Civil War and Madrid under Franco

• PHOTOS

In 1931, the Spanish monarchy came to an end and a representative democracy was created. It was short lived. Partisan conflict between socialists on the left and corporatists on the right led, within a few years, to Civil War. Led by general Francisco Franco, the rightists eventually overwhelmed the Republicans and instituted a military dictatorship, which ruled Spain until the 1970s. During this three-hour tour of Madrid, we will look at the events of the 1930s and trace Spanish politics from Civil War through Fascism.

We begin in Puerta del Sol, a central plaza in Madrid that was bombed by Germans, which supported the Francoists during the war. Here we'll spend some time with archival images, a timeline, and other materials to get our bearings on the events of the 1930s, piecing apart the different sides and what they stood for. As we walk along the major boulevards that symbolize the city's strong, 20th-century modernity, we'll point out important monuments during the Civil War, su

In 1931, the Spanish monarchy came to an end and a representative democracy was created. It was short lived. Partisan conflict between socialists on the left and corporatists on the right led, within a few years, to Civil War. Led by general Francisco Franco, the rightists eventually overwhelmed the Republicans and instituted a military dictatorship, which ruled Spain until the 1970s. During this three-hour tour of Madrid, we will look at the events of the 1930s and trace Spanish politics from Civil War through Fascism.

We begin in Puerta del Sol, a central plaza in Madrid that was bombed by Germans, which supported the Francoists during the war. Here we'll spend some time with archival images, a timeline, and other materials to get our bearings on the events of the 1930s, piecing apart the different sides and what they stood for. As we walk along the major boulevards that symbolize the city's strong, 20th-century modernity, we'll point out important monuments during the Civil War, such as Art Deco structures, the Telephonica building, and the Gran Via. We'll look at the role of international media and volunteers who came to the aid of the Republicans, including American Lincoln Brigade and the Canadian Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion. But our view will also extend beyond the events of the 1930s and, drawing on oral history, contemplate Spain during World War II and conditions in Madrid under Franco in the 1950s and 1960s.

The second half of our walk will focus on the Reina Sofia Museum, which houses the monumental Guernica by Picasso, which commemorates the German bombing of civilians during the Spanish Civil War. We'll also look at the museum's wonderful collection of supporting materials, including propaganda posters from the time, film, and archival photographs.

At the end, we hope to emerge with a much clearer picture of the Spanish Civil War and life in Madrid under Franco.