The indiscriminate killing of civilians was committed by both the Soviet supported loyalist and Axis supported nationalist forces. The targeting of civilians was particularly brutal in the largely nationalist Madrid. Nationalist residents of Madrid and their sympathizers fled loyalist paramilitary gangs to the sanctuary of foreign embassies. At its height, more than 20,000 nationalists found protection behind embassy walls. In response, one loyalist militia opened a fake embassy and murdered any nationalist seeking sanctuary.
Beevor, Antony. 2001. The Spanish Civil War. Penguin (Non-Classics). Pg. 63.
Christopher R. Albon is a political science Ph.D. specializing in armed conflict, public health, human security, and health diplomacy.
Want more? Subscribe to Conflict Health through RSS or email.
{ 1 comment }
This sounds familiar – Alan Furst might have mentioned something similar in Night Soldiers.
Comments on this entry are closed.