Spaniards in the Holocaust

Francesc Boix declaring at Nuremberg trials
(Courtesy of Truman Library)

In previous blog entries I already spoke of the little remembered involvement (until recently) of Spanish citizens on the side of the Allies during World War II, I spoke of Garbo, the famous double agent and how important it was for the success of the Normandy landings, the participation of Spanish guerrilla fighters in the French Resistance and and La Nueve acting in the liberation of Paris. However there is another important aspect of the conflict that is also necessary to point out and supposed that in January 28th 1946 a Spaniard, Francesc Boix, became one of the main witnesses of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg.

Currently the total number of Holocaust victims is recorded at nearly 10 million people, 6 correspond to people of Jewish origin or who were considered to belong to this ethnic group, of the remaining 4 million (Polish, Soviet, Gypsies, homosexuals, political prisoners ...) 10,000 were Spanish citizens.

La Nueve at the Liberation of Paris

Insignia of Free France 2nd Armored Division

On August 26th 1944, after combats for Paris liberation, generals De Gaulle and Leclerc marched down the Champs Elysees tucked behind a crowd of people who showed their joy at the liberation of the capital. The armored vehicles that formed the honor guard charged with their protection belonged to the ninth company of the 2nd Armored Division of the Free French, also known as La Nueve, these vehicles had Spanish-sounding names: Madrid, Guadalajara, Guernica, Ebro, Teruel, Belchite, Brunete, Don Quijote...

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)