Why does this plaque stand here today? It is En memòria de les víctimes dels bombardejos comesos per l’aviació feixista italiana, aliada de l’exèrcit franquista, al març de 1938 a Barcelona. This plaque serves as a solemn reminder of a dark chapter in Barcelona’s history. It commemorates the victims of the bombings carried out by the Italian Fascist aviation, allied with Franco’s army, in March 1938.
Barcelona was under siege during the Spanish Civil War. The Nationalist forces, supported by Italy and Germany, aimed to weaken the Republican side. Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator, personally ordered the Aviazione Legionaria to conduct continuous bombings of Barcelona. He believed this would break the morale of the “Reds.”
Between March 16 and 18, 1938, Barcelona endured a series of devastating airstrikes. Italian bombers, operating from Mallorca with Spanish markings, unleashed terror upon the city. The first raid struck at 10 PM on March 16, followed by seventeen more raids at three-hour intervals. The working-class districts were particularly hard hit on the night of March 18.
Barcelona was virtually defenseless. The city lacked adequate anti-aircraft artillery and aerial cover. Bombers glided silently at high altitudes. They restarted their engines only after releasing their bombs. This made it impossible to sound the alert in time. The element of surprise amplified the terror.
The Italian bombers dropped 44 tons of bombs. The attacks were not aimed at military targets. Instead, the Italians sought to destroy industrial areas and demoralize the Republican population. Some historians call it the first aerial carpet bombing in history. Civilian buildings, cinemas, consulates, and theaters were hit or destroyed.
The bombings resulted in immense suffering. Up to 1,300 civilians lost their lives. At least 2,000 more were wounded. The repeated attacks made air raid alarms irrelevant. People could no longer distinguish between the start and end of an attack. This created prolonged anxiety among the civilian population.
The international community condemned the attacks. U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull expressed outrage. He stated that no theory of war could justify such conduct. Even Franco, initially not informed, worried about international repercussions and asked for the suspension of the bombings.
The En memòria de les víctimes dels bombardejos plaque stands as a testament to the resilience of Barcelona. It honors the memory of those who perished. It reminds us of the devastating consequences of war and the importance of peace. The memory of the victims endures.