Polvorín

A catastrophic explosion ripped through the quiet evening of September 6, 1947, forever scarring the landscape of Polvorín and the memories of Alcalá de Henares. The Polvorín, a military depot nestled on Zulema Hill, became the epicenter of a tragedy that claimed 24 lives and left dozens wounded. The earth trembled, dust and smoke filled the air, and debris rained down upon the town, two kilometers away. Windows shattered, homes shook, and fear gripped the hearts of the people. The Polvorín itself was decimated, along with a nearby factory called “Río Cerámica”. This Polvorín disaster, while likely an accident due to the intense heat of the late summer, similar to other explosions in the post-war period like the one in Cadiz, was quickly seized upon by the Franco regime. They declared it an act of Marxist terrorism. This tragic event at Polvorín became a tool of political repression. Twenty-four members of the clandestine JSU (Unified Socialist Youth) in Madrid and Alcalá de Henares were accused. Following a swift trial, half were sentenced to death. Eight of these young people were executed in Ocaña, Toledo, on August 20, 1948. The Polvorín explosion remains a somber reminder of the turbulent post-war period in Spain. It was a time marked by hardship, political tensions, and a series of unfortunate accidents, often attributed to outdated and poorly maintained equipment. The events surrounding the Polvorín are a stark example of how a tragic accident could be manipulated for political gain under Franco’s rule, leaving an enduring mark on the history of Alcalá de Henares.