- The City of Durango has virtually simulated what happened on the 85th anniversary of the bombing of Durango by fascists on March 31, 1937. On Thursday afternoon, a tribute was paid to the 84 people who died in the bombing and were buried in mass graves.
The City of Durango has hung on its website a virtual simulation with images of how it was persecuted 85 years ago by the local neighbours. Planes approach from afar and drop their bombs in today's Durango.
In a way, it's a way of remembering what the suffering and killing was like at the time. The website reports on the most emblematic sites destroyed and also explains the development of the 1936 War.
As every year, on March 31, local residents and entities remembered the bombing of Durango. Gerediaga Elkartea has published a book on Gernika’s bombing entitled Jon Irazabal, which records the progress made in the investigation of the events of the last twenty years.
Durango Mayor Ima Garrastatxu and Mayor Lieutenant Julian Ríos on Thursday morning ignited a flame reminiscent of the bombing, and as usual the bells and sirens sounded, as in 1937. The central event took place in the afternoon in the portico of Andra Mari, which was destroyed by the bombs and in which dozens of people died.
??? 31 MARCH
? We have kindled Andra Mari's porch fire in tribute to all the victims of the #31 March 1937 bombing.
? We have ignited the porch of the Santa Maria porch for all the victims of the March 31, 1937 bombing.#Memory Historico#GarenaEgiten pic.twitter.com/AcpwFt5o0c
— City Hall of Durango (@Municipal Texts) March 31, 2022
51 victims identified
This year, we wanted to pay tribute to the victims killed in the bombing of Durango and buried in mass graves. Gerdiaga and the Durango Cultural Association 1936 initiated an investigation to identify these 84 victims and in total they have been able to gather the names of 51 people and contact relatives on October 31.
Aranzadi has carried out excavations in the pit by order of the City Hall, but no remains have been found, probably because the bodies were transferred to other pantheons or osarians in previous interventions. However, his heirs have received this recognition for their families on Thursday.
Reflection on fascism
On the occasion of the bombing of Durango, the youth organization Ernai has organised several events for this weekend. On Saturday, from 17:00 a.m., the talk Fascism 2022 will take place, by Iñigo Etxazarreta, Iratxe Delgado and Andoni Olariaga.
Then they have organized a mobilization that will start from the church of Andra Mari, and at the end of the day there will be several concerts.