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Megan Minix
Sutliff
English 10
May 12
th
, 2014
The Bombing of Guernica
War has always been a tragic situation, but it has never been this horrific. New ways of fighting
were being thought of and they were so much more lethal than the past ways. The bombing in Guernica
was an experimental attack during the Spanish Civil War, creating a new way of affecting and fighting an
opponent in a war.
The Spanish Civil War began in July 1936, when the Nationalist attempted to overthrow Spains
Republican government. This Civil War soon expanded out of Spanish borders, and brought in the help of
other allies; which included Germany and Italy uniting with the Nationalist, while the Soviet Union took
the side of the Republicans. These allies would continue on into World War II. The Nationalists were led
by General Francisco Franco, who got along very well with the support of Hitler
(eyewitnesstohistory.com). The involvement of Hitler would bring on the entire bombing of Guernica.
As a matter of fact, Hitler saw the Civil War basically as a practice before the big game (World
War II). Franco and Hitler created the Condor Legion, which was made up of volunteers from Luftwaffe,
the German Air force (hitsorylearningsite.co.uk). Hitler saw this as an opportunity to bring about his new
ideas of aerial warfare, as well as to develop and to perfect them. It is documented in a trial after World
War II, which a German air chief, Hermann Goering, said, The Spanish Civil War gave me an
opportunity to put my young air force to the test, and a means for my men to gain experience, proving
that the bombing in Guernica was simply an experiment to see the effects of bombing innocent people
(eyewitnesstohistory.com).
The bombing of Guernica was not the only attack, but it was the first, and the most memorable. It
was April 26th, 1937, which was market day, and almost everyone in the town was out and about, not
coincidentally. The bombing was meant to be as destructive and harming as possible and this was perfect
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planning. They attacked when there were a lot of people. And they knew their bombing would kill the
most. When there are more people, more people would die. (pbs.org)
Approximately twenty-five German bombers dumped one hundred thousand pounds of
explosives onto the town in a matter of three brutal hours. About twenty more Fiat Fighters and
Messerschmitt accompanied the bombers in the attack. The planes made several rounds to ensure the
damage was done, along with soldiers armed with machine guns to pick up the slack. Those who tried to
run would be shot, if they were not blown to bits. By the end of the attack, there was nothing left of
Guernica and only a few buildings were left standing. The ground was covered in ruble and corpses with
very few survivors (pbs.org). This was the exact result that they had hoped for and the new tactics of
battle had been a success.
Guernicas bombing became a very remarkable point in history. It was the first aerial warfare
tactic to target an unarmed city of an opponent. The new tactics were designed in a way that would hurt
the enemys pride by destroying a defenseless town and keeping their own military safe, and that is
exactly what it did. It destroyed the town of Guernica, as well as the pride and hope of the Republicans.
This act of battle changed the way of war, as well as foreshadowed how World War II would play out.
The way war was fought would be changed forever.