The Franco Dead: 2238 Executed in Paterna (1939-1956),
El Temps Magazine Issue 75 November 1985.
Executions in the Valencian Region (1938-1956),
Alfons el Magnànim Editions.
The Human Cost of Repression in the Valencian Region,
University of Valencia Publications.
On November 15, 1985, issue 75 of El Temps magazine published a special supplement titled “The Franco Dead: 2238 Executed in Paterna (1939-1956)”, featuring several articles by Vicent Gabarda and a dossier that profoundly impacted Valencian society, particularly the families of the executed. They couldn't fathom the extent of horror hidden in the mass graves of the cemetery, nor that their sense of having their family history mutilated was shared by thousands of Valencians. What was revealed was an extensive list of executed individuals— their ages, professions, dates of execution, and hometowns— meticulously compiled by Gabarda from the records of the Civil Registry of Paterna. It marked the first public exposure of those killed at the El Terrer wall.
This article laid the foundation for the iconic essay published in 1992 by Edicions Alfons el Magnànim: Executions in the Valencian Region (1938-1956), which became the cornerstone for various associations formed by relatives of Francoist victims linked to the Paterna cemetery. It also served as a vital resource for anyone seeking to understand the extent of Francoist repression in the Valencian Region. Our website's victim search engine relies on Gabarda's study as its primary database.
In The Human Cost of Repression in the Valencian Region (1936-1956), Vicent Gabarda revisits the valuable data from his previous works, including the now out-of-print Executions in the Valencian Region (1938-1956), and Repression in the Republican Rear: Valencian Region (1936-1939). Gabarda provides more than just data; he offers a comprehensive view of the human toll of repression, whose lasting consequences still affect society today.
Pedro Luis Alonso
Translation by Teresa Llopis