Paracuellos massacre
Encyclopedia
The Paracuellos massacre were a series of mass killings of suspected civilian and military supporters of the military coup led by Francisco Franco
and his Nationalist Army during the Spanish Civil War
by the Republicans
. It took place during the Battle for Madrid during the early stages of the war. Between 2,000 and 12,000 suspected supporters of the coup against the Second Spanish Republic
, were killed by the Republican Army
in November and December 1936. The death toll remains the subject of debate and controversy.
since the start of the war in July 1936. Many of them had been captured during the failed rising of the Montana barracks in western Madrid. These prisoners came under the control of the newly-created (Committee for the Defence of Madrid). This was an emergency committee left in charge of the city on November 7, after the Republican government led by Francisco Largo Caballero
evacuated Madrid for its new (temporary) capital in Valencia.
A large percentage of these prisoners were taken out of prison in so-called (extractions), 33 in total, between November 7 and December 4, as the Nationalists launched their assault on the Madrid. The Republicans feared the presence of so many potentially hostile prisoners in their rear during the battle. These extractions were ordered in writing by the Republican authorities in Madrid, often in documents signed by Segundo Serrano Poncela, deputy for Public Order working directly under the supervision of the young Communist politician Santiago Carrillo
.
According to the historian Javier Cervera, the sacas carried out to move prisoners to other locations didn't result in executions, and these prisoners were re-located further away from the front, to Alcalá de Henares
. At Paracuellos, however, a massacre
resulted. According to British historian, Anthony Beevor, the order to kill the prisoners most likely came from the Spanish Communist Jose Cazorla, or, more indirectly, from the Soviet advisor Koltsov .
and Torrejon de Ardoz
, where they were shot and buried in mass graves. The first shootings took place before dawn on November 7, and continued at a fast pace until November 10, when they were temporarily halted after the anarchist Melchor Rodríguez
(who opposed executions) became head of the Madrid prison system.
The executions resumed on November 14, when Rodríguez resigned, and didn't stop until he resumed the post in early December.
From the early days, news of the executions were denounced by foreign diplomats based in Madrid, including the consul of Norway and the German ambassador, Felix Schlayer, who talked about the issue with Santiago Carrillo
.
in Geneva
. The Republican authorities blamed the National air force for the attack, but on December 21 it was revealed that Dr. Henny's plane was shot down by Soviet-built airplanes with Spanish Republican pilots.
Henny spent four months in hospital and was unable to deliver his report. Louis Delaprée, a French journalist who traveled in the same plane and died weeks later because of his injuries, blamed General Alexander Orlov
, Soviet NKVD
's rezident in Spain, for the incident.
Among the victims were Federico Salmón, a former conservative labor minister in 1935, the noted politician Jesús Canovas del Castillo, and a football player with Atletico de Madrid
and Real Madrid
, Monchin Triana. Pedro Munoz Seca
, a famous writer and monarchist, Mateo Garcia de los Reyes, a retired admiral, and Ricardo de la Cierva, a lawyer and father of the historian Ricardo de la Cierva were also executed.
Altogether, various historians have estimated the number of dead between 2,000 and 12,000. The figure of 12,000 was cited by the right wing journal El Alcazar in 1977, but is now generally accepted to be too high.
Cesar Vidal in 2004, published a list with 4,021 names of those killed.
A 2006 book by historian Javier Cervera put the death toll at a little over 2,000
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
and his Nationalist Army during 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...
by the Republicans
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....
. It took place during the Battle for Madrid during the early stages of the war. Between 2,000 and 12,000 suspected supporters of the coup against 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....
, were killed by the Republican Army
Republican Army
Republican Army can refer to:*Irish Republican Army, a military organisation descended from the Irish Volunteers*Baloch Republican Army, a Baloch nationalist guerilla army in Balochistan...
in November and December 1936. The death toll remains the subject of debate and controversy.
Background
Thousands of political prisoners and military personnel suspected of being sympathetic of Franco's coup had been incarcerated in MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
since the start of the war in July 1936. Many of them had been captured during the failed rising of the Montana barracks in western Madrid. These prisoners came under the control of the newly-created (Committee for the Defence of Madrid). This was an emergency committee left in charge of the city on November 7, after the Republican government led by Francisco Largo Caballero
Francisco Largo Caballero
Francisco Largo Caballero was a Spanish politician and trade unionist. He was one of the historic leaders of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and of the Workers' General Union...
evacuated Madrid for its new (temporary) capital in Valencia.
A large percentage of these prisoners were taken out of prison in so-called (extractions), 33 in total, between November 7 and December 4, as the Nationalists launched their assault on the Madrid. The Republicans feared the presence of so many potentially hostile prisoners in their rear during the battle. These extractions were ordered in writing by the Republican authorities in Madrid, often in documents signed by Segundo Serrano Poncela, deputy for Public Order working directly under the supervision of the young Communist politician Santiago Carrillo
Santiago Carrillo
Santiago Carrillo Solares is a Spanish politician who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Spain from 1960 to 1982.- Childhood and early youth :...
.
According to the historian Javier Cervera, the sacas carried out to move prisoners to other locations didn't result in executions, and these prisoners were re-located further away from the front, to Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares , meaning Citadel on the river Henares, is a Spanish city, whose historical centre is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, and one of the first bishoprics founded in Spain...
. At Paracuellos, however, a massacre
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
resulted. According to British historian, Anthony Beevor, the order to kill the prisoners most likely came from the Spanish Communist Jose Cazorla, or, more indirectly, from the Soviet advisor Koltsov .
Mass Shootings
A majority of prisoners, who were told they would be set free, were taken by bus to fields outside Paracuellos del JaramaParacuellos del Jarama
Paracuellos del Jarama is a small town in the urban area of Madrid, Spain. It is located Northeast from Madrid and very close to Barajas International Airport....
and Torrejon de Ardoz
Torrejón de Ardoz
Torrejón de Ardoz is a town in the urban area of Madrid, Spain that has about 110,000 inhabitants.It is a town 20 km east of Madrid on the NII highway . It is essentially a dormitory town, mostly consisting of apartments. It can be reached by bus from Av...
, where they were shot and buried in mass graves. The first shootings took place before dawn on November 7, and continued at a fast pace until November 10, when they were temporarily halted after the anarchist Melchor Rodríguez
Melchor Rodríguez García
Melchor Rodríguez García , was a Spanish politician and statesman, a notable anarcho-syndicalist, and the head of prison authorities in Madrid during the Spanish Civil War....
(who opposed executions) became head of the Madrid prison system.
The executions resumed on November 14, when Rodríguez resigned, and didn't stop until he resumed the post in early December.
From the early days, news of the executions were denounced by foreign diplomats based in Madrid, including the consul of Norway and the German ambassador, Felix Schlayer, who talked about the issue with Santiago Carrillo
Santiago Carrillo
Santiago Carrillo Solares is a Spanish politician who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Spain from 1960 to 1982.- Childhood and early youth :...
.
Henny's Attempted Murder
On December 8, a plane carrying Dr. Georges Henny, an envoy sent by the International Red Cross on his way back to France, was shot down in northern Spain. Henny had with him a report on the Paracuellos massacre that he planned to present during a meeting of the League of NationsLeague of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. The Republican authorities blamed the National air force for the attack, but on December 21 it was revealed that Dr. Henny's plane was shot down by Soviet-built airplanes with Spanish Republican pilots.
Henny spent four months in hospital and was unable to deliver his report. Louis Delaprée, a French journalist who traveled in the same plane and died weeks later because of his injuries, blamed General Alexander Orlov
Alexander Orlov
Alexander Mikhailovich Orlov , born Lev Feldbin, 21 August 1895–25 March 1973), was a General in the Soviet secret police and NKVD Rezident in the Second Spanish Republic. In 1938, Orlov refused to return to the Soviet Union because he realized that he would be executed, and fled with his...
, Soviet NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
's rezident in Spain, for the incident.
Victims and Death Toll
Most of those killed in the Paracuellos massacre were members of the military or Catholic priests. However, there were also medical doctors, lawyers, judges, journalists, writers and college professors among the victims.Among the victims were Federico Salmón, a former conservative labor minister in 1935, the noted politician Jesús Canovas del Castillo, and a football player with Atletico de Madrid
Atlético de Madrid
Club Atlético de Madrid, S.A.D., commonly known as Atlético Madrid, is a Spanish football club based in Madrid who play in La Liga. Atlético have won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey on nine occasions, including a double in 1996; in Europe, they won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1962, were...
and Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, Monchin Triana. Pedro Munoz Seca
Pedro Muñoz Seca
Pedro Muñoz Seca was a Spanish comic playwright. He was one of the most successful playwrights of his era...
, a famous writer and monarchist, Mateo Garcia de los Reyes, a retired admiral, and Ricardo de la Cierva, a lawyer and father of the historian Ricardo de la Cierva were also executed.
Altogether, various historians have estimated the number of dead between 2,000 and 12,000. The figure of 12,000 was cited by the right wing journal El Alcazar in 1977, but is now generally accepted to be too high.
Cesar Vidal in 2004, published a list with 4,021 names of those killed.
A 2006 book by historian Javier Cervera put the death toll at a little over 2,000
See also
- List of massacres in Spain
- Communist terrorismCommunist terrorismCommunist terrorism are actions carried out by groups which adhere to a Marxist-Leninist or Maoist ideology which have been described as terrorism. State actions carried out by the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, North Korea and the actions of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia have all been...
- Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil WarThe 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...
- Red TerrorRed TerrorThe Red Terror in Soviet Russia was the campaign of mass arrests and executions conducted by the Bolshevik government. In Soviet historiography, the Red Terror is described as having been officially announced on September 2, 1918 by Yakov Sverdlov and ended about October 1918...
- Red Terror (Spain)Red Terror (Spain)The Red Terror in Spain is the name given by historians to various acts committed "by sections of nearly all the leftist groups" such as the killing of tens of thousands of people , as well as attacks on landowners, industrialists, and politicians, and the...
- Red Terror (Spain)
- Terrible TriangleTerrible TriangleTerrible Triangle was a term used by Pope Pius XI for the simultaneous persecution of Christians in general and the Catholic Church in particular in three countries: the Soviet Union, Mexico, and Spain. These events are said to have influenced his position on Communism throughout his pontificate...