Bombing of Durango

Bombing of Durango.
Part of the Spanish Civil War
Photo of the bombing taken by an Italian pilot.
Date 31 March 1937 Location Durango, Biscay, Spain Result The town of Durango was destroyed
Belligerents
Spanish Republic	Aviazione Legionaria Condor Legion
Commanders and leaders
?	?
Strength
Anti-aircraft artillery	He-51 and CR.32 fighters 9 SM.81 bombers
Casualties and losses
248–250 civilians dead	None

The Bombing of Durango took place on 31 March 1937, during the Spanish Civil War. On 31 March 1937 the Nationalists started their offensive against the Republican held province of Biscay. As part of the offensive the Aviazione Legionaria and the Legion Condor bombed Durango, a town of 10,000 inhabitants that was also a key road and railway junction behind the frontline. Around 250 people are believed to have died in the bombing.

Background

On 31 March 1937, the Nationalist forces, led by Emilio Mola, started the offensive against the Republican held, Vizcaya Province. Mola said that: "I have decided to terminate rapidly the war in the north: those not guilty of assassinations and who surrender their arms will have their lives and property spared. But, if submission is not immediate, I will raze all Vizcaya to the ground, beginning with the industries of war".[1] The same day the Nationalists bombed the towns of Durango[2] and Elorrio.[3]

The bombing

Durango, a town of 10,000 inhabitants, was a road and railway junction between Bilbao and the front. By bombing the road and infrastructure in the town, the Republican forces would be prevented from sending reinforcements from Bilbao. It would also ensure that the Basque and Republican troops couldn't retreat in an orderly fashion in order to fight another day.

Despite the importance of Durango as a transportation junction, the town had no air defences, and there were only a few Republican fighter planes to be found in the Basque region.[3]

On 31 March, German and Italian transport planes modified to carry bombs (German Ju 52 and Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM.81) from the Condor Legion[1] and the Aviazione Legionaria bombed the town in relays. Two churches were bombed during the celebration of mass, killing 14 nuns and the officiated priest.[3] Furthermore, Heinkel He 51 fighters strafed fleeing civilians. Altogether, around 250 civilians (Thomas: 248;[1] Beevor: 250[3] and Preston: 258[4]) died in the attack.

Aftermath

On 28 April, Durango fell to Nationalist side. While the local road junction meant that Durango was a legitimate target for an air attack and the bombing did not contravene the laws of war as they were at the time, foreign observers were shocked at the carnage.

The Nationalists denied responsibility for the bombing, claiming that the priest and the nuns who died in the bombing were killed and burned by the reds. Queipo de llano said that: "our planes bombed military objectives in Durango, and later communists and socialists locked up the priests and nuns, shooting without pity and burning the churches". [3]

The bombing of Durango was to a certain extent overlooked historically. Instead, it was the bombing of Guernica, a similar air attack that took place four weeks later, that came to symbolize the horrors of modern aerial warfare in the public consciousness.

References

• Beevor, Antony (2006). The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-303765-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Graham, Helen (2005). The Spanish Civil War. A very short introduction. Oxford University Press.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Preston, Paul (1995). Franco. London: Fontana Press.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Thomas, Hugh (2001). The Spanish Civil War. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-101161-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Notes

1. Thomas 2001, p. 598.
2. Graham 2005, p. 71.
3. Beevor 2006, p. 228.
4. Preston 1995, p. 239.