21 Jun, 2010 @ 18:14
1 min read

Franco gave lists of Spanish Jews to Hitler

NEWLY-unearthed documents have revealed that General Franco gave lists of Spanish Jews to the Nazis.

Despite many believing that Franco protected Spain’s Jews, the dictator handed a record of 6,000 Jews to notorious SS Chief Heinrich Himmler.

In 1941 Franco ordered local officials to compile lists of known Jews documenting their “lifestyle, commercial activities, actual situation, degree of danger and political conception.”

It came as the two countries negotiated Spain’s possible incorporation into the group of Axis powers that included Italy.

In 1941 Franco ordered local officials to compile lists of known Jews documenting their “lifestyle, commercial activities, actual situation, degree of danger and political conception.”

The mandate also stated that Judaism should be viewed as a race, rather than religion and to also identify Jews who had later converted to Catholicism.

But, when the war was over, Franco’s regime destroyed much of the Jewish register to eradicate any evidence of collaborating with Hitler.

Jewish journalist Jacobo Israel Garzon uncovered sections of these lists in Zaragoza province archives.

Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)

Jon Clarke is a Londoner who worked at the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday as an investigative journalist before moving permanently to Spain in 2003 where he helped set up the Olive Press. He is the author of three books; Costa Killer, Dining Secrets of Andalucia and My Search for Madeleine.

Do you have a story? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es

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