Bombing of Guernica

Guernica is a town in the Basque country of Spain. It is located in the province of Biscay, near the city of Bilbao. For the Basque people, this town is a very important place. It is known as the home of Basque liberties. A special oak tree called the Gernikako Arbola grows there. This tree is a symbol of traditional freedoms for the people.

In April 1937, a war was happening in Spain. This was called the Spanish Civil War. Two sides were fighting for control of the land. One side was the Republican government. The other side was the Nationalist faction led by Francisco Franco. The Nationalists wanted to capture the city of Bilbao. Guernica sat on the path toward that goal. It was a key spot for moving troops and supplies.

On April 26, 1937, an aerial attack hit the town. This mission was called Operation Rügen. The Nationalist side used planes from Germany and Italy. The German planes were part of the Condor Legion. The Italian planes were part of the Aviazione Legionaria. They used different types of bombs during the raid. Some bombs were made to explode with force. Others were incendiary bombs meant to start fires.

The goal of the planes was to hit bridges and roads. The leaders wanted to stop the Republican forces from moving. However, the attack hit the town itself very hard. Many people were in Guernica that day. It was a Monday, which was usually a market day. Local farmers often came to the town to sell crops. It is hard to know exactly how many people died. Some records say 126 people died. Other sources say the number was much higher, like 1,654.

This event became famous all over the world. It was one of the first aerial bombings to get global attention. Many artists used their work to show what happened. The artist Pablo Picasso made a huge painting called Guernica. He was asked to make it by the Spanish Republic. Other artists made woodcuts, poems, and even music. Their art helps people remember this part of history.