4. The Bombing of Guernica
In April 1937, Guernica became the first city to be deliberately bombed during the Spanish Civil War. Because the city had withstood previous attacks since the outbreak of the war, it became a focal point for Franco, and he punished their resilience by allowing Hitler’s air force to attack the unprotected area. Franco’s Nationalists did not have a great deal of airpower, but Germany was keen to test and evaluate the development of the Luftwaffe. Hitler deployed his Condor Legion to Spain, led by Lieutenant Colonel Wolfram von Richthofen who was the cousin of the Red Baron of the First World War.
The Condor Legion began their attack brutally and in daylight. They flew as low as 600 feet because they had no fear of counterattack or fence from the city. The center of the city was bustling as it was market day. The bombers initially aimed for the main bridge that led into the city. Once this was destroyed, further waves of planes continued their attack, dropping further bombs on an already burning city.
By the time the Condor Legion ceased their attack and left, Guernica was ruined. The devastation was appalling, with 1,654 people dead and a further 889 wounded. The world was horrified by the attack but Franco declared that no such event had even occurred. Instead, he declared that the devastation of the city was caused by the inhabitants who defended it.