Two people from Elgoibar in the « Valle del los Caidos *»

according to the information, two people from Elgoibar are buried in the "Valle de los Caidos":

Rosendo Castañal Fdez (24.03.59) "niche number 631"

Emeterio Oria Zubizarreta (05.07.62) "niche number 7685"

The Valle de los Caidos, in English: Valley of the Fallen, is a monumental memorial near Madrid It was conceived by Spanish dictator Franco to honour those who felt during the Spanish Civil War. However only two names are commemorated the one of the leader of the Spanish Fascist party Falange Española Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera and Franco himself. The monument is controversial due to how it was built (by political prisioners), and by who it was built (by Pedro Muguruza and Diego Mendez).

Francoist symbols in Elgoibar

As we can see above, Francoist symbols are still remaining in the street of Elgoibar.
Instead of fulfilling the Historical Memory Law the people of Elgoibar still has to see those symbols.


It`s been a while since the groupe Elgoibar1936 has denounced those symbols and asked the municipality of Elgoibar to fulfill the law. But for the moment there aren`t respecting the law.



Some person and neighbours have taken down those symbols. But we think that it is the responsability of the municipality to do it it shouldn`t be done on it`s own initiactive. As during the Civil War 10% of the people went into exil, 22 were shot down, a lot of people went to jail and the municipality is still keeping the Francoist symbols?



In the neighberhood of Urasandi, as a matter of fact, there is more then 20 symbols. It is time to filfull the law and to take off all those symbols, there is still more than 40 symbols to be taken down for ever.

We`re hoping that we won`t stay another year with those fascist symbols.

Teachers “were purged” in Elgoibar.

When the Fascists took position of the town and started a tremendous repression, 6 teachers “were purged” in Elgoibar:

-CINCUNEGUI ECO, Francisca

-IRAZABAL BURPIDE, Hilaria ( from the Altzola school)

-LOPIZ GALARRAGA, Adelaida

-PINEDO ARZA, Priscila

-SIERRA,Guillermo

-Del VAL SAN JUAN, Martiana

franco mayor of Elgoibar

As we can see above, Franco was named mayor of Elgoibar in 1949. And now days he still remains Mayor and the town hall does nothing to change it.

After 30 years, there is still: francoist slabs, streets named after Francoist people, people shot unburied, Franco is still mayor of Elgoibar …

When will we be able to end with Francoism for once? That’s why it is time, at least, to take all those things once and for all out of Elgoibar and Out of the Basque Country.

pedro muguruza street

Pedro Muguruza from Elgoibar supported the military Uprising of Franco during the Second Republic, and after the uprising, the “Direccion General de Arquitecturas” was in the hand of the Falange and pedro Muguruza become president.

He was asked by Franco to be the architect of “Valle de Los Caidos” in 1942.

This photo was taken in “Valle de Los Caidos”. Right there with Franco is Pedro Muguruza. He was the first architect, and was one of Franco’s best friend, he was his right hand.

The group of Elgoibar1936 thinks that to name the street after that kind of person shouldn't be tolerate.

A lot of people died working under construction and it can be tolerated that the streets of Elgoibar acclaimes a street in the name of that person.

So that's why we reckon that the best thing to do is to change the name of that street, in honour to the people killed by the Francoist regime and to respect the Historical Memory Law.

In the Spanish state, many towns have started to change their names' streets, such as in Aragon and Mallorca (in Palma 68 streets' name have been changed); And also in the Basque Country, for example in Navarre, in the neighberhood of Irunea, Txantrea, 20 streets' name is going to change.

There is plenty of example, but is it going to be possible in Elgoibar?

Francoist symbol in Elgoibar.

According to the Historical Memory Law, all Francoist symbols should be taken off. But unfortunately, since now no Falange and Francoist symbol we taken off, and we think it is shameful. It is sad to still see Francoist symbols after so many years.

On those pictures taken form the Artetxe neighberhood, we can see on each doorway a Francoist symbol, and also on the two big slabs as we can see below.

The Artetxe neighbours wrote a letter to take those symbols off, like the big slab we can see bellow, but for the moment the town hall didn't answer them.

We can let this go on, the law is the law and all Francoist symbols must be taken off, it must be apply, it can't be tolerate, and it is time that the town hall do something about it!

Let the law be applied, and down with all those Francoist symbol!!!

madarixa

Hi friends!
Here there are the pictures taken in Madarixa of the excavation and the gudari's corpse. The Aranzadi and the Elgoibar1936 platform went to unbury the corpse at nine o'clock in the morning.
Round about midday, the corpse was dig out, and we gave it a small homage.




To start with let's do a small presentation of the corpse found, it measures 1m65, and it's a young fellow of about 25 or so. He was shot through his mouth, and we don't know yet if he was shot in his back too.




After the small honour traditional dance, we offered it some flowers.



The Arzandi archaeology group said that the corpse found was in good condition, and that it was extremely rare, due to the fact that the body was found in a trash dump (in between thousands of bottle, bikes, dogs....)



As we can see on the picture taken, the corpse still has his boots on. Finally, 71 years later, we are able to tell the horrors committed by the Francoist regime, meanwhile some people quickly try to forget what had happened.
There is still plenty of work to do in Elgoibar and in other places, so come on don't give up! It is the work of all, and we have the right to know!

The excavation

On December 16, in Madarixa, we started unburing one of the Gudari that got shot during the Civil War, in September 21, 1936. We learnt that he was buried in a limekiln there, so we started digging and taking the bushes out the way using an excavator.

It seamed that this limekiln was used as a trash dump cause it was full of bottles and trash.

Right here, at first, we found two dog skeletons, and at last, without hoping we hit the skull. I was in a very good state.

The next day, December 17, we took contact with the Aranzadi archaeology group, and we started clearing the site.

On December 22, in Madarixa, we are giving a small homage to the corpse at midday, and we making a call to the media and to all the Elgoibar and Azpeitia people to participate.

Elgoibar’s common graves.

There are 8 mass graves, where 15 people are buried.

These 15 people disappeared after the Francoist uprising.

The Families of the 15 people had difficult to come to turn with their grief.

The murderers weren’t brought to trial.

And the bodies buried were forgotten.

Noone was judged or condemned for what happened.

Seventy years later they are still waiting to be unburied.

Near Azkarate, on the way to Elgoibar.

1. There is one body buried somewhere in the neighbourhood of Madariaga, near the church,
2. There is one body buried somewhere in the Place known as Ameztigaina.
3. There is one body buried somewhere in the Place known as Munokua.
4. There is one body buried somewhere in the Place known as Garamana.
5. There is one body buried somewhere down by the Amezti Baserri(farm).

Near Ziardamendi (Ziardamendi mountain 486m).

6.There are five bodies buried in the north of Ziardamendi.

7.There are four more bodies buried near by _also in the north of Ziardamendi.

8. Another body is buried somewhere right on top of Ziardamendi mountain.

9. In 1982, the bodies of the six gudari (Basque combatants) from the Zubiaur Batallion were unearthed on top of the Ziarmendi mountain and their families were finally able to buried them properly.

photos

Cultural House

Soldiers helped by donkeys to pass the Txankakua plaza Handiko bridge.

Above: a bomb shelter in Elgoibar. This picture was found in a German website

List o Elgoibar people who were imprisoned and exiled.

Elgoibar people imprisoned and sent to an internment and refugee camps.

Ziriako Uriarte

He spent nine years and half in prison with an impending death sentence.


Badiola Salegi Faustino (UGT)

Interned in the Gurs concentration camp, in the Pyrénée Atlantique (France)

Diaz Exposito Leon(PSOE)

Interned in the Gurs concentration camp, in the Pyrénée Atlantique (France)

Duran Berasategi Epifanio(UGT)

Interned in the Gurs concentration camp, in the Pyrénée Atlantique (France)

Gonzalez Garate Victoria

Interned in the Gurs concentration camp, in the Pyrénée Atlantique (France)

Iriondo Sodupe Jose(STV)

Interned in the Gurs concentration camp, in the Pyrénée Atlantique (France)

Juaristi Villar Guillermo(STV)

Interned in the Gurs concentration camp, in the Pyrénée Atlantique (France)

Muguruza Mendikote Lorenzo(PNV)

Interned in the Gurs concentration camp, in the Pyrénée Atlantique (France)

Josefa Osoro Mendikute

Interned in a concentration Camp in France.

Julita Gorrotxategi Osoro

Interned in a concentration Camp in France.

Maria Luisa Gorrotxategi Osoro

Interned in a concentration Camp in France.

Juan Jose Gorrotxategi Osoro

Interned in a concentration Camp in France.

Pilar Arregi Garate

Argelès-sur-Mer concentration camp, in South western France near Perpignan

Elgoibar people who have been in the Santona el dueso prison.

Andonegi Beristain, Romualdo

He was born in Deba and lived in Elgoibar. He was 32 years old, he was a lathe operator, he was married with children.

Sentenced to 30 years

Azpiazu Crucelegui, Jacinto

He was born in Elgoibar, he was 31 years old and he was an arm manufacturer, single.

Sentenced to 30 years.

Barrenechea Juaristi, Juan

He was born in Elgoibar, he was 22 years old, he was a carpenter, single.

Senteced to 30 years.

Barrutia Aristondo, Fulgencio.

He was born in Elgoibar, he was 32 years old, he was an arm manufacturer and he had three daughters.

Sentenced to 30 years.

Carral Martinez, Teodoro

He was born in in Elgoibar, he was 36 years old, he was an engraver, he had three children.

Sentenced to 30 years.

Gil Aulestiarte, Eusebio

He was born in in Elgoibar, he was 21 years old, and he was a day laborer, single.

Sentenced to 20 years.

Mardaras Areta, Elias.

He was born in in Elgoibar, he was 28 years old, he belonged to the army, single.

Sentenced to 30 years.

Uria Gabilondo, Alejandro

He was born in in Elgoibar, he was 25 years old, he was a pilota player, single.

Sentenced to 30 years.

People from Elgoibar killed at the war front

Elgoibar people killed at the war front (Republicans and Abertzaleak)

Aniceto Albisu Etxabe

Killed in Albertian on March 31, 1937, belonged to the Ariztimuño Batallion .

Tomas Anzola Agirre

Killed in Otxondi (Bizkaia, Basque Country) on March 31, 1937, belonged to Gatzara Matxinada Batallion.

Zakarias Aspiazu Cruzelegi

Killed in Bazare on April 5, 1937, belonged to the Ibilgailu Blindatu Batallion.

Luis Astigarraga Arana

Killed in Eibar (Gipuzcoa, Basque Country) on September 16, 1936, belonged to the Amuategi Batallion.

Jose Txurrukas Zabaleta

Killed in Asturias (Spain) on February 2, 1936, belonged to the the Amaiur Batallion.

Martin Etxebarri Txasko

Killed in Tolosa (Gipuzcoa, Basque Country) on August 2, 1936, belonged to the Russian Batallion.

Asensio Gabilondo Agirre

Killed in Zugasti on April 30, 1937, belonged to the Amuategi Batallion.

Julio Gabilondo Agirre

Killed on November 8, 1936, belonged to the Markina Ordena Publikoa Batallion.

Lazaro Gabilondo Olañeta

Killed in Markina (Bizkaia, Basque Country) on October 26, 1936, belonged to the Markina Ordena Publikoa Batallion.

Hipólito Sánchez Etxaburu

Killed in Sollube (mountain near Bermeo, Bizkaia, Basque Country)on May 10, 1937, belonged to the Otxandio Batallion.

Angel Suarez Etxebarria

Killed in Otxandio(Bizkaia, Basque Country) on March 10, 1937.

Manuel Larrea Alberdi

Killed in Eibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country) on December 2, 1936, belonged to the Amuategi Batallion.

Andres Lejardi Lisundi

Died in Basurto Hospital (Bilbo, Basque Country) on April 25, 1937, belonged to Amuategi Batallion.

List of Elgoibar people shot

Elgoibar people shot between 1936-1939an (incompleted list)

Tomas Dueñas de Pablo

Born in Logroño (Spain), and was shot in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country) on April 19, 1937.

Eduardo Durillo Moreno

Born in Salamaca (Spain), he was 23 years old when he was shot in the area of Kalamuan on April 21, 1937, Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country).

Celestino Onaindia Zuloaga

Born in Markina (Bizkaia, Basque Country), he lived in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country) and was shot in Hernani (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country.)

Pedro Julian Agirre Gallastegi

Born in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country), he lived in Zumaia (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country), he was 24 years old when he was shot in Meagas on October 1, 1936.

Justo Agirre

Born in Elgoibar. (date and place of execution unknown)

Jose Alberdi Arrieta

Born in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country) where he lived and was shot in the area of Maltzaga on December 26, 1936,.

Jose Alberdi Etxaniz

Born in Azkoitia (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country), he lived in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country), and he was 54 years old when he was shot in the area of Maltzaga on December 26, 1936.

Marcos Aldabe

Born in Navarre (Basque Country), he lived in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country), he was 28 years old when he was shot in Elgoibar on April 19, 1937.

Pedro Arrieta Larrañaga

Born in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country) where he lived, and he was 27 years old when he was shot in Deba.

Josefa Arrillaga Arrizabalaga

Born in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country), he lived in Soraluze (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country) where he was shot at the age of 48 on March 30, 1937.

Angel Arteaga Amurrio

Born in Labastida (Alaba, Basque Country), he lived in Elgoibar where he was shot at age of 64 on January 22, 1938.

Emilio Etxarri Ornosagasti

Born in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country) where he lived and where he was shot at the age of 53 on April 17, 1939.

X.Izagirre

Born in Elgoibar, and was shot at the Baserri Upai (Upai farm), he lived in Mendaro (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country)

Felix Gastesi (pilotaria)

Born in Tolosa (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country), he was a good left handed Basque pilota player , and was shot in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country).

Joakin Giner Oliver

Born in Alicante , he lived in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country) where he was shot on April 19, 1937.

Esteban Lopez

Born in Badajo (Spain), he lived in Elgoibar(Gipuzkoa, Basque Country) and was shot on April 21, 1937.

Angel Osoro “aberri”

Born in Mutriku (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country), he lived in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country) where he was shot at the age of 42.

Alejandro Retolaza Larreategi

Born in Elgoibar where he lived and he was shot at the age of 42 in Bilbo (Bizkaia, Basque Country) on April 12, 1938.

Pedro Telleria askasibar

Born in Elgeta (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country), he lived in Elgoibar and he was shot at the age of 54 in Elgeta on April 25, 1937.

Jose Villasua

Born in A Coruña (Galicia), he lived in Elgoibar where he was shot on April 19, 1937.

Introduction

Elgoibar1936 is a group created by the people of Elgoibar to recover the historic memory of Elgoibar.

We decided to form this group so the horror and the assassinations committed by Franco and his followers is made known. So that for once the story of the defeated side, and the history given by the people of Elgoibar for the people of Elgoibar is told.

One of our aims is to dig up and identify bodies of people shot and killed in the mountains around Elgoibar.

We will organize different interviews with people who lived during the Civil War and give them the opportunity to tell their story.

It is time to know the real history of Elgoibar.