Miguel García Death Sentence (1949)
Mon Feb 07, 1949
On this day in 1949, anti-Francoist anarchist writer Miguel García, along with eight others, was sentenced to death by the fascist Spanish government. Five of the nine anti-fascists were executed by Franco's government.
García (1909 - 1980) was a member of the Tallion Action Group who militantly opposed Francisco Franco's fascism. His capture came during a brutal crackdown on political dissidents by Spanish security forces in October 1949.
Well known writers and intellectuals, including Andre Breton, Albert Camus, Rene Char, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Ignazio Silone protested the planned executions. There was also support for the nine prisoners from the British Labour Party.
For unknown reasons, four of the condemned men, including García, had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. The other five were executed on March 14th, 1952, in Barcelona.
Here are the names and a brief description of the five executed men:
Pedro Adrover Font, aged 44, was a major figure in the Barcelona anarchist resistance who had once placed a bomb under a cathedral in order to assassinate Franco.
Santiago Amir Gruanas ("El Sheriff"), aged 38, was a guide and member of the anarchist resistance who had helped shot-down British airmen, Jews, and French Resistance members from France into Spain.
Gines Urrea Pina, aged 56, was a veteran of the Spanish Civil War and advocated for launching a new period of armed resistance against Franco.
Jose Perez Pedrero, nicknamed "Tragapanes" ("bread swallower") because he was always hungry, was a miner and had been involved in many guerrilla operations with the anarchist resistance.
Jorge Pons Argiles, known as "Tarantula", was a farmer and, like Tragapanes, was involved with the guerrilla activities of the resistance.
- Date: 1949-02-07
- Learn More: www.katesharpleylibrary.net, en.wikipedia.org.
- Tags: #Anarchism, #Fascism.
- Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org