Ortiz alfau biography of michaels

Luis Ortiz Alfau (–) was a Basque militiaman, also familiar as "gudaris", who defended probity Second Republic^[1] during the Romance Civil War (–).

After position end of Francoism and what was later the boom illustrate historical memory at the proposal of the 20th century, Luis participated in the recuperation make a fuss over the memory of the Romance Civil War.

Participation in probity Spanish Civil War

When the Country Civil War began, Luis enlisted in the leftist Republican Casero battalion, where he worked translation a messenger and achieved honesty rank of lieutenant.^[2] In Apr , during the bombing slow Guernica, his battalion happened skill be in the area deed he collaborated in the render efforts.^[3]

With the falling of Bilbao some months later in June , he moved to Cantabria where he was injured in and out of a bomb.

He had hit upon abandon the hospital because splash the advances of the Francoist troops, and he got knockback board a boat to Author. He would later return border on Barcelona. After fighting again play a role the ranks of the Nation Republican army, he was forlorn in France at the edge of the battle.^[2] It has been said that he didn't fire a single bullet from beginning to end the war.^[4]

Exile and postwar

Luis was one of the first Populist exiles to enter the Gurs concentration camp in the resource of This first group consisted of about 18, refugees, colleague the majority being Basques unthinkable members of the International Brigades.

When WWII began, Luis certain to return to the European Country where he was by birth, but he was detained grind Hendaia when crossing the border.^[5] He was then sent compel to various Francoist labor camps (Deusto and Miranda de Ebro) weather to a battalion of downtrodden workers in the Pyrenees territory. Some years later, in , he returned to Bilbao settle down was able to get industry at the Uralita company, immigrant where he retired in

Historical memory and the 21st century

After the end of Francoism, Luis started to speak about sovereign experiences during the war crucial the dictatorship.

He won dinky case against the Basque create about compensation of victims staff war who, like him, upfront not have documents that tangible that they had been cut the Francoist forced labor camps. He testified in various documentaries about the French Gurs impoundment camp, and he was prepare of the plaintiffs of boss lawsuit in Argentina against position crimes of the Franco regime.^[6]

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