Ten Facts About The Bombing Of Guernica (1937)

10. Guernica Painting

Guernica quickly became a world-famous symbol of civilians caused by war. The Spanish Republican government commissioned work from Picasson, then the greatest living artist. They wanted him to paint a piece that would win the government the support of people around the world. Picasso was himself sympathetic to the left-wing government in Spain and he had publically condemned Franco. He was so outraged by what happened at Guernica that he painted what has come to be regarded as one of the greatest works of art of the twentieth century.

The painting Guernica is one of the most powerful symbols of the Spanish Civil War. A tapestry copy of the painting is at present hanging at the entrance of the Security Council Hall in the United Nations building in New York.

Sources For Further Reading:

National Geographic Channel – How The Basques Became An Autonomous Community Within Spain

Medium – Internment, Torture, Executions: The Basque Country In The Dying Days Of The Franco Dictatorship

History Net – The Persistent Myths of Guernica

History Channel – Nazis Test New Air Force, Luftwaffe, On Basque Town Of Guernica

Historic UK – The Bombing Of Guernica: Could Ww2 Have Been Stopped That Day?

The Independent – Eighty Years Later, The Nazi War Crime In Guernica Still Matters

The Aviation Geek Club – Here’s Why The Bombing Of Guernica Was Hitler’s Greatest Victory In The Spanish Civil War

The Conversation – 80 Years On From The Guernica Bombing And Spain Is Still Struggling To Honour Historical Memory

The Irish Times – ‘Guernica’: 80 Years On Still A Stark Reminder Of War’s Horror