Eduard Pons Prades
Encyclopedia
Eduard Pons Prades also known as Floreado Barsino, was a Spanish
writer and historian
, specializing in the 20th-century history of Spain. Pons Prades was also active in the Syndicalist Party
of Ángel Pestaña
, a member of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo
(CNT), and after Francisco Franco's defeat of the Second Spanish Republic
in the Spanish Civil War
, a maqui
.
neighborhood of Barcelona
. His father, a cabinetmaker, was a Valencian
immigrant and a member of the Federal Party of Spain, and founder of a woodworkers' union. His mother, Gloria Prades Núñez, also an immigrant from Valencia, was a member of the Syndicalist Party
, and became a member of the Generalitat de Catalunya
through the friendship of Martí Barrera, a member of the government.
As a young child, Pons enrolled in the Rationalist School, based on the philosophy of Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia
. There he attended the lectures of the engineer and geologist Alberto Carsi. Pons' focus was always teaching, and attended the Industrial School of Barcelona for this purpose, but these studies were interrupted by the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
That year, Pons' father committed suicide. His uncle, a member of the Federación Anarquista Ibérica
, lived to carry the coffin of Buenaventura Durruti
in November that year.
Pons' joined the CNT in 1937 and participated in the collectivization of the Consejo Económico de la Madera Socializada and other locations such as the Santa Madrona Church in Poble Sec neighborhood of Barcelona.
Army with falsified identification papers. He earned the rank of sergeant, and received his machine gun from Miguel Hernández
, then leader of the 46th Division. Pons was injured on March 17, 1938 while defending Barcelona during a fascist shelling of the city. Once recovered from his wounds, Pons entered the Quinta del Biberón (the "baby bottle brigade"), where he met Joan Llarch. He later fought in the Battle of Brunete
, and the Battle of the Ebro
at just 17 years old.
Following the defeat of the Republic, Pons helped with the evacuation of injured republicans from hospitals in Barcelona to the French border; from December 15, 1938 to February 10, 1939 10,300 injured were evacuated from the country.
Of this, Pons Prades said "With hearts battered by the violent lash of defeat, some entered France in the coldest days of winter of 1938-1939, with tangled hair, disarrayed, smelly, with beggars' beards, thin and drawn, with uniforms spattered with blood and lead, and with the look of visionaries ... They were the first - the only ones - who had dared to confront fascism in Europe, with weapons in their hands."
, fighting against the German army
in Belgium
and Luxembourg
. After the defeat of the French army in 1942, Pons helped form part of the Spanish anti-fascist resistance in France
, in a group called Solidaridad Española (Spanish Solidarity), together with Manolo Morató and Tomás Martín, commanding a group made up of French and Spanish fighters, collaborating on sabotage
missions, and with the Ponzán Group as well. Pons also joined with Manolo Huet to save the lives of Jews in France. Pons later joined the army
of Generals Leclerc
and Charles de Gaulle
, participating in the liberation of the French department of Aude
.
, Pons was arrested, on January 5, 1946, in Puigcerdà
, but escaped three weeks later after bribing the colonel handling the case, and went to Valencia where he had family.
Pons became a writer and historian, contributing from France to various publications, such as Papeles de Son Armadans, edited by Camilo José Cela
.
Pons ultimately returned to Spain in 1962, after an amnesty was granted by Franco on the occasion of the coronation of Pope John XXIII
. He then started the publishing house Alfaguara, and joined the Journalists Union of Catalonia, which continued the fight for freedom, by highlighting the lives of Spaniards that had fought against Nazism and against Franco, which had been forgotten in the aftermath of the war. Pons also contributed to publications and periodicals such as El Periódico de Catalunya
. He also participated in documentary films, as both writer and actor, such as La Guerrilla de la Memória.
Pons died in Barcelona's Hospital de Sant Pau
, the same hospital from which he had evacuated wounded republicans in 1938-39, on May 28, 2007, without being able to see publication of his book on the political aspects of the life of Pablo Picasso
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
writer and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, specializing in the 20th-century history of Spain. Pons Prades was also active in the Syndicalist Party
Syndicalist Party
Syndicalist Party was a left-wing political party in Spain, formed by Ángel Pestaña in 1932. Pestaña, a leading member of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo trade union, formed the party in response to the growing influence of the Iberian Anarchist Federation over the CNT...
of Ángel Pestaña
Ángel Pestaña
Ángel Pestaña Nuñez was a Spanish Anarcho-syndicalist and later Syndicalist leader.-Early life:...
, a member of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo
Confederación Nacional del Trabajo
The Confederación Nacional del Trabajo is a Spanish confederation of anarcho-syndicalist labor unions affiliated with the International Workers Association . When working with the latter group it is also known as CNT-AIT...
(CNT), and after Francisco Franco's defeat of the Second Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, a maqui
Spanish Maquis
The Spanish Maquis were Spanish guerrillas exiled in France after the Spanish Civil War who continued to fight against the Franco regime until the early 1960s, carrying out sabotage, robberies , occupations of the Spanish Embassy in France and assassinations of Francoists, as well as contributing...
.
Biography
Pons Prades was born in the RavalEl Raval
El Raval is a neighbourhood in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona, Spain. The neighborhood, especially the part closest to the port, was also informally known as Barri xinès, meaning "Chinatown" El Raval is one of the two historical neighborhoods that border the la Rambla...
neighborhood of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. His father, a cabinetmaker, was a Valencian
Valencia (province)
Valencia or València is a province of Spain, in the central part of the Valencian Community.It is bordered by the provinces of Alicante, Albacete, Cuenca, Teruel, Castellón, and the Mediterranean Sea...
immigrant and a member of the Federal Party of Spain, and founder of a woodworkers' union. His mother, Gloria Prades Núñez, also an immigrant from Valencia, was a member of the Syndicalist Party
Syndicalist Party
Syndicalist Party was a left-wing political party in Spain, formed by Ángel Pestaña in 1932. Pestaña, a leading member of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo trade union, formed the party in response to the growing influence of the Iberian Anarchist Federation over the CNT...
, and became a member of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Government of Catalonia
The Government of Catalonia is the executive branch of the Generalitat de Catalunya. It is responsible for the political action, reglamentation and administration of the Generalitat....
through the friendship of Martí Barrera, a member of the government.
As a young child, Pons enrolled in the Rationalist School, based on the philosophy of Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia
Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia
Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia was a Spanish Catalan free-thinker and anarchist....
. There he attended the lectures of the engineer and geologist Alberto Carsi. Pons' focus was always teaching, and attended the Industrial School of Barcelona for this purpose, but these studies were interrupted by the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
That year, Pons' father committed suicide. His uncle, a member of the Federación Anarquista Ibérica
Federación Anarquista Ibérica
The Federación Anarquista Ibérica is a Spanish organization of anarchist militants active within affinity groups inside the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo trade union. It is often abbreviated as CNT-FAI because of the close relationship between the two organizations...
, lived to carry the coffin of Buenaventura Durruti
Buenaventura Durruti
José Buenaventura Durruti Dumange was a central figure of Spanish anarchism during the period leading up to and including the Spanish Civil War.-Early life:...
in November that year.
Pons' joined the CNT in 1937 and participated in the collectivization of the Consejo Económico de la Madera Socializada and other locations such as the Santa Madrona Church in Poble Sec neighborhood of Barcelona.
Spanish Civil War
At 16 years old, Pons enlisted in the RepublicanSecond Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
Army with falsified identification papers. He earned the rank of sergeant, and received his machine gun from Miguel Hernández
Miguel Hernández
Miguel Hernández Gilabert was a 20th century Spanish poet and playwright.-Biography:Hernández was born in Orihuela, in the Valencian Community, to a poor family and received little formal education; he published his first book of poetry at 23, and gained considerable fame before his death...
, then leader of the 46th Division. Pons was injured on March 17, 1938 while defending Barcelona during a fascist shelling of the city. Once recovered from his wounds, Pons entered the Quinta del Biberón (the "baby bottle brigade"), where he met Joan Llarch. He later fought in the Battle of Brunete
Battle of Brunete
The Battle of Brunete , fought 15 miles west of Madrid, was a Republican attempt to alleviate the pressure exerted by the Nationalists on the capital and on the north during the Spanish Civil War...
, and the Battle of the Ebro
Battle of the Ebro
The Battle of the Ebro was the longest and bloodiest battle of the Spanish Civil War...
at just 17 years old.
Following the defeat of the Republic, Pons helped with the evacuation of injured republicans from hospitals in Barcelona to the French border; from December 15, 1938 to February 10, 1939 10,300 injured were evacuated from the country.
Of this, Pons Prades said "With hearts battered by the violent lash of defeat, some entered France in the coldest days of winter of 1938-1939, with tangled hair, disarrayed, smelly, with beggars' beards, thin and drawn, with uniforms spattered with blood and lead, and with the look of visionaries ... They were the first - the only ones - who had dared to confront fascism in Europe, with weapons in their hands."
World War II
In 1939, Pons made contact with the French resistanceFrench Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
, fighting against the German army
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. After the defeat of the French army in 1942, Pons helped form part of the Spanish anti-fascist resistance in France
Spanish Maquis
The Spanish Maquis were Spanish guerrillas exiled in France after the Spanish Civil War who continued to fight against the Franco regime until the early 1960s, carrying out sabotage, robberies , occupations of the Spanish Embassy in France and assassinations of Francoists, as well as contributing...
, in a group called Solidaridad Española (Spanish Solidarity), together with Manolo Morató and Tomás Martín, commanding a group made up of French and Spanish fighters, collaborating on sabotage
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
missions, and with the Ponzán Group as well. Pons also joined with Manolo Huet to save the lives of Jews in France. Pons later joined the army
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
of Generals Leclerc
Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque
Philippe François Marie, comte de Hauteclocque, then Leclerc de Hauteclocque, by a 1945 decree that incorporated his French Resistance alias Jacques-Philippe Leclerc to his name, , was a French general during World War II...
and Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
, participating in the liberation of the French department of Aude
Aude
Aude is a department in south-central France named after the river Aude. The local council also calls the department "Cathar Country".Aude is also a frequent feminine French given name in Francophone countries, deriving initially from Aude or Oda, a wife of Bertrand, Duke of Aquitaine, and mother...
.
Post-war era
After the end of World War II, Pons settled in France, from where he made two trips in to Spain to make contact with the Syndicalist Party, with the intention of continuing the resistance against Franco. During the day Pons worked a farm, and at night went on guerrilla missions. During a trip when he intended to return to France with a guide from the group of Francisco Sabaté LlopartFrancisco Sabaté Llopart
Francesc Sabaté Llopart , also known as "El Quico", was a Catalan anarchist involved in the resistance against the Nationalist regime of Francisco Franco.-Biography:At the age of 10 Sabaté escaped his clerical school and by the age of 17, he had joined the anarchist...
, Pons was arrested, on January 5, 1946, in Puigcerdà
Puigcerdà
Puigcerdà is the capital of the Catalan comarca of Cerdanya, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, northern Spain, near the river Segre and the border with France .- History :...
, but escaped three weeks later after bribing the colonel handling the case, and went to Valencia where he had family.
Pons became a writer and historian, contributing from France to various publications, such as Papeles de Son Armadans, edited by Camilo José Cela
Camilo José Cela
Camilo José Cela y Trulock, 1st Marquis of Iria Flavia was a Spanish novelist and short story writer. He was awarded the 1989 Nobel Prize in Literature "for a rich and intensive prose, which with restrained compassion forms a challenging vision of man's vulnerability".-Biography:Cela published his...
.
Pons ultimately returned to Spain in 1962, after an amnesty was granted by Franco on the occasion of the coronation of Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
. He then started the publishing house Alfaguara, and joined the Journalists Union of Catalonia, which continued the fight for freedom, by highlighting the lives of Spaniards that had fought against Nazism and against Franco, which had been forgotten in the aftermath of the war. Pons also contributed to publications and periodicals such as El Periódico de Catalunya
El Periódico de Catalunya
El Periódico de Catalunya is a morning daily newspaper based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and owned by Grupo Zeta. El Periódico is actually two newspapers, publishing separate editions in Spanish and in Catalan...
. He also participated in documentary films, as both writer and actor, such as La Guerrilla de la Memória.
Pons died in Barcelona's Hospital de Sant Pau
Hospital de Sant Pau
The present Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in the neighborhood of El Guinardó, Barcelona, Catalonia , is a complex built between 1901 and 1930, designed by the Catalan modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. Together with Palau de la Música Catalana, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
, the same hospital from which he had evacuated wounded republicans in 1938-39, on May 28, 2007, without being able to see publication of his book on the political aspects of the life of Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
.