The Refuge that Never Existed: Civilians in the Rebel Zone during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939

Civil population always live war as an enormous tragedy, and moreover when they are living a civil war. In this type of conflict, assistance is driven away from civilians, who sooner or later seek refuge wherever they can. The continuous movement of displaced and refugees in the two world war deeply transformed Europe. The significance of this tragedy will last for years. Spain was far from his time as a global power, but its leaders never assumed that loss. The perplexity of this change of scenario generated an increase of figures and pretending figures. Popular classes opposed to give value to the scheme of unspeakable interests of the wealthy classes. The Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939 made evident all these contradictions. Both sides acted differently regarding civilians, the true victims of the conflict. In the rebel side, soon the Francoist, citizens disappeared from every narration. General assistance to civilians, to non-combatants, lacked of means or was very loss-making. Resources and energies were there, but were directed to commanders and combatants. Although the victors' narration does not mention it, hunger (and even famine), misery illnesses and death were something common. Sanitary effort didn't work well in rebel territory. However, in the immediate postwar, the members of the sanitary structure were integrated into the complex scheme of the Francoist regime, through positions and privileges. The mutism about everyday life of the Spaniards persisted. The protection for civilians in the rebel side, never existed.