 dcae15967/game-breakout-thebombing-of-gernika-research
"The bombing of Gernika" research-game
It consists of the following materials: The bombing of Gernika (Teaching guide) The bombing of Gernika magazine (teachers) The bombing of Gernika magazine (students)
Duration 10 h Modality Online Language Spanish Euskara English Link Research-game https://view.genial.ly/6166b4572 7f2b50dcae15967/gamebreakout-the-bombing-ofgernika-research
3
The Spanish Civil War ravaged Spain between the 17th of July 1936 and the 1st of April 1939. By the time the Second Republic was proclaimed on the 14th of April 1931, the country was already quite polarised. The situation worsened during the period of 1931-1936, leading to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. The war, which broke out as a result of the uprising of the army (under the
INTRODUCTION TO THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR
command of General Francisco Franco) against the government of the Second Republic, ended in 1939 with the victory of the rebels. The victory of the rebels led to the establishment of a dictatorial regime (Francoism) that lasted more than 35 years.
Francisco Franco in a winter cloak, 1930.
3
"Today, civilians are the main victims of war. Only 80 years ago
The Spanish Civil War
such news would have been unbelievable: the human tragedy of war only affected young soldiers on the battle eld, far from the cities". © Gernika Peace Museum, "Memoritour: Anti-aircraft shelters".
Gernika, the symbol
The Spanish Civil War. © Gernika Peace Museum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=warwnmiZDuU
June 17-20, 1936. Chaos ensued in just four days. Spain was at war, divided into friendly and hostile territories. Eating, working, thinking, interacting with others and with one's surroundings were no longer commonplace. Suddenly peace disappeared and with it, life itself. © Gernika Peace Museum.
4 Gernika, the symbol. © Gernika Peace Museum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VRIpfMSfYA
Church of San Juan and surroundings after the bombing © The Documentation Centre on the Bombing of Gernika
The bombing of Gernika 1/2
INTRODUCTION TO THE BOMBING OF GERNIKA The bombing (1) © Gernika Peace Museum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ibfhbStESk
The people of Gernika experienced
On 31st March 1937, Franco's
Gernika, the nerve centre of
the stages of the war from the very
army bombed Durango and
the region, held an important
beginning, although during the
fear began to spread among
agricultural
the population.
market every Monday. It was
The local authorities ordered
also known for its industrial
the construction of several
activity (from the end of the
anti-aircraft shelters. And so
19th and beginning of the 20th
As the front approached, the direct
the 26th of April 1937 arrived.
century) with a large number
effects of the war increased.
It was Monday. Market day.
rst months the war campaign did not
drastically
alter
the
atmosphere in the town.
and
livestock
5
The bombing of Gernika 2/2
Victims and responsability of the bombing of …
The bombing (2) © Gernika Peace Museum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9QB_NFZ-Fo
Victims and responsibility © Gernika Peace Museum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFvsPe7rUiU
of weapon factories, jewellery and The air raid began at around 4
The
Gernika,
Gernika was practically razed
silverware factories...
which was carried out in three
to the ground and went down
phases
in history as the rst rehearsal
p.m. when the bells of Santa
In 1937, Gernika had a population María
church
tolled
three
destruction (the
of
dropping
of
of 5,630 inhabitants in addition to times to warn of the arrival of
bomblets, incendiary bombs and
of total war.
some 2,000 refugees and the planes.
the
The
large number of people who came This was the beginning of the
population) was the work of the
recorded
to the market. It is estimated that systematic
of
German Condor Legion and the
fatalities.
on 26 April there were between Gernika, which lasted for more
Italian air force acting under
10,000 and 12,000 people.
Franco's orders.
bombing
than three hours.
stra ng
of
the
civilian
Basque
Government
1,654
direct
+info
www.museodelapaz.org
6
Luis Iriondo, a witness of the bombing
The mark of men. Passages from the docu… docu…
Discurso del 60º Aniversario del Bombardeo de Gernika The Mark of Man © Gernika Gogoratuz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyLH2Jh18VI
Gernika, the 27th of April
nothing against them, but they didn't
Perhaps from their height they saw
sleep in our bed. We no longer
1997 "Sixty years ago, we
see us as we were. Because they were
us like ants desperately eeing.
had a home. We had no home.
had an unexpected visitor in
at the top and we were at the bottom.
And we could not speak to each
(...)”
Gernika. Many of us were still
If they had been at our level, all of us
other. Men and ants cannot talk to
kids and some men came to
at the bottom, they would have seen
each other. And they poured down
us from other lands, who did
that we were just like the kids in their
on us a rain of re, shrapnel and
not know us and whom we
country, in their village, like their
death.
did not know.
children or their little brothers and
And they destroyed our village. And
sisters.
that night we could no longer dine
They didn't even hate us
And that the women were like their
in our house or
because we had done
women. But they didn't see us like that.
+info
http://www.bombardeodegernika.org/descargas/luis_ iriondo.pdf
7
The mark of men. Passages from the documentary of Gerni… Gerni…
I offer you, who still carry the wounds of the past in your hearts, my open hand in a plea for reconciliation. http://www.bombardeodegernika.org/descargas/luis_iriondo.pdf
+info
The human footprint© Gernika Gogoratuz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyLH2Jh18VI
Letter from the President of the Federal Republic of Germany 60th anniversary of the bombing of Gernika
8 Letter from the German President to the people of Gernika © Gernika Gogoratuz http://www.bombardeodegernika.org/descargas/luis_iriondo.pdf (pag. 14-15)
Bust of George Steer in Gernika © Peace Museum of Gernika
George L. Steer War correspondent http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Prensa/ Corresponsales/Extranjeros/Extranjeros.h tm
THE TRAGEDY OF GUERNICA TOWN DESTROYED IN AIR ATTACK EYE-WITNESS’S ACCOUNT From Our Special Correspondent BILBAO, April 27 1937
unloading on the town bombs weighing
from
1,000lb.
downwards and, it is calculated, more than 3,000 two-pounder aluminium incendiary projectiles. The ghters, meanwhile, plunged low from above the centre of the
Guernica, the most ancient town of
town to machine- gun those of
the Basques and the centre of
the civilian population who had
their
taken refuge in the elds.
cultural
tradition,
was
completely destroyed yesterday
The whole of Guernica was soon
afternoon by insurgent air raiders.
in ames except the historic Casa
The bombardment of this open
de Jontas with its rich archives of
town far behind the lines occupied
the Basque race, where the
precisely
ancient Basque Parliament used
three
hours
and
a
quarter, during which a powerful
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Prensa/Corresp Busto de George Steer en Gernika ©Museo de la Paz de Gernika onsales/Extranjeros/Steer/Steer.htm
to
sit.
The
famous
oak
of
eet of aeroplanes consisting of
Guernica, the dried old stump of
three German types, Junkers and
600 years and the young new
Heinkel
shoots of this century, was also
bombers
and
ghters, did not cease
Heinkel
9
untouched. Here the kings of
The re ection of the
Spain used to take the oath to
could be seen in the clouds of
respect the democratic rights
smoke above the mountains
(fueros) of Vizcaya and in
from 10 miles away. Throughout
return received a promise of
the night houses were falling
allegiance as suzerains with
until the streets became long
the democratic title of Señor,
heaps
not Rey Vizcaya. The noble
debris.
parish, church of Santa Maria
Many of the civilian survivors
was also undamaged except for the beautiful chapter house, which
was
struck
by
an
incendiary bomb.
the town the whole of it was a end to end.
red
impenetrable
took the long trek from Guernica to
Bilbao
wheeled
in
antique
Basque
solid-
farmcarts
drawn by oxen. Carts piled high
At 2 am today when I visited horrible sight,
of
ames
aming from
with such household possessions as could be saved from the con agration clogged the roads all night.
10 Article from The Times in which George Steer's article on the bombing of Gernika was published. © Documentation Centre on the bombing of Gernika https://issuu.com/museodelapazdegernika/docs/times28_april_37_p17-18
Other survivors were evacuated in Government lorries, but many were forced to remain round the burning
town
lying
on
mattresses or looking for lost relatives and children, while units of the re brigades and the Basque motorized police under the personal direction of the Minister of the Interior, Señor Monzon, and his wife continued rescue work till dawn. (...)
+info Photograph on display in the History Room of the Gernika Peace Museum. © Gernika Peace Museum
ttps://es.wikisource.org/wiki/La_tragedia_d e_Guernica_(George_Steer)
11 Article from The Times in which George Steer's article on the bombing of Gernika was published. © Documentation Centre on the bombing of Gernika https://issuu.com/museodelapazdegernika/docs/times28_april_37_p17-18
Gernika after the bombing © Documentation Centre on the bombing of Gernika https://www.pinterest.es/kanpantxu81/gernika-y-el-bombardeo-gernika-eta-bonbardaketa-26/
Books on the bombing of Gernika https://issuu.com/museodelapazdegernika/docs/hoja_vitrin a
12
Conferencia Angel Viñas 3/3
foreign
correspondents
and
consequence
of
the
prior
Spanish representatives of the
publication of the news concerning
foreign press in Bilbao on the
the bombing by the foreign press.
night of 26-27 April 1937, the
(...)
Gernika event would not have
-The
appeared as we know it today.
journalists who visited Gernika after
messages
of
the
foreign
the nationalists took the town on 29 The
Presentation by Angel Viñas of the new edition of The Destruction of Guernica by Herbert Southworth © Gernika Peace Museum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhBMegCrbX0
newspaper
articles
that
April. (...)"
in uenced the development of
SOUTHWORTH, Herbert R.: The Destruction of
the
Guernica: Journalism, Diplomacy, Propaganda and
Gernika
story
can
be
History, Ed. Ruedo Ibérico, 1977, p. 27.
classi ed into three groups:
+info
https://dedona. les.wordpress.com/2013/03/tapaprologo.p
Herbert R. Southworth Writer, journalist and historian who specialises in the Civil War.
"From the earliest stages of its
-Journalistic reports sent by
development, the story of the
correspondents from Bilbao or
destruction of the Basque town
from
of Gernika is rst and foremost a
Basque border in France. (...)
listening
posts
on
the
matter of press dispatches, all due
to
the
initiative
of
-The reports, communiqués and
correspondents. It can be said
speeches published
rst by the
that without the presence of
Spanish national press, and then by other countries, as a
Photo of the cover of the book Herbert R. Southworth, Bizitza eta Lana/Life and Work @Gernika Peace Museum https://issuu.com/museodelapazdegernika/docs/i._herb ert_r._southworth__bizitza_eta_lana
13
Carteles de la Guerra. 1936 - 1939
ideological
weapon
can
be
phagocytised by the events of
found in the 1917 revolution.
1936-1939, remain anonymous.
Art and War (Posters of the Spanish Civil War) claims the art of the poster in wartime, as well
"Art and war. Posters of the Spanish Civil War": an exhibition at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
as its authors, some of whom,
+info
https://www.museunacional.cat/es/guia-tematicaarte-y-guerra-carteles-de-la-guerra-civil-espan
Civil War poster (1936-1939) https://historiana.eu War posters. 1936 - 1939 © UNED Documents https://youtu.be/GzfuLUnTtag
Civil War posters Propaganda during the Civil War (1936-1939)
The popular and ephemeral art of the poster in times of war has mainly a propagandistic function: it aims to mobilise the masses, to convey a political message, to provoke a social reaction without renouncing
the
aesthetic
component. The main precedent for the use of poster art as an
14
Article 1
Article 4
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
What questions do these
POSTER (some traces between
posters from the Civil War
the Belle époque and today).
evoke? (Historiana)
https://www.internationalposter.com/a-briefhistory-of-the-poster/
https://historiana.eu/collection/spanish-civil-warposters
Article 5
Article 2 Art of the Spanish Civil War:
Spanish Civil War in Poster
Political Propaganda and the
Collection (Brandeis University) https://www.brandeis.edu/library/archives/essay s/special-collections/spanish-civil-warposters.html
Modernist Avant-Garde https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/art-of-thespanish-civil-war/
Article 6
Article 3
"Art and war. Posters of the Spanish Civil War" Museu
The other Spanish Civil War (El You will not pass! July 1936, We shall pass! https://www.europeana.eu
Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
País) https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2014/01/07/inenglish /1389101134_782828.html
Combating illiteracy https://historiana.eu
https://www.museunacional.cat/en/topicguide-art-and-war-posters-spanish-civil-war
15
WEBOGRAPHY
TO READ
PODCAST TO LISTEN TO
1. The Spanish Civil War 1.1. BBC Radio 4 In Our Time:The Spanish Civil War
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00548wn
1. The essential books on the bombing of Gernika according to the Gernika Peace Museum
1.2. History Extra Podcast: Everything you ever wanted to know about the Spanish Civil War, but were afraid to ask https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-spanish-civil/id256580326? i=1000488275023
https://issuu.com/museodelapazdegernika/docs/bonbardaketako_derrigo rrezko_liburuak_1
2. Bombing of Gernika 2.1. Irish History Podcast: The Bombing of Guernica & the War in the North (Partisans VII) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bombing-of-guernica-the-war-in-the-north-partisans-vii/id363368392? i=1000474930606
2.2. This is democracy: Episode 49: Guernica and the Bombing of Civilians https://podcasts.la.utexas.edu/this-is-democracy/podcast/ep-49-guernica-and-the-bombing-of-civilians/
2.3. The Spanish History Podcast: Episode 13- Gernika: The Massacre in Context https://historiaspodcast.org/2018/07/05/episode-13-gernika-the-massacre-in-context/
Twitter 1.1. TheSpanishCivilWar @civil_spanish https://twitter.com/civil_spanish
1.2. Spain's Memory Wars @SpainMemoryWars https://twitter.com/spainmemorywars
16
WEBOGRAPHY
TO WATCH
OTHER ASSOCIATIONS INVOLVED IN THE FIELD
Youtube 2.1. Gernika the Story. Documentary Film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX3hk0bcc9M
2.2. Ten Minute History - The Spanish Civil War and Francisco Franco (Short Documentary) (History Matters) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw-OxbtF1iY
2.3. Feature History - Spanish Civil War
https://www.gernikagogoratuz.org/
https://gernikazarra.blogspot.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05_tghbhlfM
2.4. The Spanish Civil War - Episode 1: Prelude To Tragedy (History Documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu5f9hp0IP4
https://es-es.facebook.com/pg/lobak.ekimena/about/
Gernika, 80 years after the bombing April 2017
https://www.gorkalejarcegi.com/bombardeo-gernika-80/#
https://guernicagernikara.eus/
RESEARCH BY THE DOCUMENTATION CENTRE ON THE BOMBING OF GERNIKA (CDBG) https://www.museodelapaz.org/docu_investiga.php
17 https://www.museodelapaz.org/docu_investiga.php
https://www.youtube.com/museodelapaz https://twitter.com/museodelaPaz vhttps://www.facebook.com/MuseodelaPazdeGernika https://www.instagram.com/museodelapazdegernika/
https://www.museodelapaz.org