My great-grandmother, 91-year-old Spanish nativeJulia Gonzalez-Ortega, was 26 with two children under the age of twowhen the fighting broke out. Her husband worked at a car company.

"My family and I were vacationing in the mountains," shesaid. "We went by the train station, and a man was there. When wewere getting close to the train the man yelled, 'Stop! Don't go anyfurther! Go back home. A war has been proclaimed tonight.' Then we wentto the village and people were running around with guns yelling, 'War!War!'"

The country was split in two, one side fighting for theRepublicans and the other for Franco. Since Julia and her family were inthe north, they were automatically on the Republican side whether theyliked it or not.

"The Republicans came to my husband's bossand told him to hand over all the company's cars. When the boss refused,they told him they would kill him if he didn't. They took the cars touse as ambulances. Since few people knew how to drive, my husband had todrive an ambulance. His boss had him use his best car so he could get itback after the war.

"Tragically, he never got any carsback. When the boss was sleeping one night, the Republicans came andcaptured him, pajamas and all, because they wanted him to make some sortof declaration since he was a pretty powerful man. No one ever saw himagain."

There were bloody atrocities, too. "I wentshopping with my friends to try and get some necessities, and a trainwent by overflowing with potatoes and dead bodies," Julia recalled.Everything in Madrid was closed, and there was nothing to eat. She waslucky because her mother owned a bread store. The whole family movedinto the store; the only way they could survive was to eat the bread andbarter for other food.

http://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/travel_culture/article/16290/Viva-Franco/Learning.html

Hundreds of Catholic churches and synagogues were burned, pillaged or closed. Remarkably a number of small Protestant churches were respected.

Paracuellos massacre. Between November and December of 1936, Republican militias put to death between 2,000 and 12,000 Nationalist sympathizers. The slaughter took place during the Battle of Madrid in Paracuellos del Jarama, a small town on the outskirts of the Spanish capital.

https://suite.io/ivan-castro/5k2e28x

During the Spanish Civil War the leftists murdered 72,344 Catholic priests, nuns, and other religious figures

https://www.jstor.org/stable/261121

The Spanish "Republicans," like Communist insurrectionists everywhere, focused their wrath on civilian targets, rather than carrying out conventional military campaigns. Under Communist leadership, writes British historian Alan Lloyd, "gangs of revolutionaries roamed the country burning churches, torturing and murdering clerics, [and] wantonly terrorizing the bourgeoise and the upper classes." In his testimony at the February 20th legislative hearing, Jude McCarthy pointed out that the Communist forces in Spain "brutally slaughtered 6000 Catholic priests, most of whom were tortured to death … three thousand nuns, many of whom were stripped naked, gang raped, sexually tortured, and finally slaughtered and their naked bodies hung on meat hooks … over 75,000 Catholic [Spaniards], who were non-combatants, were systematically rounded up and slaughtered in similar fashion. Every Catholic church in Madrid and Barcelona was burned to the ground, as well as hundreds of Catholic churches, monasteries, and convents throughout Spain."

http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2001/03-26-2001/vo17no07_granite.htm

A church that had been destroyed by Republican forces

https://i.imgur.com/nq5obZG.jpg

Reportedly in Barcelona the Republicans dug up the bodies of roughly 20 Salesian nuns and displayed the mummified bodies out in the streets. Picture is NSFL, and the picture might actually be from 1909 during the Semana Trágica. Coincidently, leftists were responsible for Semana Trágica

A list of Valencian martyrs who were executed by the Republicans. They were blessed on 11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II

Diocesan priests of the Archdiocese of Valencia

Alfonso Sebastiá Viñals (1910-1936)

Antonio Silvestre Moya (1892-1936)

Carmelo Sastre Sastre

Diego Llorca Llopis (1896-1936)

Elias Carbonell Mollá (1869-1936)

Enrique Juan Requena (1903-1936)

Enrique Morant Pellicer (1908-1936)

Fernando García Sendra (1905-1936)

Fernando González Añón (1886-1936)

Francisco Ibáñez Ibáñez (1876-1936)

Francisco Sendra Ivars (1899-1936)

Félix Yuste Cava (1887-1936)

Germán Gozalbo Andreu (-1936)

Gonzalo Viñes Masip (1883-1936)

Joaquín Vilanova Camallonga (1888-1936)

José Aparicio Sanz (1893-1936)

José Canet Giner (1903-1936)

José Fenollosa Alcayna (1903-1936)

José García Mas (1896-1936)

José González Huguet (1874-1936)

José María Ferrándiz Hernández (1879-1936)

José María Segura Penadés (1896-1936)

José Ruiz Bruixola (1857-1936)

José Toledo Pellicer (1909-1936)

Juan Carbonell Mollá (1874-1936)

Juan Ventura Solsona (1875-1936)

Pascual Ferrer Botella (1894-1936)

Pascual Penadés Jornet (1894-1936)

Ramón Esteban Bou Pascual (1906-1936)

Ramón Martí Soriano (1902-1936)

Salvador Estrugo Solves (1862-1936)

Salvador Ferrandis Seguí (1880-1936)

Vicente Ballester Far (1888-1936)

Vicente María Izquierdo Alcón (1891-1936)

Vicente Pelufo Corts (1868-1936)

Vicente Rubiols Castelló (1874-1936)

Vicente Sicluna Hernández (1859-1936)

Women of Catholic Action of the Archdiocese of Valencia

Amalia Abad Casasempere (1897-1936) (widow)

Ana María Aranda Riera (1888-1936)

Crescencia Valls Espí (1863-1936)

Encarnación Gil Valls (1888-1936)

Florencia Caerols Martínez (1890-1936)

Francisca Cualladó Baixauli (1890-1936)

Herminia Martínez Amigó (1887-1936)

Josefina Moscardó Montalvá (1880-1936)

Luisa María Frías Cañizares (1896-1936)

María Climet Mateu (1887-1936)

María de la Purificación Vidal Pastor (1892-1936)

María del Carmen Viel Ferrando (1893-1936)

María del Olvido Noguera Albelda (1903-1936)

María Jordá Botella (1905-1936)

María Luisa Montesinos Orduña (1901-1937)

María Teresa Ferragut Roig (1853-1936)

Pilar Villalonga Villalba (1891-1936)

Sofía Ximénez Ximénez (1876-1936) (widow)

Társila Córdoba Belda (1861-1936) (widow)

Men and Youth of Catholic Action of the Archdiocese of Valencia

Arturo Ros Montalt (1901-1936)

Carlos Díaz Gandía (1907-1936)

Carlos López Vidal (1894-1936)

Ismael Escrihuela Esteve (1902-1936)

José María Corbín Ferrer (1914-1936)

José María Zabal Blasco (1898-1936)

José Medes Ferrís (1885-1936)

José Perpiñá Nacher (1911-1936)

José Ramón Ferragud Girbés (1887-1936)

Juan Bautista Faubel Cano (1889-1936)

Juan Gonga Martínez (1911-1936)

Manuel Torró García (1902-1936)

Marino Blanes Giner (1888-1936)

Pablo Meléndez Gonzalo (1876-1936)

Pascual Torres Lloret (1885-1936)

Rafael Alonso Gutiérrez (1890-1936)

Salvador Enguix Garés (1862-1936) (widower)

Vicente Galbis Gironés (1910-1936)

Dominicans

Antonio Manuel López Conceiro (1869-1936)

Constantino Fernández Alvarez (1907-1936)

Felicísimo Díez González (1907-1936)

Felipe Santiago Meseguer Burillo (1885-1936)

Francisco Calvo Burillo (1881-1936)

Francisco María Monzón Romeo (1912-1936)

Gumersindo Soto Barros (1869-1936)

Jacinto Ignacio Serrano López (1901-1936) (priest)

Joaquín Prats Baltueña (1915-1936) (priest)

José María Muro Sanmiguel (1905-1936)

José María Vidal Seguí (1912-1936)

Lamberto María Navascués y Juan (1911-1936) (novice)

Lucio Martínez Mancebo (1902-1936) (priest)

Luís Urbano Lanaspa (1882-1936) (priest)

Manuel Albert Ginés (1867-1936) (priest)

Rafael Pardo Molina (1899-1936)

Ramón Peiró Victori (1891-1936)

Saturio Rey Robles (1907-1936)

Tirso Manrique Melero (1877-1936)

Zósimo Izquierdo Gil (1895-1936) (priest)

Order of Friars Minor

Alfredo Pellicer Muñoz (1914-1936)

Pascual Fortuño Almela (1886-1936) (priest)

Plácido García Gilabert (1895-1936)

Salvador Mollar Ventura (1896-1936)

Order of Friars Minor Conventuals

Alfonso López López (1878-1936) (priest)

Dioniso Vicente Ramos (1871-1936) (priest)

Francsico Remón Játiva (1890-1936) (brother)

Miguel Remón Salvador (1907-1936) (brother)

Modesto Vegas Vegas (1912-1936) (priest)

Pedro Rivera Rivera (1912-1936) (priest)

Order of Friars Minor Capuchin

Ambrosio de Benaguacil (Luis Valls Matamales) (1870-1936) (priest)

Aurelio de Vinalesa (José Ample Alcaide) (1896-1936) (priest)

Berard de Lugar Nuevo de Fenollet (José Bleda Grau) (1867-1936) (brother)

Buenaventura de Puzol (Julio Esteve Flors) (1897-1936) (priest)

Enrique de Almazora (Enrique García Beltrán) (1913-1936) (deacon)

Fidel de Puzol (Mariano Climent Sanchis) (1856-1936) (brother)

Germán de Carecagente (Jorge María Garrigues Hernández) (1895-1936) (priest)

Joaquín de Albocacer (José Ferrer Adell) (1879-1936) (priest)

Modesto de Albocácer (Modesto García Martí) (1880-1936) (priest)

Pacíficio de Valencia (Pedro Salcedo Puchades) (1874-1936) (brother)

Pedro de Benisa (Alejandro Más Ginestar) (1876-1936) (priest)

Santiago de Rafelbuñol (Santiago Mestre Iborra) (1909-1936) (priest)

Capuchin Sisters of the Order of Saint Clare

Isabel Calduch Rovira (1882-1937)

Mariá Felicidad (Mariá Felicidad Masiá Ferragud) (1890-1936)

Mariá Jesús (Mariá Vicenta Masiá Ferragud) (1882-1936)

Mariá Verónica (Mariá Joaquina Masiá Ferragud) (1884-1936)

Milagro Ortells Gimeno (1882-1936)

Discalced Augustinian

Josefa de la Purificación Masiá Ferragud (1887-1936)

Society of Jesus

Alfredo Simón Colomina (1877-1936)

Constantino Carbonell Sempere (1866-1936)

Darío Hernández Morató (1880-1936)

José Tarrats Comaposada (1878-1936)

Juan Bautista Ferreres Boluda (1861-1936)

Luis Campos Górriz (1905-1936) (layman)

Narciso Basté Basté (1866-1936)

Pablo Bori Puig (1864-1936)

Pedro Gelabert Amer (1887-1936)

Ramón Grimaltos Monllor (1861-1936)

Tomás Sitjar Fortiá (1866-1936)

Vicente Sales Genovés (1881-1936)

Salesian Society of Saint John Bosco

Agustín García Calvo (1905-1936) (priest)

Alejandro Planas Saurí (1878-1936) (layman)

Alvaro Sanjuán Canet (1908-1936) (priest)

Antonio Martín Hernández (1885-1936) (priest)

Eliseo García García (1907-1936) (priest)

Felipe Hernández Martínez (1913-1936)

Francisco Bandrés Sánchez (1896-1936) (priest)

Félix Vivet Trabal (1911-1936) (priest)

Gil Rodicio Rodicio (1888-1936) (priest)

Jaime Bonet Nadal (1884-1936) (priest)

Jaime Buch Canals (1889-1936) (priest)

Jaime Ortiz Alzueta (1913-1936) (priest)

Javier Bordás Piferrer (1914-1936) (priest)

José Batalla Parramón (1873-1936) (priest)

José Bonet Nadal (1875-1936) (priest)

José Calasanz Marqués (1872-1936) (priest)

José Caselles Moncho (1907-1936) (priest)

José Castell Camps (1902-1936) (priest)

José Giménez López (1904-1936) (priest)

José Otín Aquilué (1901-1936) (priest)

José Rabasa Ventanach (1862-1936) (priest)

Juan Martorell Soria (1889-1936) (priest)

Julio Junyer Padern (1892-1938) (priest)

Julián Rodríguez Sánchez (1896-1936) (priest)

Miguel Domingo Cendra (1909-1936) (priest)

Pablo Mesonero Rodríguez (1912-1936) (priest)

Recaredo de los Rios Fabregat (1893-1936) (priest)

Sergio Cid Pazo (1884-1936) (priest)

Zacarías Abadía Buesa (1913-1936) (priest)

Ángel Ramos Velázquez (1876-1936) (priest)

Daughters of Mary Help of Christians

María del Carmen Moreno Benítez (1885-1936)

María Amparo Carbonell Muñoz (1893-1936)

Third Order of Capuchians of Our Lady of Sorrows

Agustín Hurtado Soler (1872-1936)

Carmen García Moyón (1888-1937)

Crescencio García Pobo (1903-1936)

Florentín Pérez Romero (1904-1936)

Francisco Tomás Serer (1911-1936)

José Arahal de Miguel (1887-1936)

José Llosá Balaguer (1901-1936)

José María Llópez Mora (1874-1936)

José María Sánchis Mompó (1858-1936)

Justo Lerma Martínez (1886-1936)

Manuel Ferrer Jordá (1872-1936)

Manuel Legua Martí (1875-1936)

Pablo Martínez Robles (1879-1936)

Salvador Chuliá Ferrandis (1866-1936)

Salvador Ferrer Cardet (1884-1936)

Timoteo Valero Pérez (1901-1936)

Urbano Gil Sáez (1901-1936)

Vicente Cabanes Badenas (1908-1936)

Vicente Gay Zarzo (1885-1936)

Vicente Jaunzarás Gómez (1896-1936)

Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Mariano Juan María de la Cruz García Mendez (1891-1936)

Brothers of the Christian Schools

Ambrosio León (Pedro Lorente Vicente) (1914-1936)

Bertrán Francisco (Francisco Lahoz Moliner) (1912-1936)

Elías Julián (Julián Torrijo Sánchez) (1900-1936)

Florencio Martín (Álvaro Ibáñez Lázaro) (1913-1936)

Honorato Andrés (Andrés Zorraquino Herrero) (1908-1936)

Leonardo Olivera Buera (1889-1936) (priest)

Carmelite Sisters of Charity

Agueda Hernández Amorós de Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes (1893-1936)

Antonia Gosens Sáez de Ibarra de San Timoteo (1870-1936)

Ascensión Lloret Marco de San José de Calasanz (1879-1936)

Clara Ezcurra Urrutia de Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza (1896-1936)

Concepción Odriozola Zabalia de San Ignacio (1882-1936)

Concepción Rodríguez Fernández de Santa Magdalena (1895-1936)

Consuelo Cuñado González del Santísimo Sacramento (1884-1936)

Cándida Cayuso González de Nustra Señora de los Ángeles (1901-1936)

Daría Campillo Paniagua de Santa Sofia (1873-1936)

Elvira Torrentallé Paraire (1883-1936)

Erundina Colino Vega de Nuestra Señora del Carmen (1883-1936)

Feliciana de Uribe Orbe de Nustra Señore del Carmen (1893-1936)

Francisca de Amézua Ibaibarriaga de Santa Teresa (1881-1936)

Justa Maiza Goicoechea de la Inmaculada (1897-1936)

María Calaf Miracle de Nuestra Señora de la Providencia (1871-1936)

María de la Purificación Ximénez Ximénez de San José (1871-1936)

María de las Nieves Crespo López de la Santísima Trinidad (1897-1936)

María Desamparados Giner Líster del Santísimo Sacramento (1877-1936)

María Dolores Vidal Cervera de San Francisco Javier (1895-1936)

María Josefa del Río Messa de Santa Sofia (1895-1936)

Niceta Plaja Xifra de San Prudencia (1863-1936)

Paula Isla Alonso de Santa Anastasia (1863-1936)

Rosa Pedret Rull de Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo (1864-1936)

Teresa Chambó Palés de la Divina Pastora (1889-1936)

Servant of Mary

María Guadalupe Ricart Olmos (1881-1936)

Sisters of the Pious Schools

Carmen de San Felipe Neri (Nazaria Gómez Lezáun) (1869-1936)

Clemencia de San Juan Bautista (Antonia Riva Mestres) (1893-1936)

Consuelo Aguilar-Mella Díaz (Uruguay) (1898-1936)

Dolores Aguilar-Mella Díaz (Uruguay) (1897-1936)

María de Jesús (María de Encarnaciún de la Yglesia de Varo) (1891-1936)

María del Niño Jesús (María Baldillou Bullit) (1905-1936)

María Luisa de Jesús (María Luisa Girón Romera) (1887-1936)

Presentación de la Sagrada Familia (Pascuala Presentación Gallén Martí) (1872-1936)

Claretian Sister

María Patrocinio Giner Gómis de San Juan (1874-1936)

Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly

Dolores de Santa Eulalia Puig Bonany (1857-1936)

Josefa de San Juan Ruano García (1854-1936)

Third Order Capuchins of the Holy Family

Manuela Fernández Ibero (1872-1936)

María Fenollosa Alcaina (1901-1936)

Victoria Quintana Argos (1866-1936)

Member of Catholic Action Youth of the Diocese of Lleida

Francisco de Paula Castelló y Aleu (1914-1936)

http://www.gcatholic.org/saints/jpii-blesseds11.htm

But perhaps the greatest fury fell upon diocesan clergy, though it varied a great deal from one place to another. Pamplona, a Nationalist and pro-Catholic stronghold, had no diocesan casualties. Barbastro in Aragon saw 123 of its 140 priests lost to Republican anarchists who were violently anti-clerical. Elsewhere, too, the pattern reflected the fortunes of war. Seville was captured early by the Nationalists and therefore lost only 4 priests. But the other large cities that remained in Republican hands for the duration of the civil war had far higher casualty figures: Barcelona, 279; Valencia, 327; Madrid-Alcalá, 1,118. In percentage terms, these represented 22, 27, and 30 percent of the diocesan clergy in the respective cities.

Remarkably, most of the murders were carried out in only the first six months of the civil war.

One of the most impartial analysts of the civil was has described their plight as follows: "an incalculable number of lay persons were killed because of their religious associations, either as well-known church-goers, members of fraternal and charitable religious organizations, or as the fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends of clerics. Some were killed because they professed their faith by wearing some outward symbol of belief, perhaps a religious medal or scapular. Some were killed for acts of charity, for granting refuge to clerics attempting to escape the fury. It is impossible to determine the number of these lay persons who were slain for their faith. . . .Nor was the anticlericalism limited to killing. Thousands of churches were burned, religious objects were profaned, nuns tombs were opened and the petrified mummies displayed to ridicule, and religious ceremonies were burlesqued. Indeed, practically any imaginable anticlerical act was not only possible but likely."

http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/controversy/persecution/the-new-spanish-martyrs.html

The article here is in Spanish, but here's a quick English overview:

A nun, María de los Ángeles Ginard Martí (born 1894, died 1936) was the leader of a covenant in Madrid. When the Spanish Civil War broke out, the Republicans severely repressed the Catholics. For their safety, Sister Maria decided that she and her nuns should leave the city, disguised as civillians. Unfortunately the nuns did not get very far as soon after their departure the Republicans sacked and destroyed their covenant. The nuns found refuge in a local home. After a month in hiding, the Republicans eventually found Maria and her nuns. They threatened to execute the landlord who had let the nuns stay in an appartment. To save them all, Maria stepped forward, and claimed she was the only Christian in the building, and the other Nuns and the landlord were Republican loyalists.

Maria was executed by firing squad

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20050424_ginard-marti_sp.html

It seems that an Irish woman named Bridget Boland was assasinated by Republican forces on 16th June 1937. As she is never mentioned again , I assume she was a random Irish woman who angered the Republicans. Much less reliable sources say she was executed for being related to a priest.

However, the idea is consistant with what Ronald Fraser wrote in “Blood of Spain”, where he states Republicans would execute people for being related to a member of the clergy (pg 146)

www.difp.ie/docs/1938/Irish-legation-in-Madrid/2326.htm

It was the first time that I had ever been in a town where the working class was in the saddle. Practically every building of any size had been seized by the workers and was draped with red flags or with the red and black flag of the Anarchists; every wall was scrawled with the hammer and sickle and with the initials of the revolutionary parties; almost every church had been gutted and its images burnt. Churches here and there were being systematically demolished by gangs of workmen.

http://www.telelib.com/authors/O/OrwellGeorge/prose/HomageToCatalonia/catalonia_ch_1.html

It is possible our victory resulted in the death by violence of four or five thousand inhabitants of Catalonia who were listed as rightists and were linked to political or ecclesiastical reaction."

Diego Abad de Santillan, La revolucion y la guerra en Espana p.176

There was a festive enthusiasm in the streets [...] At home her father talked more about local politics than the war, not that the latter was forgotten, but local politics seemed more important. He was particularly hostile to the masses of people flocking to join the UGT - "opportunists without any political background" he called them. Soon, however a black cloud appeared over the festival. A workers patrol set up in a house on the corner of the street. It was guarded by two militia women. Each night a car drew up and sounded its horn.

We soon discovered what it meant. People were being taken to be shot on the other side of Mount Tibidabo. It was horrifying, oppressive, The car would begin to grind up the hill and we knew the fate of the occupants. My father did not like it. He thought it quite normal that half a dozen big bourgeois exploiters should be liquidated, but not that all these others were being taken to their deaths'

- Maria Ochoa

Angel Navarro, a smallholder, had seen the men being driven away, "Now it is going to start" he thought, and began to shiver. A former CNT member in Barcelona member in Barcelona, where he had gone as a building laborer because his fathers land was too poor to support the family, he was shortly appointed president of the village committee on Carod and Franco's recommendation. His sole concern became to avoid bloodshed in Alloza where, as he knew, opinion generally favored the insurgent rather than the popular front cause.

One day a car drew up and half a dozen militiamen got out with a list of people they had come to arrest.

Yes I said. "Have you eaten supper companions? No. Well, lets go and eat and we'll talk about it then." We went to the inn which was run by a relative. I sent out the town crier to find the man who held the keys to the man who held the keys to the collective store to fetch a good ham, a carafe of wine. When the militia men had eaten one of them said: "Come on, we're in a hurry." I feared the worst. Instead, one of them put his arm round my shoulder. "Comrade, everyone should be like you, act as you have." They left. That night in Alcorisa they shot a lot of people.

-

Blood of Spain page 359

"The main support for the Nationalist counterrevolutionary movement came from the middle classes, the conservative peasant smallholders of the north, and Catholic opinion in general. “

- Stanley Payne

To intimidate the relatives of clergymen, the Republicans would execute preists in front of their parents' home

http://www.josemariaescriva.info/article/the-civil-war

In 1936 alone, 8000 people in Madrid were executed by leftists. None of these people received trail

http://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/history/twentieth-century-european-history/red-terror-and-spanish-civil-war-revolutionary-violence-madrid

“I was 6 years old in July 1936 when the war started,” remembers Ismael Virto, a U.S. representative of Spain’s University of Navarra. “There was a knock on the door, and it was the militia — self-appointed men and women, Spanish people, with guns.”

“They said, ‘Give arms to the people!’ Our house was modest, a middle-class house in the city of Valencia, which was controlled by the socialists. Why did this gang come to us? My father had a car, which was a problem — for us,” Virto continued.

“So, the militia searched our house. They took whatever weapons we had, a hunting gun and some ceremonial swords. But then they saw it and knew we were dangerous: My grandfather had a life-sized crucifix in his bedroom. And to these guys, the Church was their enemy,” Virto explained.

He continued, “So this is the situation the militia sees. They tell my father, ‘We’re coming back tomorrow.’ The next day, my father was already in London. He represented a British fruit importer, so he went to London quickly, and he brought the rest of us later.”

“Could my father have survived? It’s doubtful. My aunt was married to a man who was a small industrialist. He was killed by the militia. They had eight children,” Virto said.

“It was just like the French Revolution or in the Soviet Union, but it was Spain in the summer of 1936. These militias — the Republican side — took regular people from their homes and took them to the jails or to the cemeteries and just shot them. It was totally lawless.”

As Payne wrote in Franco and Hitler: Spain, Germany, and the World (Yale University Press, 2008), the Spanish Civil War witnessed the “most extensive and violent persecution of Catholicism in Western history, in some way even more intense than that of the French Revolution.”

Most of the intense killing occurred in the first six months of the conflict, but by the end of the war about 20% of the nation’s Catholic clergy was dead.

He said that, while researching the book at the Vatican in 1999, in the office where records documenting new martyrs were maintained, some 13,000 causes had been forwarded from around the world and about half were from Spain.

“The Republicans were just utterly unrestrained. Whole convents were killed. Whole orders. It was very nasty,” said Royal. “The Vatican tried to defend people as well as they could, but there was little they could do against increasingly radical forces controlling the government.”

Nieto said that the most recently available historical documentation demonstrates the central role played by the Soviet Union in manipulating political alliances in order to position the left to gain power as the “Popular Front” in 1936, with the Communist Party playing a critical but low-profile role; providing material support, including tanks and arms at the outset of the conflict; recruiting 40,000 mercenaries from around the world, called the aforementioned international brigades; and promoting strategies such as the murderous attitude toward Catholicism.

“The nature of these atrocities would have been different, not so brutal, if the outside influence was not as aggressive,” observed Nieto, who described himself as a nonreligious man who was very moved by the suffering experienced by Catholics during the war.

He described how thousands of people — mostly military personnel and Catholic priests, but also doctors, lawyers, professors and writers — were taken from Madrid by bus to fields near Paracuellos del Jarama, where they were systematically executed for three straight days, and their bodies were dumped in mass graves in November 1936.

This massacre was not something the Spanish would come up with on their own, Nieto pointed out; recent evidence points to Santiago Carillo, a longtime Spanish Communist Party secretary, as the chief of the operation, who was being directed by Soviet Comintern representatives. They also sent the whole Spanish gold reserve to Moscow.

Carillo, who is still alive, “would be, and should be, serving a life sentence,” according to Nieto. Instead, he has been an influential European political operative for some seven decades, never condemned for his role in a major European massacre.