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The Fall of Madrid
How the Spanish capital fell to General Franco's forces in 1939, ending a brutal three-year civil war
In 1939, the Spanish capital, Madrid, finally fell to the fascist forces of General Franco – spelling the end of a brutal Civil War in which hundreds of thousands of troops and civilians were killed. The city had been under siege for more than two years and had become a symbol of resistance for the defeated Spanish Republic. Simon Watts has been listening to the memories of Rene MacColl and William Forrest, two British war correspondents who reported from Madrid.
PHOTO: Franco's troops entering Madrid in 1939 (Getty Images)
Last on
Sat 12 Jun 202102:50GMT
BBC World Service except Australasia
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- Fri 11 Jun 202107:50GMTBBC World Service
- Fri 11 Jun 202111:50GMTBBC World Service
- Fri 11 Jun 202117:50GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Sat 12 Jun 202102:50GMTBBC World Service except Australasia
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Witness History
The story of our times, told by the people who were there
