The Mayor of Almuñécar unveiled a memorial plaque in honour of the Almuñequeros that ended up in Nazi concentration camps.
The four names are: Heraldo Muñoz Puyol, Antonio García Ribas, Juan Cubero Guarda y Miguel Martín Arellano. However, the plaque is also to commemorate all Spaniards that were sent to nazi concentration camps.
Mayor Herrera said, “The political problems should never end up in situations like those experienced at that time, therefore we have to remember the past in order not to repeat it.”
Also present was the Spokesman for the local, Izquierda Unida/Podemos party, Francisco Fernández, who pointed out that this institutional act was backed unanimously by all parties in the Plenary Meeting of the Town Council on the 21st of June after his party brought the motion before the council members.
Editorial comment: it is difficult not to observe cynically that the plaque is for Spaniards who suffered in Nazi concentration camps yet no mention is made of the Spaniards that suffered in Franco-regime concentrations here in Spain, precisely in the same period.
At least the Nazi concentration camps ceased to exist in 1945 whereas here Franco’s ones continued well into the 50s.
The question is, had Spaniards in all concentration camps, (even including the Soviet ones during those same years) been suggested, would the Mayor have backed it?
(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)
All fair comments . Of course they ended up in Nazi concentration camps with Franco’s blessing. As for the Civil War itself there grim atrocities committed by both sides but the so called nationalists( an odd name for a rebel group fighting a kosher republican government!) did a lot more and worse still carried on after the war ended. A plaque for all those murdered folk also necessary
Whilst I realise how badly many Jewish people suffered during WW2. I do feel that the forgotten millions of other victims, are just that. Forgotten.!!
The Polish Officers. The millions in the greater Russian areas. Both before and during the war. The forced movements of people and Famines. Here in Spain. The Franco years. Of course industrialised murder is awful. But we seem to forget that it wasn’t just the Nazies. I guess death via forced labour and starvation is just a slower and easier option.! Look at Cambodia. Rwanda. The Balkans. Man’s inhumanity is awful.
But there is light. Kindness should eventually overcome awfulness. I hope.!!