Sant Felip Neri square

(Barcelona, Spain)

Credits: European Observatory of Memories (Universtiat de Barcelona) / Coneixer Història Memorial Association in Barcelona

Where are we?

We are in Sant Felip Neri square, in Barcellona

Here is a plaque installed on January 21st, 2007 to commemorate the victims of one of the Franco, Fascist and Nazi bombings that hit Barcelona between January and March 1938.

Although he initially decided to stay out of the Spanish Civil War, Mussolini later changed his mind, motivated by defensive intentions and specific anti-French foreign policy reasons. Thus, in 1936 the first conflict in which Fascist forces, supported by Mussolini’s Italy and Hitler’s Germany, and anti-fascist forces faced each other took place. The fighting ended in 1939 when General Francisco Franco, head of the Falange movement, established a dictatorial regime in Spain.

On 30th January 1938, the Italian Fascist Air Force attacked Barcelona. On the façade of the church of Sant Felip Neri, signs of the explosions, which killed 42 people, are still visible. On 17th and 18th March of the same year, the Catalan city endured more heavy bombing raids from aircrafts of the Legionary Air Force which had taken off from Palma de Mallorca. Mussolini also ordered General Valle to begin an operation to weaken the morale of the civilian population. This was the first example of civil bombing on a major European city.

A plaque in memory of the victims of the Francoist, Fascist and Nazi bombings that hit Barcelona between January and March 1938 was put up on 21st January 2007.

Photo: Italian Airforce – Aerial bombing of Barcelona, 17 March 1938, by the Italian air force, Public domain

USEFUL INFORMATION

Facility or museum: no

Geographic location: Barcelona, Spain