Basque Evacuees

The outbreak of war
The Spanish Civil War broke out in July 1936. It began when right wing military officers rebelled and attempted to seize power from the elected Popular Front (Republican) government. The government, made up of several left wing and centrist parties, were proposing a series of reforms that limited the influence of the armed forces and the Catholic Church. There were also plans to grant autonomy to the Basque and Catalan regions.

The rebellion divided Spain and the country was split into two war zones. People in the major industrial centres remained loyal to the Republicans, but the rebels gained control of about one third of Spain.

International response
The first meeting of the Non-Intervention Committee was held in London in September 1936. The Non-Intervention Agreement was intended to contain the war and was signed by 27 countries including Germany, France, the Soviet Union, Italy and Britain. However, Germany and Italy disregarded the Agreement and sent troops and arms to the rebels. The Republicans turned to the Soviet Union for assistance. France and Britain remained neutral.

‘On 21 May 1937, nearly four thousand children, together with a handful of teachers, assistants and priests left Spain onboard the ship Habana’

Although officially the Western governments did not intervene in the war, many ordinary citizens wanted to help the Republic. Thousands joined the International Brigades or served as doctors and nurses. In Britain, the National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief coordinated the work of around 150 organisations dedicated to aiding the Republic.

The bombing of Guernica
One of the ways in which Germany and Italy helped the rebels was by carrying out bombing raids on cities held by the Republicans. In April 1937 Guernica suffered extensive destruction by aerial bombing and caused international outrage. It was only in the aftermath of Guernica that the National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief was able to persuade the British Government to agree to receive evacuated children from the Basque region.

Plans for evacuation
However, the British Government stipulated that the National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief accept complete financial responsibility for the care of the children. No public funds would be made available. It was also agreed that the children would eventually be returned to Spain. The Basque Children’s Committee was subsequently set up to administer the care of the children.