Exile (SPA)

The Spanish Republican exile Refers to all Spanish Citizens who, during the Spanish Civil War (from 1936 to 1939, the immediate postwar) , were forced to leave their homeland and move to other country clubs, because of political and Ideological reasons, or for fear of retaliation by the winning side and the authoritarian political regime established in Spain, remaining abroad until the evolution of the internal circumstances of the country allowed to return gradually, although many people who were there finally integrated into the societies that gave them shelter in some cases, leading contributing to its development.

Over the years, the internal political developments in Spain and the progressive reconciliation process, which culminated in the period of the Spanish Transition and the establishment of democracy gradually allowed the return of the exiles, but many that were also their degree of integration, chose to remain in the country that gave them refuge and where found later with other Spanish that had arrived then as economic migrants from the 1950s or a new exile, persecuted by the dictatorship until 1975.

It is estimated that at the end of the war had been expatriated to France more than 500,000 Spanish (just over 2% of the total population of the country), and another 15,000 made it to Algeria (French colony). Were Both cases interned in concentration camps, in the hope that most return to Spain after the war.

"After the defeat of the Republican Army, strafed by the roads, Civilians fled and left us alone, Despite The defeat. Italian and German aircraft massacred us, and everyone fled. Partly million, five hundred thousand human beings, children, women and elderly ... military, full of lice, Civilians ... all in the same merengue, and seek refuge in a country thought That friend, who was France. "

Commander Robert (Chief of Staff of the Third Brigade of the Spanish Guerillas)

Between April and December 1939, the amount decreased considerably: It was decided to repatriate 300,000 people. Most were civilians who had not participated in the war (women, children, elderly); or men who occupied important positions in the army. They believed they wouldn't have nothing to fear, but they were all imprisoned and had to pass judgment; apart from difficulties in finding work. 215,000 remained in French territory. In the first months almost 15,000 people died because of the poor conditions in which they were living in concentration camps.

What fate befell children in exile?

To prevent children suffering from the war, people tried to get them away from the front lines. The Ministry of Education promoted the displacement of children inside Levante, where they were housed in families and in summer camps. Following Franco's occupation of País Vasco, Asturias and Cantabria, an international campaign to exile Spanish children was promoted. Between 1937 and 1939, 30,000 children were displaced to other country clubs, mostly European. 

Implications for Spain:

The main consequence was the loss of a generation, considered the best formed in Spain after the "Golden Age" one. Scientists, writers, doctors, educators, politicians and democratic Were exiled. As a result of this: 

T here was an important economic, scientific and Cultural lag.

• The democratic political parties and trade unions Suffered an important break. 
• Most of the Were leaders in exile, in prison or dead.