The nazi Condor Legion destroyed Gernika on a market day following the orders of Francisco Franco. The town was full of people from the surrounding areas who attended the market as well as the refugees come from Durango after the bombing of that town.
The city was burning for 3 days and 3 nights, inspiring Pablo Picasso to paint his masterpiece “Guernica”.
The town had no strategic value, and was bombed to strike the Basque army psychologically since the town guarded the Tree of Gernika, an almost sacred symbol for Basque people, a representation of the Basque old laws and identity.
Despite the horror, when dust settled, the fascists discovered that the tree stood standing. Just like Basque people.
