April 26: The Basque territory in Guernica, Spain, is bombed by German Luftwaffe, during the Spanish Civil War, in 1937.

Map of Guernica Bombing

The bombing of Guernica (Operation Rügen) was an air strike on the Spanish population on April 26, 1937, during the Spanish Civil War by the German Condor Legion and Italian Legionary Aviation, who fought for of the rebels against the government of the Second Spanish Republic.

Ruins of Guernica (1937)

Current estimates encrypt victims died in a range that spans from 120 to 300 deaths, 126 according to the most recent and comprehensive study.

Ruins of Guernica (1937)

According to some critics, both air forces Luftwaffe of Hitler’s Germany and the Italia one of Mussolini took advantage of the Spanish Civil War to test their aircraft new bombers under General Francisco Franco´s authorization to scare Spaniards.

Mural in Guernica based on the Picasso painting. Basque nationalists advocate that the painting be brought to the town, as can be seen in the slogan underneath

Guernica inspired Pablo Picasso and many other artists as a symbol of civilian suffering as a matter of war conflicts.