Civilian Hardships During the Spanish Civil War

Living Through the War

Hunger and Repression

Life during the war was defined by famine, death, and fear. Supplying food to the population presented a serious problem, particularly in the Republican zone, as the Nationalists controlled key agricultural territories from the outset. Food rationing was a common practice. The authorities established the amounts of certain foods that could be received per person per day, while others could only be acquired by prescription.

The civilian population also suffered from the fear of fierce fighting and the bombing of besieged cities. Families feared the recruitment of their youngest members and the separation this caused. Everyday life was also shattered by the retaliation that took place on both sides against supporters of the opposing zone. The most common form of retaliation, practiced by both sides, was the so-called 'paseo' (walk). An armed group would take a person from their residence under the pretext of 'taking a walk,' lead them out of the village, and murder them.

Repression was widespread:

• In the Nationalist zone, union leaders, many members of leftist parties, intellectuals, and soldiers loyal to the Republic were arrested or killed throughout the conflict.
• In the Republican zone, the primary targets of persecution were local leaders, landlords, employers, and members of the clergy.
• On both sides, many people were reported for belonging to or sympathizing with the enemy and were subsequently executed. In many cases, this was a way to settle personal quarrels, adding to the number of victims of repression.

The victims were typically buried in mass graves at night without any identification. Today, the corpses from many of these anonymous burials are still being exhumed.

Refugees and Exiles

During the war, the fear of advancing Franco's troops caused many people to leave their homes and become refugees. This problem especially affected the women and children of combatants on the Republican side. To escape the suffering of the war, some 30,000 children left Spain for other countries like Mexico, France, or the USSR. These children became known as the 'niños de la guerra' (children of war). Many of them never returned home.

At the end of the conflict, hundreds of thousands of people went into exile. Although many returned after the outbreak of World War II, which began some months after the end of the Civil War, many others did not.