.mw-parser-output .hidden-begin{box-sizing:border-box;width:100%;padding:5px;border:none;font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .hidden-title{font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .hidden-content{text-align:left}You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Catalan. (July 2011) Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the Catalan article. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Catalan Wikipedia article at [[:ca:Bombardeig d'Alacant (1938)]]; see its history for attribution. You should also add the template ((Translated|ca|Bombardeig d'Alacant (1938))) to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.
The Market Bombing of Alicante 25 May 1938
Part of the Spanish Civil War

The current central market of Alicante
Date25 May 1938
Location
Alicante, Spain
Result Alicante severely damaged.
Belligerents
 Spanish Republic  Nationalist Spain
Kingdom of Italy Aviazione Legionaria
Commanders and leaders
? ?
Strength
Anti-aircraft artillery 7–9 Italian Sa-79 and Sa-81 bombers
Casualties and losses
275–393 civilians dead
1,000 civilians injured		 None

One of the worst bombing attacks on civilian population in Alicante during the Spanish civil war. This particular attack was one of many against the Spanish city of Alicante and it occurred on 25 May 1938, perpetrated by the Legionary Air Force, an expeditionary corps from the Italian Royal Air Force, allied with Franco. The attacking planes were based in Mallorca. It is even considered by many to be one of the deadliest aerial bombings of the entire Spanish Civil War with many bombs dropped on a strictly civilian population with no military targets within a short amount of time. It was heavily reported by witnesses that the planes dove low shooting at civilians randomly.

Background

After the Aragon Offensive, Franco wanted to eliminate the Republican maritime commerce and destroy the Republican morale, so he authorized the Aviazione Legionaria and the Legion Condor to undertake indiscriminate bombings of the Republican cities. Valencia, Barcelona, Alicante, Granollers, and other Spanish town and cities were bombed.[1]

Bombing

On 25 May 1938, between seven and nine Italian SM.79 and SM.81 bombers of the Aviazione Legionaria bombed Alicante. The bombers dropped ninety bombs and many of them fell on the central market and surrounding streets of the city. There were between 275 and 393 civilian deaths (100 men, 56 women, 10 children, and more than 100 unidentified bodies), and 1000 wounded.[2] Preston said that there were several hundreds of civilians killed.

Aftermath

The bombings of Alicante and Granollers, and the attacks against British shipping provoked protests in London.[3]

References

  1. ^ Preston, Paul. Franco. Fontana Press. 1995. London. p. 307
  2. ^ es:Bombardeo del mercado central de Alicante
  3. ^ Preston, Paul. Franco. Fontana Press. 1995. London. p. 307

38°21′N 0°29′W / 38.350°N 0.483°W / 38.350; -0.483


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