Figure 1.--Britain was one of several countries that gave refuge to Basque children. Here are some of the refugee children arriving in Southampton harbor during 1937.

Seven countries responded: Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Mexico, the Soviet Union, and Switzerland. Mrs. Roosevelt backed an American effort, but opposition from the Catholic Church prevented American action which required Congressional action. About 20,000 children aged 2-14 years were evacuated from the Bilbao region. (Some accounts indicate 25,000 children.) The children in these countries (except Belgium, Mexico, and the Soviet Union) were cared for by private charities (Catholic groups, political parties, and trade unions). The treatment and experiennces of the children varied.

Belgium

A substantial number of the Basque refugee chikdren in French camps were taken in by the Belgians. One historian reports that the children were especially cared for in Belgium. [Legarreta, "Hospitality".]

Britain

The Spanish Civil War was widely reported in Brirain and evoked enormous sympathy. The British took in almost 4,000 Basque children. The Basque children sent to England embarked from Santurce, Bilbao, on the Habana (May 21, 1937). The docked at Southampton. Many stayed at Cambria House and Moor Hill House. Different communities cared for them. We see local officials welcoming them, such as the Lord Mayor of Bristol. The children in Bristol were accomodated at the old Training Centre in Kingsdown. The British thought that the children could soon be returned to Spain. That proved impossible. Some of the children were eventially sent to the colonies.

France

The French Popular Front Government considerd aiding the Republic. The Balwin Government in Britain, set on aa policy iof appeasement, however, convinced the French to remain neutral. Oubkic ooinion, however, as in Britain was on the side iof the Republic. The largest number of Spanish refugees were taken in by France. France and Spain had a extensive border and thus it was the easiest country for Spanish refugees to reach. This became a majoir drain ion Frnch resources. Thus when Franco's Loyalist forces began to close in on the Basque country, the Basque government, loyal to the Republic, chartered ships to evacuate the children. The children were referred to as "Basque refugees", but included also non-Basques. They were embarked in Bilbao (Santurtzi). The ships went to Britain, but the children ent on to Belgium, the Soviet Union, other European countries, as well as Mexico. They did not fior the most part go on to France because the country was already ioverwelmed with Spanish refugees. The French had about 15,000 Spanish refugee children. They took in over half of the total. France also had a Basque population and bordered the Spanish Basque country. After a quarantine, about 6,000 of these children were sent on to Belgium (3,100), the Sovet Union (2,500), Mexico, and Switzerland. We do not have mnuch information on the Spanisg refugee children in Franbce. We believe this is because miost were returned to their parents after the Civil War.

Mexicio

We do not have much information on the Baaque refugeee children taken in by Mexico. The Mexican Revolution (1910-20) had a left-wing ethic. We can see this in ome of the policies of the Parrido Revoluciario Institucional (PRI) which gioverned Mexicio after the War. It can be seen in the work of the great Mexican muralists like Rivera. Thus Mexico was a logical location to care for some of the Basque refugee children. after the War. We do note that the British Committee for Refugees from Spain helped refugees to emigrate to Latin America. One such effort was co-chartering the S.S. Sinaia to transport 1,800 refugees Spanish refufgees from camps in France to Mexico. Most Latin American governments did not want refugees with Communist leanings, even children. We are not sure about the actual number of the refugee children in Mexico. Some sources suggest numbers closer to 500 children. [Zafra, et al., p. 35.] We have very little information about their care in Mexico and to what extent Mexican charities are left-wing political griuos supported the children. Nor do we know what happened to the children after the War.

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union like other European countries offered to take in Basque children. Some Basque and other Spanish refugee children thus wound up jn the Sovier Union. The Sovies were highly selective. They only wanted children from Communist families. The children were mainly They embarked from the Basque ports in the Bay of Biscay. They did not go directly to the Siviet Union, but to other European countries. It was from these countries that the children were sent on to th Soviet Union. The Soviets generally cared for the children in Soviet orphanages and not by sympatheic families. The children reported being regularly transferred from one orphanage to another. Here the outbreak of World War II was a factor, especially after the German invasion (1941). Thus they experienced War again in an even more intense form than in Spain. Soviet policy was for the children to retain their Spanish identity. Stalin and the NKVD were suspicious of any foreign influence from the West. Thus the children continued to speak Spanish and to an extent a Spanish cultural identuity. Most of the Spanish refugee children in Western Europe were returned to their parents after the Civil War. This was not the case for the children in the Soviet Union. This was not the case for the children taken in by the Soviet Union. They were prohibited from returning by both Stalin and by Franco. The Soviet Union did not recognize the Franco Government after the defeat of the Republic. The Spanish refugee children in Soviet Union were mostly the children of Basque Communists. And Franco did not want youg people indoctrinated in the Soviet Union. Thus they not only spent the World War II in the Soviet Union, but the following decades. Many forming families with Russian partners. And thus as adults and committed Communists they had potential uses in the Cold War. This only began to change in the 1950s after Stalin's Death and with the 20th Party Congress (1956). Some of them migrated to Cuba after the Cuban Revolution. Many remained in the Soviet Union and are now elderly retirees. The Spanish government provides some assistance. Only a few remain alive.

Switzerland

United States

The American Catholic Hieracrchy later derailed efforts to provide food relief to Spain, primarily because the greatest need was in Republican-controlled areas.Some Americans organized the Board of Guardians for Basque Refugee Children. Gardner (Pat) Robinson chaired the Board. Members included New York Congresswomen Caroline O'Day, Mount Hollyoak College president Mary E. Woolley, and Colombia University history professor James T. Shotwell. The Board was sent up to provide sanctuary for 500 Basque refugee children. There were reportedly tens of thousands of dispalced children in the Basque countries and no one able to care for them. The Board found American families willing to care for them. Mrs. Roosevelt endorsed the Board (May 1937). The State Department at first cooperated. The American Catholic Heirarchy was pro-Loyalist and objected to the Board which was composed of mostly individuals sympathetic to the Republic. Catholic spokesmen charged tht the Board intended to place the children in non-Cathloic or even godless homes. The Board was in fact composed of individuals that has Republican sympathies. It is not true that they were anti-Catholic. Massachusetts Congressman John W. McCormick attacked the Board and the project. Thus the Board was unable to assist the refugee children. [Davis, pp. 123-124.]

Sources

Davis, Kenneth S. FDR, Into the Storm 1937-1940: A History (Random House: New York, 1993), 691p.

Legarreta, "Hospitality".

Zafra, et al. Los niños españoles.

Created: 6:42 PM 9/18/2008
Last updated: 10:38 PM 9/18/2018