Accounts of The Massacre
Badajoz fell to the Nationalists on August 14. That day saw many killings of civilians in the streets of the city, including of women and children, especially by the Moroccan troops.
On the same day, General Yagüe ordered the confinement of all prisoners (most of them civilians) in the town's Bull Ring (Plaza de Toros) and that night he began executions there. According to articles published in Le Populaire, Le Temps, Le Figaro, Paris-Soir, Diário de Lisboa and the Chicago Tribune mass executions took place and the streets of Badajoz became littered with bodies. During the first day, there are accounts that claim that 1,000 people were executed. The American journalist Jay Allen, in his report in the Chicago Tribune, spoke of 1,800 men and women killed on the first night alone.
On August 15, Le Temps reporter Jacques Berthet sent the following report:
"around 200 people have been shot by firing squad, we have seen the sidewalks of the Comandancia Militar soaked in blood (...) The arrests and mass executions continue in the Bull Ring. The streets are swept by bullets, covered in glass, tiles and abandoned bodies. In the calle San Juan alone there are 300 corpses.".
On August 18, Le Populaire published:
"Elvas. August 17. Mass Exections have been taking place all yesterday evening and all of this morning in Badajoz. It is estimated that the number of people executed is more than 1,500. Among the notable victims are a number of officers who defended the city against the entrance of the rebels:Colonel Cantero, commandant Alonso, captain Almendro, Lieutenant Vega and a number of NCOs and soldiers. At the same time, dozens of civilians have been shot around the bull ring".
Also on August 18, François Mauriac published an article about the events in Badajoz in Le Figaro.
The Portuguese journalist Mário Neves, who witnessed the massacre at first hand, had his report to Diário de Lisboa censored by the government of António de Oliveira Salazar, who was an ally of the Nationalists. Neves returned to Portugal, horrified by what he had witnessed and swore that he would never return to Badajoz. He finally did so in 1982, to re-trace his steps in the places where the events had happened for a TV documentary.
Read more about this topic: Massacre Of Badajoz
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