The bombing of Guernica on 26th April 1937 remains one of the most infamous atrocities of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). The war itself was a deeply polarising conflict, pitting the left-leaning Republican government against the right-wing Nationalist forces led by General Francisco Franco. Beyond a struggle for control of Spain, the war became an ideological battleground, with fascist regimes in Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy supporting Franco, whilst the Soviet Union and international brigades backed the Republicans.
The war showcased modern military strategies, testing weaponry and tactics that would later be used in World War II. Nowhere was this more evident than in Guernica, a small town in the Basque Country that became one of the earliest examples of aerial bombing deliberately targeting civilians.
Guernica’s Strategic and Cultural Importance
Guernica was not merely another town in northern Spain; it was a significant cultural and political centre for the Basque people. The town held deep symbolic value due to its connection to Basque self-governance. The ancient oak tree in Guernica, under which Basque leaders had traditionally sworn to uphold regional laws, was a potent emblem of autonomy and resistance.
At the time of the bombing, the town had a relatively small population of around 5,000, but its numbers swelled on market days when farmers and merchants from the surrounding countryside gathered to trade. The attack took place on one such market day, ensuring that the number of civilians present was significantly higher than usual.
The Role of the Basque Country in the Civil War
The Basque Country was one of the last Republican strongholds in northern Spain. In October 1936, the Basque government declared autonomy and pledged allegiance to the Republican cause. The region was vital due to its industrial output, particularly steel and armaments, making it a strategic target for Franco’s forces.
By early 1937, the Nationalists had begun a major offensive in the north, targeting Bilbao, the Basque capital. The bombing of Guernica was part of this wider campaign, aimed at breaking resistance and undermining the morale of the Basque people. However, Guernica itself held little military significance, with no major defensive installations or armament factories.
The Attack: A New Era of Aerial Warfare
On 26th April 1937, between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., waves of aircraft from the German Luftwaffe’s Condor Legion and the Italian Aviazione Legionaria attacked Guernica. The operation was meticulously coordinated, demonstrating a new approach to aerial warfare.
The first wave of bombers dropped high-explosive bombs to destroy buildings and create debris-filled streets, trapping civilians. The second and third waves unleashed incendiary bombs, intensifying fires that engulfed large parts of the town. To add to the horror, fighter planes strafed fleeing civilians with machine-gun fire, ensuring maximum casualties.
Estimates suggest that between 31 and 41 tonnes of ordnance were dropped, with incendiary bombs accounting for over 20% of the total. This scale of destruction was unprecedented, foreshadowing the large-scale carpet bombing tactics used in World War II.
Theories Behind the Bombing
The bombing of Guernica was not an accident, nor was it a purely military operation. Historians continue to debate the precise motives, but several key theories have emerged:
- Psychological Warfare: The attack aimed to terrorise the Basque population and undermine their willingness to resist Franco’s forces. The sheer scale of destruction sent a message to other Republican-held cities.
- Testing New Tactics: The Luftwaffe and Italian Air Force used Guernica as a proving ground for their strategies, refining techniques that would later be used in the Blitzkrieg campaigns of World War II.
- Strategic Disruption: Whilst Guernica itself was not a military target, it lay near important roads leading to Bilbao. Destroying the town could have disrupted Republican supply lines.
Franco’s government initially denied responsibility, claiming that retreating Republicans had destroyed the town themselves. However, international journalists, particularly George Steer of The Times, exposed the truth, leading to widespread condemnation of the Nationalist forces and their foreign allies.
Bombing of Guernica: The Original Times Report
The following report from The Times of April 28, 1937, which was also to appear in The New York Times, and in translation in the French magazine L’Humanité, electrified world public opinion and helped make the bombing of Guernica an international incident. It was written by George Steer, whose familiarity with Basque traditions, passionate support of the Republican cause in the Spanish Civil War, and outrage over the bombing may have led him to exaggerate some details, and to emphasize that Guernica was far behind the battle lines and not a military objective. The bombing by the German airforce in support of Franco’s Nationalists was the first time the devastating potential of air warfare had been demonstrated.
EYE–WITNESS’S ACCOUNT
Town Destroyed In Air Attack
BILBAO, April 27
Guernica, the most ancient town of the Basques and the centre of their cultural tradition, was completely destroyed yesterday afternoon by insurgent air raiders. The bombardment of this open town far behind the lines occupied precisely three hours and a quarter, during which a powerful fleet of aeroplanes consisting of three German types, Junkers and Heinkel bombers and Heinkel fighters, did not cease unloading on the town bombs weighing from 1,000lb. downwards and, it is calculated, more than 3,000 two-pounder aluminium incendiary projectiles. The fighters, meanwhile, plunged low from above the centre of the town to machine-gun those of the civilian population who had taken refuge in the fields.
The whole of Guernica was soon in flames except the historic Casa de Juntas with its rich archives of the Basque race, where the ancient Basque Parliament used to sit. The famous oak of Guernica, the dried old stump of 600 years and the young new shoots of this century, was also untouched. Here the kings of Spain used to take the oath to respect the democratic rights (fueros) of Vizcaya and in return received a promise of allegiance as suzerains with the democratic title of Señor, not Rey Vizcaya. The noble parish church of Santa Maria was also undamaged except for the beautiful chapter house, which was struck by an incendiary bomb.
At 2 a.m. to-day when I visited the town the whole of it was a horrible sight, flaming from end to end. The reflection of the flames could be seen in the clouds of smoke above the mountains from 10 miles away. Throughout the night houses were falling until the streets became long heaps of red impenetrable débris. Many of the civilian survivors took the long trek from Guernica to Bilbao in antique solid-wheeled Basque farmcarts drawn by oxen. Carts piled high with such household possessions as could be saved from the conflagration clogged the roads all night. 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 fire 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.
CHURCH BELL ALARM
In the form of its execution and the scale of the destruction it wrought, no less than in the selection of its objective, the raid on Guernica is unparalleled in military history. Guernica was not a military objective. A factory producing war material lay outside the town and was untouched. So were two barracks some distance from the town. The town lay far behind the lines. The object of the bombardment was seemingly the demoralization of the civil population and the destruction of the cradle of the Basque race. Every fact bears out this appreciation, beginning with the day when the deed was done.
Monday was the customary market day in Guernica for the country round. At 4.30 p.m. when the market was full and peasants were still coming in, the church bell rang the alarm for approaching aeroplanes, and the population sought refuge in cellars and in the dugouts prepared following the bombing of the civilian population of Durango on March 31, which opened General Mola’s offensive in the north. The people are said to have shown a good spirit. A Catholic priest took charge and perfect order was maintained.
Five minutes later a single German bomber appeared, circled over the town at a low altitude, and then dropped six heavy bombs, apparently aiming for the station. The bombs with a shower of grenades fell on a former institute and on houses and streets surrounding it. The aeroplane then went away. In another five minutes came a second bomber, which threw the same number of bombs into the middle of the town. About a quarter of an hour later three Junkers arrived to continue the work of demolition, and thenceforward the bombing grew in intensity and was continuous, ceasing only with the approach of dusk at 7.45. The whole town of 7,000 inhabitants, plus 3,000 refugees, was slowly and systematically pounded to pieces. Over a radius of five miles round a detail of the raiders’ technique was to bomb separate caserios, or farmhouses. In the night these burned like little candles in the hills. All the villages around were bombed with the same intensity as the town itself, and at Mugica, a little group of houses at the head of the Guernica inlet, the population was machine-gunned for 15 minutes.
RHYTHM OF DEATH
It is impossible to state yet the number of victims. In the Bilbao Press this morning they were reported as “fortunately small,” but it is feared that this was an understatement in order not to alarm the large refugee population of Bilbao. In the hospital of Josfinas, which was one of the first places bombed, all the 42 wounded militiamen it sheltered were killed outright. In a street leading downhill from the Casa de Juntas I saw a place where 50 people, nearly all women and children, are said to have been trapped in an air raid refuge under a mass of burning wreckage. Many were killed in the fields, and altogether the deaths may run into hundreds. An elderly priest named Aronategui was killed by a bomb while rescuing children from a burning house.
The tactics of the bombers, which may be of interest to students of the new military science, were as follows:—First, small parties of aeroplanes threw heavy bombs and hand grenades all over the town, choosing area after area in orderly fashion. Next came fighting machines which swooped low to machine-gun those who ran in panic from dugouts, some of which had already been penetrated by 1,000lb. bombs, which make a hole 25ft. deep. Many of these people were killed as they ran. A large herd of sheep being brought in to the market was also wiped out. The object of this move was apparently to drive the population underground again, for next as many as 12 bombers appeared at a time dropping heavy and incendiary bombs upon the ruins. The rhythm of this bombing of an open town was, therefore, a logical one: first, hand grenades and heavy bombs to stampede the population, then machine-gunning to drive them below, next heavy and incendiary bombs to wreck the houses and burn them on top of their victims.
The only counter-measures the Basques could employ, for they do not possess sufficient aeroplanes to face the insurgent fleet, were those provided by the heroism of the Basque clergy. These blessed and prayed for the kneeling crowds—Socialists, Anarchists, and Communists, as well as the declared faithful in the crumbling dugouts.
When I entered Guernica after midnight houses were crashing on either side, and it was utterly impossible even for firemen to enter the centre of the town. The hospitals of Josefinas and Convento de Santa Clara were glowing heaps of embers, all the churches except that of Santa Maria were destroyed, and the few houses which still stood were doomed. When I revisited Guernica this afternoon most of the town was still burning and new fires had broken out. About 30 dead were laid out in a ruined hospital.
A CALL TO BASQUES
The effect here of the bombardment of Guernica, the Basques’ holy city, has been profound and has led President Aguirre to issue the following statement in this morning’s Basque Press:—
“The German airmen in the service of the Spanish rebels have bombarded Guernica, burning the historic town which is held in such veneration by all Basques. They have sought to wound us in the most sensitive of our patriotic sentiments, once more making it entirely clear what Euzkadis may expect of those who do not hesitate to destroy us down to the very sanctuary which records the centuries of our liberty and our democracy.
“Before this outrage all we Basques must react with violence, swearing from the bottom of our hearts to defend the principles of our people with unheard of stubbornness and heroism if the case requires it. We cannot hide the gravity of the moment; but victory can never be won by the invader if, raising our spirits to heights of strength and determination, we steel ourselves to his defeat.
“The enemy has advanced in many parts elsewhere to be driven out of them afterwards. I do not hesitate to affirm that here the same thing will happen. May to-day’s outrage be one spur more to do it with all speed.”
Source: The Times
Casualties and Human Impact
The exact number of casualties remains a subject of debate. Early reports suggested over 1,600 deaths, but modern estimates place the figure between 200 and 400. Thousands more were injured and nearly 75% of the town’s buildings were destroyed.
The immediate aftermath was chaotic. Survivors described scenes of devastation, with corpses lining the streets, buildings reduced to rubble and fires raging uncontrollably. Many families were torn apart and Guernica’s population was left in shock and mourning.
International Reaction and Political Fallout
The bombing of Guernica caused international outrage. Reports from foreign journalists painted a grim picture of indiscriminate violence against civilians, turning global public opinion against Franco’s regime.
The attack played a crucial role in shaping perceptions of the Spanish Civil War. For many, it became a defining example of fascist aggression. However, despite the outrage, Western democracies remained reluctant to intervene. Britain and France maintained a policy of non-intervention, whilst Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy continued to support Franco.
Legacy of the Bombing of Guernica
The destruction of Guernica marked a turning point in the history of warfare. It demonstrated the devastating potential of strategic bombing and set a precedent for the aerial campaigns of World War II. The psychological impact of targeting civilians would later be seen in the bombings of Coventry, Dresden and Hiroshima.
Beyond its military significance, Guernica became a symbol of civilian suffering in war. The attack inspired widespread anti-fascist sentiment and remains a reminder of the brutality of total war.
Picasso’s ‘Guernica’: An Enduring Symbol
One of the most lasting legacies of the bombing is Pablo Picasso’s masterpiece Guernica. In early 1937, Picasso had been commissioned by the Spanish Republican government to create a mural for the Spanish pavilion at the upcoming Paris International Exposition. Initially, he struggled to find a subject that would encapsulate the Republican cause. However, news of the Guernica bombing reached him in Paris, and the horrifying reports of civilian casualties inspired him to depict the suffering and destruction through a large-scale canvas.
Painted in just over a month, Guernica is a striking black-and-white composition featuring twisted, anguished figures, including a wailing mother, a fallen soldier, and a screaming horse. The fragmented and chaotic imagery reflects the brutality of war, making it one of the most powerful anti-war statements in modern art.
After the Paris exhibition, Guernica travelled internationally to raise awareness of the Spanish Civil War. During Franco’s dictatorship, Picasso stipulated that the painting should not return to Spain until democracy was restored. It was finally transferred to Spain in 1981, following Franco’s death, and is now housed at the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid, where it remains one of Spain’s most visited and revered artworks.
Today, Guernica stands as both a historical lesson and a testament to resilience. The town was rebuilt, and the Basque people continued their struggle for autonomy. The bombing of Guernica remains a defining moment in modern history, encapsulating the horrors of war and the dangers of totalitarianism.
FAQs About the Bombing of Guernica
Were There Other Aerial Bombings in the Spanish Civil War?
Yes, the bombing of Guernica was not an isolated event, but rather one of several aerial attacks on civilian populations during the Spanish Civil War and beyond. Here are some notable examples:
- Durango (31 March 1937) – A few weeks before Guernica, the Basque town of Durango was bombed by Italian forces allied with Franco. The attack targeted churches, marketplaces, and civilians, killing around 250 people.
- Barcelona (March 1938) – The Italian Air Force, supporting Franco, launched a devastating series of air raids on Barcelona. Over three days, nearly 1,000 people were killed in what was one of the deadliest bombings of the war.
- Alicante (25 May 1938) – Another severe attack occurred in the port city of Alicante, where over 300 people were killed when Nationalist bombers targeted a crowded marketplace.
Guernica, however, remains one the most infamous of these bombings due to its role as a testing ground for modern aerial warfare and its impact on public consciousness through Picasso’s painting.
