Bombing of Sant Vicenç de Calders

The bombing of Sant Vicenç de Calders was an aerial bombing of the railway station of Sant Vicenç de Calders, Catalonia, during the Spanish Civil War. It was carried out on 8 October 1938 at the behest of Francisco Franco's nationalist regime by the Aviazione Legionaria of its fascist Italian allies.

Bombing of Sant Vicenç de Calders
Part of the Spanish Civil War

Present-day Sant Vicenç de Calders junction
Date8 October 1938
Location
Sant Vicenç de Calders, Catalonia
Belligerents
  Spanish Republic
Units involved
Aviazione Legionaria
Strength
One bomber
Casualties and losses
None
  • 40–60 killed
  • 100+ injured

Background

Sant Vicenç de Calders railway station is located at the important junction of the lines from the Sant Vicenç de Calders–L'Hospitalet railway, and Madrid–Barcelona railways. The two lines meet three kilometres (2 mi) from the village of Sant Vicenç itself, and around the station at the junction there is the barri de l'estació, a railway town.

The railway junction was repeatedly bombed by the rebel faction during the Spanish Civil War, particularly by the Aviazione Legionaria based in Palma de Mallorca – and occasionally by the Condor Legion. The recurrent bombing of Sant Vicenç de Calders junction during the war killed a total of 83 persons and injured over 200, mostly civilians. Damaged railway lines were subsequently repaired.[1]

Bombing

The bombing of 8 October 1938 was one of the war's deadliest, causing 40 to 60 deaths and over a 100 wounded, including numerous victims who were trampled in a subsequent stampede.[2]

The attack was carried out by a single bomber that came in from over the Mediterranean,[3] and hit a civilian passenger train that had just entered the junction on its way from Tarragona to Barcelona.[2] Six passenger wagons were destroyed.[4] After it hit its target, the aircraft circled around and made a strafing run.[2]

See also

Footnotes
  1. Catalunya bombardejada – Memorial Democràtic – Gencat.cat
  2. The Associated Press: Report, Amarillo Sunday News Globe v. 9. October 1938
  3. Australian Associated Press: Bombs dropped on train; The Recorder v. 10. October 1938, p. 1.
  4. NN: Loyalists seize new positions in Toledo sector; Chicago Daily Tribune v. 10. October 1938, p. 4.
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