Figure 1.--These two Spanish street children are being taken into custody by Spanish aithorities. They will be put into state orphanages where they will educated on the basis of amixture of Fascist and Catholic ideology.

The Spanish Civil War left many displaced and orphaned children. We do not yet have details on the number of children involbed, but it was substantial. The Basque children were a special problem because it was an area of heavy fighting. Many children lost their fathers. Often they still had their mothers, but a widowed mother had few ways of supporting a family. Both the Republic and Nationalists attempted to care for the children. We do not yet have much informtion on Republican efforts. After the Nationalist victory, this became a refugee issue. We do know a little about Nationalist programs. The organization that took the responsibility for the care of the street and other displaced children left in the wake of the Civil war for the Nationalists was the the Auxilio Social. This was the women's auxiliary of the Falange Party. The Auxilio opened an orphanage at Valladolid very early in the Civil War (1936). More such faciities were opened as the War progressed and the Nationalists expnded their control of the country. The Auxilio called these facilities centros familiares or family centers. These were government operated boarding schools with different programs for boys and girls. The girls program heavily stressed domestic duties. The boys had a more athletically oriented program. The program promoted membership in the Falange Youth movement. The younger children would not have been aware of ideology. We are not sure how effective the program was with the older children who would have been aware of their parents hated of the Fascists and Franco. Many of the officials administering the program had been to Germany and observed the methods and operations of the Hitler Youth. The program was not an exact replica of NAZI methods. There was a stronge dose of Catholcism in the Falange program. The HJ program in contrast strove to cut children off fron the Church. I would assume that some of the individuals involved have published accounts of their childhood experience. Unfortunately we are not familiar with this literature. Hopefully our Spanish readrs will be able to provide us some information.

Problem

Large numbers of Spanish children were displaced by the Civil War. The Spanish Civil War left many displaced and orphaned children. We do not yet have details on the number of children involbed, but it was substantial. The number left to fend for themselves numbered in the thousands. Many were killed during the fighting either as combatants and non-combatants. There were also many executions conducted by both sides. After the Nationalist victory there were more executions as well as many Republicand imprisoned with lengthy terms. The Basque children were a special problem because it was an area of heavy fighting. Many children lost their fathers. Often they still had their mothers, but a widowed mother had few ways of supporting a family. The result was that there were large numbers of homeless children in Spain trying to survive as best they could. Most of these children came from Republican families, but their many children from Nationalist families as well.

Care Efforts

Both the Republic and Nationalists attempted to care for the children. Spain was not a wealthy country before the War and neither side had the resourc to address the problen during the war. The vicorious Nationlists were able tobdevote more substatial resources after they emrged victorious.

Republican efforts

We do not yet have much informtion on Republican efforts. After the Nationalist victory, this became a refugee issue. In addittion mant Republicans had to flee Spain. France set up camps for them. Usually the refugees could not take the children. Often family took the children in but this was not always possible.

Nationalist efforts

We do know a little about Nationalist programs. The organization that took the responsibility for the care of the street and other displaced children left in the wake of the Civil war for the Nationalists was the the Auxilio Social. This was the women's auxiliary of the Falange Party. The Auxilio opened an orphanage at Valladolid very early in the Civil War (1936). More such faciities were opened as the War progressed and the Nationalists expnded their control of the country. The Auxilio called these facilities centros familiares or family centers. These were government operated boarding schools with different programs for boys and girls. The girls program heavily stressed domestic duties. The boys had a more athletically oriented program. The program promoted membership in the Falange Youth movement. The younger children would not have been aware of ideology. We are not sure how effective the program was with the older children who would have been aware of their parents hated of the Fascists and Franco. Many of the officials administering the program had been to Germany and observed the methods and operations of the Hitler Youth. The program was not an exact replica of NAZI methods. There was a stronge dose of Catholcism in the Falange program. The HJ program in contrast strove to cut children off fron the Church. I would assume that some of the individuals involved have published accounts of their childhood experience. Unfortunately we are not familiar with this literature. Hopefully our Spanish readrs will be able to provide us some information.

Created: 2:10 AM 4/12/2005
Last updated: 4:46 AM 7/19/2015