Did Franco's African troops defile Spanish women?

[Tennyson]

Some historians claim that the Moors mass raped Spanish women and the the Nationalist government tolerated or even encouraged that behavior.

This sounds incredible. What is the truth?

Nationalist forces under Colonel Juan Yagüe take Badajoz, uniting the two parts of the Nationalist territory. Around 4,000 people die during and after the attack in Badajoz. In the local bullring, thousands of people are shot down by the Nationalists with machine guns.There was a systematic mass rape of the female populace. This was the official policy of the Nationalist generals, as proved by many radio speeches of General Queipo de Llano, who was very proud of the sexual behavior of his troops. First in line to rape and kill were the so-called "moros" (Moors), Moroccan volunteers, for whom this was a chance at a sort of revenge for the Spain's colonial occupation of their country. Fighting, ironically, on the side of the colonialists against the common people of Spain, they were to become elite troops of the fascist army.

Spanish Civil War chronology 1936 - Detailed chronology: 1936

And look what Communists have to say about the subject:

What the Communists Did Wrong--Racism

Throughout the war, Franco relied on troops recruited and conscripted in Spanish (and French) Morocco. Perhaps 100,000 Moors fought for the Fascists.(89) The Fascists encouraged every sort of atrocity on the part of the Moors, playing on the racism of the Republicans with great success. Fascist General Quiepo de Llano broadcast revolting descriptions of the rapes to be committed by Moorish troops should they capture Madrid.(90) Republican propaganda repeated and embroidered this racist trash. Posters in Madrid depicted Moorish soldiers as "thick-lipped, hideously grinning, powerful turbaned figures attacking defenseless white women and bayoneting white children."(91)

Republican Minister of Foreign Affairs Alvarez del Vayo characterized Moors as "immune from all political propaganda of a democratic nature."(92) The facts are the exact opposite. Representatives of the Riffs of Morocco, who had fought a long war for independence in the teens and twenties, offered to organize against Franco in return for independence from Spain. The Republican government turned them down flat, fearing French reaction to an independence movement adjoining their own colonies in Africa, and hoping to use Morocco for bargaining with other capitalist powers. A Catalan delegation of Communists and Anarchists supported the Moroccan request, but got nowhere.(93)

The PCE never made a public fight over this crucial issue, which should not only have been a matter of principle, but which could have produced a powerful and proven ally in the struggle against Franco. Nor did the PCE combat racism in any other way. Instead, they promoted it! La Pasionaria repeated the filth of Radio Seville, accusing the Fascists of lack of patriotism for urging the Moors to rape Spanish women:

“Peasant girls violated by legionaries, mercenaries, and Moors, who have been tempted from their African villages by the promise of a "good time," bear witness to this "patriotism" of the fascist murderers.(94)

PCE promotion of racism was far more than a lost opportunity for militant allies in Morocco (and the Spanish mainland); it was an error that contributed to all sorts of weaknesses of line and strategic failures. French bosses were right to fear that an independent Spanish Morocco would ignite independence struggles in the neighboring French colonies. This would have been an excellent development for the Republic, drawing off French and British aid to Franco. A determined struggle against racism would have dealt a major blow to the many nationalist divisions in the Republic. These divisions constituted an enormously important weakness, contributing to Anarchist predominance in Catalonia, where the war was finally lost.

The development of a class understanding of racism and capitalism's need for it might have force the communist movement world-wide to abandon their wrong line on the nature of Fascism and capitalist rule. In other words, understanding the role of racism under capitalism leads to understanding the necessity for workers' power; as well as making it possible to fight for it. A key strategy for organizing the struggle for socialism is to unite with and rely on the most oppressed--and the most militant--working people. In the long colonial wars, the Moors had shown themselves to be just that.

Finally, fighting racism in Spain could have helped develop a better line in other countries when their volunteers returned. As it was, the Internationals absorbed the prevailing racist atmosphere and took that home. British volunteers actually called the Moors "niggers."(95)

"Lessons of People\'s War in Spain 1936-1939", from ProgressiveLaborMagazine, 1974

[Menydh]

The sources that you quote are amazingly biased. The first source starts with the killing of lieutenant José del Castillo by Falange members on February 16, 1936, as if that was the start of a series of retaliations.

On November 2, 1934, José Ruiz de la Hermosa, a JONS militant is assassinated by Socialists.

On January 11, 1934, Francisco de Paula Sampol, is shot dead on his back because he showed through his pocket the Falangist paper FE. He was 22 y/o. The purposed victim of the Socialists was not Sampol but the Falangist who was selling the newspaper. However, they noticed that he was being protected by comrades and decided to pick a more easy target.

José Antonio, leader of Falange, asks Falangists to resist and not to retaliate. More deaths, wounded and assaults on Falange members continue, including the assassination of Matías Montero on February 9.

That will give you an idea of the reliability of your sources. Next, let me take on the issue of the Moors..

[Tennyson]

There is also another pro-Republican source which says:

08 Feb

Málaga taken by Franco's troops. The militiamen resisted rifle and grenade fire, but broke at the totally unfamiliar sight of tanks. The Nationalists start immediately to take an enormous amount of prisoners and to execute them. For example, participation in a strike several years ago is grounds for execution. The Italian military authorities are horrified at the number of executions and the mutilations practiced on the corpses and those who were wounded, as well as the mass rape of women.

La Cucaracha Spanish Civil War Diary February 1937

[Menydh]

The alleged rape orgies of the Moorish troops is an invention of the Socialist propaganda which, incidentally, never offered any names of victims or testimonies. The historians that you probably refer to are some like Hugh Thomas or Brian Crozier, who are refuted by historian Enrique Barco Teruel.

There is, however, one documented chapter where three Moors are accused of a rape. As a result, they are executed in front of the Moorish troops. But as they were, one of them swears by Allah that he did not commit the rape. The Moors, enraged at his execution, organized a revolt. Their commander, Mizziam, convinced them to give up and after that they were removed from any place near the front lines and used to build roads for the rest of the war.

The Republican government, however, used this to create a myth of Moorish revolts, mass killings and rapes.

[svin]

The Republican government, however, used this to create a myth of Moorish revolts, mass killings and rapes.

Reminds me of Soviet communists, who were always accusing "Whites" of using help of the intervention forces... Hearing that from communists always sounded weird, if not to say more. Like the leaders of Bolsheviks were Russians, he-h.

[Menydh]

Just found something interesting. Prof. Gabriel Cardona tells that, to entertain the Moorish troops, they brought tale tellers and prostitutes from Morocco.

Also, it must be said that even if a Moor, Mohammed ben Mizziam deserves most respect. He pursued an impeccable military career and rose to the rank of General of Divison in the Spanish Army. He was also made military governor of Galicia (a huge mistake) and later of the Canary Islands (also a mistake). He later returned to Morocco where he organized the army there and was made ambassador of Morocco in Spain.

An interesting note here is that one of his daughters disobeyed him when he tried to marry her to a Muslim, and she married secretly a Spanish captain. Mizziam ordered the kidnapping of his daughter and had her sent to Tangier and the Spanish captain to the Peninsula.

Mohamed ben Mizziam

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Tennyson

There is also another pro-Republican source which says:

So far your sources are turning to be most biased and discredited propaganda means. I suggest that you change your favourite search engine.. or your search methods.

Originally Posted by svin

Reminds me of Soviet communists, who were always accusing "Whites" of using help of the intervention forces... Hearing that from communists always sounded weird, if not to say more. Like the leaders of Bolsheviks were Russians, he-h.

Socialism has focused strongly, since their starts, in the propaganda machine with much success among the brainless masses.

[Tennyson]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

So far your sources are turning to be most biased and discredited propaganda means. I suggest that you change your favourite search engine.. or your search methods.

Don't misunderstand me. I have no intention to defend communist liars and I am happy that you refuted those lies. Thank you for answering my questions.

You could consider editing the Wikipedia article which spreads this wrong information and is generally biased.

[Menydh]

I don't blame you. I wondered what search patterns could lead you to those sources. In my opinion, wikipedia is useful as a quick reference but one which needs to be checked and expanded with more consistent sources. I've seen most bizarre articles on wikipedia.

In the beginning stages we had to complain as they included Stirpes as a white nationalist forum in an article about white nationalism. How did that happen? Simply, one individual only known to himself and to wikipedia as a reference IP, put Stirpes there. Still today you can find such a reference on other sites based on some mirroring of that old article.

So, I would argue that wikipedia gives both information and misinformation.

[Milesian]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

The alleged rape orgies of the Moorish troops is an invention of the Socialist propaganda

How horribly racist of them. Something should be done about these hate-mongers

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Milesian

How horribly racist of them. Something should be done about these hate-mongers

Contradictory as it is, the Socialist government has organized a homage to General Mizziam in one of the Spanish places in N. Africa.

Would they do the same with any other military chief of the National side. Not a chance. The reason is their pathological desire to change the relations with Morocco, pleasing Mohamed II at every moment.

No historian will ever be able to analyze this government in a future, unless he also has a doctorate in psychiatry.

[Milesian]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

No historian will ever be able to analyze this government in a future, unless he also has a doctorate in psychiatry.

No doubt. But the fact that the lunatics are now running the asylum is hardly a Spanish speciality

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Milesian

No doubt. But the fact that the lunatics are now running the asylum is hardly a Spanish speciality

Ummh.. can your prime minister pull faces like these?






I win!
Unfortunately..

[Kernunnos]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

I don't blame you. I wondered what search patterns could lead you to those sources. In my opinion, wikipedia is useful as a quick reference but one which needs to be checked and expanded with more consistent sources. I've seen most bizarre articles on wikipedia.

In the beginning stages we had to complain as they included Stirpes as a white nationalist forum in an article about white nationalism. How did that happen? Simply, one individual only known to himself and to wikipedia as a reference IP, put Stirpes there. Still today you can find such a reference on other sites based on some mirroring of that old article.

So, I would argue that wikipedia gives both information and misinformation.

Wikipedia?

As of politics and history, they could call it Politburo-pedia, with Gromiko as moderator ...