Remembering the fascist destruction of Guernica

On this day in 1937, a Monday market morning in the Basque town of Guernica ended in fire and rubble. Ten thousand people, locals, refugees, and peasants, had gathered in the town centre when, by late afternoon, the Nazi Condor Legion and Fascist Italian Legionary Air Force descended, dropping over 31 tonnes of munitions for…

Guernica bombed
Guernica destroyed

On this day in 1937, a Monday market morning in the Basque town of Guernica ended in fire and rubble.

Ten thousand people, locals, refugees, and peasants, had gathered in the town centre when, by late afternoon, the Nazi Condor Legion and Fascist Italian Legionary Air Force descended, dropping over 31 tonnes of munitions for more than three hours. The bombing reduced 85 per cent of the buildings to ruins.

Overthrow the republic

They had joined the Spanish Civil War on the side of the Spanish army, led by General Franco, which had set out to overthrow the democratically-elected republic.

Any military justification was threadbare from the start. When the bombing ended, the Rentería Bridge, the town’s main strategic access route, remained untouched. This was terror as policy.

Spread fear

As the Francoist General Mola had put it: the objective was to spread fear, to eliminate all who did not think as they did.

The Times correspondent George Steer, who arrived to find the town still burning, reported that the object of the raid was the demoralisation of the civilian population. The world paid attention, at least briefly.

Picasso's Guernica
Picasso’s Guernica – an indictment of fascism

Picasso responded with his vast monochrome accusation, probably the greatest painitn of the 20th century, which has since hung ever since as an indictment of fascism.

Fascism practised on Guernica what it would perfect elsewhere. We were warned.

Never again.


Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.

Peter Hain
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

Alf Dubs

Lord Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow

In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.

Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Nick Davies

Nick Davies

To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.

Nick Davies
Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak

The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.

Paul Nowak
TUC General Secretary

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