Atrocities of the Second Republic

After reading about the decision of Rodriguez Zapatero [Spanish Prime Minister] to propose a “truth and reconciliation” for Spain and amnesty those who “suffered” under Franco, the time has come to put the spotlight on those who started the fire that lead to the Civil War In Spain. It should also be remembered that those who were Republicans found refuge in the American Continent where their descendents [The Republican Party, Democratic Party, and Communist/Socialist Party] were to play an important role in the governments of the American Continent including the USA, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela.

After the Proclamation of the Spanish Republic in April 1931, a group of people with little or no experience took control and were surrounded by radical groups such as ERC [Esquerra Republicana Catalana] and PCE [Partido Comunista de Espa~na]. They drew up a Constitution which while it was a beautifully executed document on the outside, was exclusive from the beginning. Of course, there always has to be an enemy since there were no plans for a constitutional republic but one based on the principles of ERC and PCE.

One Month after the proclamation of the Republic in May 1931, a group of Anarchists set fire to monarchist headquarters, convents, and churches in Madrid and elsewhere.  This event was to be known as the Quema de Conventos. The Republican Government did not lift one finger to help the victims. With Aza~na as Prime Minister and Alcala Zamora as President, A Constituent Assembly was approved and most of the radical elements of the Republic won including Aza~na.

Afterwards, the groups started fighting among themselves with ERC demanding total independence and others resisting such a move. Businesses were leaving Spain for better pastures in Great Britain and the American Continent. More and more abuses were committed and the final stake was when during the 1936 “Elections” in which only the Republicans and Company were allowed to participate, the Popular Front won by a landslide and Aza~na removed Alcala Zamora under the first Constitutional Coup D Etat in the 20^th Century.

People like Jose Calvo Sotelo were murdered by Republican Militias. Who cannot forget the butcheries of Santiago Carrillo as thousands of civilians including women and children were executed in Paracuellos Del Jarama and Torrejon de Ardoz? Santiago Carrillo may use his old age as an excuse or may say that this was inevitable, but it does not excuse this old man from having ordered such atrocities or allowing it to occur while he was Councilor for Public Order of the Defence Council of Madrid.

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This same Santiago Carrillo may say that “Communism has run its course” but he should at least be held accountable for his crimes in the same way that Mugabe, Castro, Chavez, the Republicans, Democrats, Nazis and other Communist Leaders should be held to account.

Who can forget the University of California Professor of Economics called Robert Hale Merriman who commanded the Abraham Lincoln Battalion of International Brigades and allowed his fellow “countrymen” including African Americans to do “all of the fighting” while he sat down and did nothing. Many US Citizens died secondary to his incompetence. Many US Citizens actually switched sides because they did not want to be associated with “Captain Murderman” as he was called.

There is one surviving US Citizen called Milton Wolff who should also be called to account as well. Of course, he will use his ancestry as a pretext but inhumanity is inhumanity regardless where it originates.

REFERENCE:

Payne, Stanley G: “A History of Spain and Portugal Volume 2; Chapter 25; the Second Spanish Republic”

http://libro.uca.edu/payne2/payne25.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Carrillo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Wolff

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hale_Merriman