Just the tip of the iceberg. "A mass grave filled with the skeletons of men and women executed during Spain's brutal civil war and the ensuing General Francisco Franco dictatorship has been uncovered - and experts believe it is one of more than 2,000 across the country. Work has begun on forensic analysis that may identify the dead, after three unmarked pits containing 185 bodies were found in the central Spanish city of Valladolid. It is thought the city's cemetery could contain up to 10 similar mass graves, with the victims among the estimated 100,000 who forcibly 'disappeared' during the 1936 and 1939 civil war, and Franco's subsequent regime. Authorities in Valladolid have paid 25,000 euros (£22,000) on employing a professional team to examine the site. with work starting in April. Mayor Oscar Puente said: 'This is a question of national dignity and human rights rather than opening the wounds of the past. 'We could not simply look away.'" http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3821994/Mass-grave-containing-200-people-slaughtered-Spanish-dictator-Franco-discovered-scientists-DNA-swabs-identify-them.html#ixzz4MAKtVhLi
Thanks for sharing the news. I find the war one of the saddest. If only Hitler was taken on at this stage in the 30's. Why the world stood by and let him and the Italians unleash their air force against the innocent is beyond me (a bit like Syria). It was heartening that so many people volunteered from all over the world and came to Spain to help the common Spaniards fight for democracy. When I started my family tree I came across a great uncle I never knew about that fought over there. Mind you, he was followed by MI5 until 1952 because of his volunteering over there. He was also refused entry back into the Army for WW2 because of his involvement. Bit of a waste given his experience in India with the Black Watch during the 1920's. I was really lucky and came across a book he is mentioned in "Homage to Caledonia". After contacting the writer, he told me the source of his information came from my great uncles letters held at the Marx Library in London, which I now have a copy of. Interesting insight into a man I never knew.
Not everything is black and white though. Franco was welcomed as a savior by millions who feared the Republicans would instaure a communist dictatorship. without a popular support he would never have able to land from the Canaries. I once had an interesting talk with a former Spanish teacher . His entire family was about to executed by the Republicans (they had not taken part in any political activities and were just supected because they had not chosen a side.) . At the last moment Franqist factions showed uo and the Republicans left the village and his familly and other members were saved . Crimes were committed on both sides, History seems to remember only one . if sources are needed check the execution of officers of Minorca, Carhtagena, or priests in Catalogna. Not many books mention the public emasculations of clergymen such as the Bishop Asensio Barroso who was assassinated just after this ordeal. See the martyr list and beatification by Popes. I'm fully aware that the Popular Front was elected and that the Nationalist came in power following a coup and a civil war , but it's not true that all Republicans were democrats and all Nationalists were fascists. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrs_of_the_Spanish_Civil_War
