Bombing of Granollers

The Bombing of Granollers took place during the Spanish Civil War in 1938. On 31 May 1938, the Italian Aviazione Legionaria bombed the town of Granollers. There were between 100 and 224 civilian deaths.

Bombing of Granollers
Part of the Spanish Civil War

Granollers after the bombing.
Date31 May 1938
Location
Granollers, Catalonia, Spain
Result Hundreds of civilians killed
Belligerents
 Spanish Republic  Nationalist Spain
Aviazione Legionaria
Commanders and leaders
? ?
Strength
Anti-aircraft artillery 5 Sa-79 and Sa-81 italian bombers[1]
Casualties and losses
224 civilian dead none

Background

On 16 April 1938, the Anglo-Italian pact was signed. Italy accepted to withdraw her troops from Spain once the war was over and the countries agreed to guarantee the status quo in the Mediterranean.[2] Nevertheless, Italy sent three thousand troops to Spain on 11 April and the Italians continued their bombings against the Republican Spain. Franco wanted to eliminate the Republican maritime commerce and destroy the Republican morale. To achieve this, he authorized the Aviazione Legionaria and the Legion Condor to undertake indiscriminate bombings of the Republican cities. Valencia, Barcelona, Alicante and other Spanish cities were bombed.[3]

The Bombing

On 31 May, five Italian bombers of the Aviazione Legionaria, bombed the city of Granollers.[4] The town, 20 miles north of Barcelona, had no military targets. The bombers dropped 40 bombs of 100 kilograms in the city center.[5] There were between 100[6] and 224[7][8] civilian dead (most of them women and children).[9] The British government sent two officers to carry out an enquiry and they reported that the bombing must have been often aimed at non military targets.[10]

Aftermath

The British government and the Vatican protested to Burgos, Berlin, and Rome. Ciano said that Franco ordered the attacks and the Italians were not responsible,[11] but he promised to do what he could, nevertheless he said to the German ambassador that: "Actually, we have, of course, done nothing, and have no intention of doing anything either".[12]

References
  • Preston, Paul. The Spanish Civil War. Reaction, revolution & revenge. Harper Perennial. 2006. London. ISBN 978-0-00-723207-9 ISBN 0-00-723207-1
  • Thomas, Hugh. The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. 2001. London. ISBN 978-0-14-101161-5

Footnotes
  1. http://www.peaceboat.org/english/?page=view&nr=62&type=20&menu=64
  2. Thomas, Hugh. The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. 2001. London. p.800
  3. Preston, Paul. Franco. Fontana Press. 1995. London. p. 307
  4. http://www.peaceboat.org/english/?page=view&nr=62&type=20&menu=64
  5. http://www.peaceboat.org/english/?page=view&nr=62&type=20&menu=64
  6. Thomas, Hugh. The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. 2001. London. p.804
  7. Granollers conmemora el 68 aniversario del bombardeo que causó 224 muertos (in Spanish)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. Thomas, Hugh. The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. 2001. London. p.804
  10. Thomas, Hugh. The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. 2001. London. pp.804-805
  11. Preston, Paul. Franco. Fontana Press. 1995. London. p. 307
  12. Thomas, Hugh. The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. 2001. London. p.804

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