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Reason for opening the case for the bombings that occurred in Tarragona on March 14 and 15, 1938. Spanish Civil War 1937-1939.

Date
1938
Archive
Central Archive of the Courts of Tarragona
Document type
Textual
Reference code
CAT AJTGN JUD JPII01TGN D. PRELIMINARS
Link to the archive
Description

The motivation for opening the case for the bombings of Tarragona on March 14 and 15, 1938 is a legal document that reflects the desire to document and investigate the war crimes committed against the civilian population. This attack, which also affected foreign merchant ships, highlights the brutality of the conflict and its international dimension. The document shows how republican institutions tried to maintain a minimum of legal order and responsibility, even in a context of total war. It is also a testament to the importance of legal memory for reparation and historical justice, and connects with later European efforts to establish mechanisms of international humanitarian law.