Spaniards in French Resistance

During the months of January and February of 1939 there was a never seen before exodus in Catalan lands during the Spanish Civil War: 500,000 people (mostly civilian population and part of the Republican Army) headed for French territory fleeing the advancing army of General Franco rebelled against the legitimate government and harassment by air forces sent by its allies in the war (Hitler and Mussolini), which strafed and bombed the transited roads and populations where they took refuge.

Refugees entering the city of Le Perthus in February 1939.
Photo by Bates Winifred.
(Imperial War Museum, ID: HU 33169)