| Spanish Republican Anti-Franco Campaigns |
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| British Government Non-Intervention Defeated Refugees Leave Spain French Concentration Camps Fighting With The British Army Refugees Come To Britain Republicans held in Adlington Camp near Chorley, Lancashire Spanish Republicans help Liberate Paris 24 August 1944 Allies 1945 Support Franco British Anti-Franco Acivities Spanish Exiles Anti-Franco Hogar Espanol Instituto Families And Integration Asylum Seekers Then And Now |
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| Fund Raising for Prisoners Families |
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| Following the defeat of the Spanish Republican Government, General Franco introduced a dictatorial government with extremely harsh laws. Many ex-republican soldiers escaped Spain to continue fighting against fascism by joining the armed forces of the country's they move to. Also amongst the exodus were many children and civilian refugees. In Great Britian many exiles found themselves amongst a growing Spanish community in West London. West London already had an historical connection with Spain. A nunnery and a monastry existed in Portobello Road, London. The nunnery has gone but the monastry has now become a bi-lingual school for children of Spanish parents. During the 1940's and 1950's, many Spaniards living in London were actively involved in helping the families of those imprisoned in Spain by Franco. Many activities were organised, and money and parcels of food and clothing were sent directly to many families. The photos on the right, depict fund-raising activities. The partic- ular photo were taken during the late 1940 and show stalls with items for sale. The venue is Fox Primary School in Notting Hill. The school still exists today. Of course many other campaigns were also undertaken by this group of anti- Franco Spanish exiles always maintaining their Spanishness. Sadly, today much is forgotten of this dedicated group, but much they accomplished in helping many families of imprisoned people making their lives a little more bearable. The British government played an hypocritical role by pretending to be neutral but in fact colluded with the fascist regime. -------------- FRANCO'S FRIENDS ON THE MARCH In the House of Commons, in the cor- respondence columns in The Times and whereever else they can find the opport- unity, an army of Tories and crypto- Fascists--someof them not even very "crypto"--are campaigning for the inclusion of Franco Spain in Western Union and the Marshall Plan. According to the precise shade of their political complexions, they either support the Franco dictatorship openly or apolo- gise for it in a rather shame-faced fashion. There are also those who claim that, in some mysterious way, a liberal helping of Marshall aid would make the Franco regime "go all democratic." In America, not only is the campaign in favour of Franco going ahead full blast, but an attack has been launched against the supporters of the Spanish Republic...... part of an article from Spain Today, July 1948. |
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| A Spanish exile supporter of the of Spanish Republican government leads a group of Spanish republican exciles on a 1st March demonstration in London during the late 1940's. |
| A Spanish play that took place in Westbourne Grove, London in 1961. An activity to not only raise much needed funds for Spanish families in Spain, but also an activity that help to fraw Spanish exiles together here in London. Many Spanish plays, dances and fiestas took place during the late 1940's and 50's. |
| Spanish Republican Exiles put on a Play in London |
| The penalties prescribed for crimes of military rebellion include the death penalty, and range from imprisonment of six months and one day to twenty years of solitary confinement with hard labour. Crimes of military rebellion include: strikes, the preparation of strikes, support for strikers, the organisation or membership of any political party (all political parties except the Falange are illegal); trade union organisation (all trade unions except the government controlled union are illegal); industrial boycotts, the distribution of political leaflets (all political leaflets except those of the Falange are illegal); the organisation of demonstrations (all demonstrations except in favour of the government are illegal). |
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| Extracts from an article "The Case Against Franco" by Senator Georg Branting (1948) A leading Swedish Socialist |
| We know now--we have it from the German Generals themselves, from Baumler, Jaenecke, Remer, Boethme and others--that already during the first world war Franco was working as a German agent in close touch with the chief of Germany's military spies, Canaris. We know now both how and why Franco was chosen to head the Spanish insurrection; how Hitler welcomed his emissaries and gave him military help until at last, after the brave Spanish people had stubbornly resisted him for three years, Franco became ruler of Spain. Europe should never forget that (was the) first military venture of Hitler. To the defence of the unarmed Republicans came volunteers--from the working class and from the ranks of the intellectuals--from the whole world. The Spanish people rallied to defend their free Republic in such numbers and with such devotion that the Fascist armies, in spite of everything, wavered. Hitler and Mussolini could not tolerate this. They had to make an end of (to) this war. It threastened to endanger their presige. Under Hitler's Orders Do we believe that Franco remained neutral in the war? No. Of course he took part on the side of the Axis powers. But, you may argue, he did not take part openly with his entire military strength. According to the testimony of German Generals his reason for "neutrality" was that German Headquarters did not want him openly in the war, as they feared a compli- |
| cated new western front. Franco himself would not have hesitated to throw the Spanish people into a new blood bath, but his master Hitler had been scared in the course of the battle for Britain. Previous plans had to be pigeon-holed and Hilter now planned to march to the east--with his back protected by a "neutral" Spain. Franco has not deserved the thanks for his passivity which Churchill gave him. Our Duty to the Resistance The Spanish Resistance Movement is looking for, hoping for outside support. It is an invincible movement, for the Spanish people cannot forget thier freedom and the prospects which they had under the Republic. How de we feel when we hear that these fighters for freedom continue to hope, continue to count upon the aid of the democratic forces abroad? These courageous men and women in Spain turn to us. We must make it plain to our Gevernments that France must not be supported in any way, in any way, in any way whatsoever... |
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Few and far between? From 1958 to April 1963 no fewer than seventy-eight Military Courts have been held. There have been seventeen on a minimum count in this year alone, ten of them in one month, the last, on April 18th, being the trial of Julian Grimau Garcia. Only a handful involved? 694 men and women have appeared before these courts during this period, often in batches of five, or ten, or even fifteen, at a time. They come from every walk of life, workers from mining villages or great industrial plants, professors and students from famous universities, teachers from small country schools, agricultural workers, writers and painters; of all political and religious shades of opinion, catholic leaders, socialists, communists, nationalists--of every age and sex, old mothers, young wives. Serious crimes? The charges have ranged from the boycott of public transport and amusements, the distribution of leaflets, the organisation of a Day of Reconciliation, appeals for amnesty, striking, organising trade unions, belonging to the Communist, Socialist or other parties or propaganda on their behalf, and a host of similar "crimes". Nominal sentances? Four of the 694 were sentanced to death. Three were sentanced to 25, 23, and 20 years respectively. No fewer than 108 have received sentances ot ten or more years' imprisonment, the majority being for fifteen, twelve and ten years. 580 of them are serving sentences of a total of 3,221 year of imprisonment between them. Taken from Amnesty for Spanish political prisoners and exiles, June 1963 |
| The Victims |